Sermon Tone Analysis

One of the most spectacular events in “The Greatest Story Ever Told” involves a star.

The angels appearing to Mary, Joseph, Zacharias, and the shepherds was amazing.

And Mary being overshadowed by the Holy Spirit to bear the Son of God, well there are no words for that.

But a single star leading men from the east to Jerusalem in search of a King, well that’s pretty spectacular in itself.

Let’s look at this Star of Bethlehem.

Text; Mt. 2:1-12

Star- [aster] a celestial body that can be seen from earth.

A ball of flaming gas.

There has always been a mystery about this star.

Only once did this star shine so bright and guide men from the east to the Christ Child.

And then when this stars job is complete it is seen no more.

Matter of fact, this is the only reference in the Scriptures concerning this star.

So what was this star?

Some scholars have argued that the star was an unprecedented astronomical event, such as a supernova, comet, or a spectacular alignment of the planets.

In the 17th century Johannes Kepler suggested that the explosion of a distant star (supernova) would emit extraordinary light.

While many such explosions are recorded each year (few visible to the naked eye), none are known from the time of Christ.

Halley’s comet was first sighted and recorded in 240 BC and, if calculated at 77-year intervals, would have appeared in Judea in 12–11 BC.

Premature to Christs’ birth at 4 BC.

The ancients practiced astrology, plotting the constellations and the course of the planets.

Rare planetary conjunctions were studied and interpreted.

For instance, in 7 BC Jupiter and Saturn came together in the zodiac constellation of Pisces (this occurs every 257 years).

According to this view, Jupiter was associated with the world ruler, Saturn with the region of Syria-Palestine, and Pisces with the last days.

Elwell, W. A., & Comfort, P. W. (2001).

In Tyndale Bible dictionary (p.

1223).

Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

Or it could have been a one time star that God placed in the sky for the most spectacular event in human history, the birth of our Savior!

Let’s look at the four times this star is mentioned in the scriptures.

1.

His Star in the East; 1-2

These wise men ‘Magi’ [astronomers] saw a star “rising in the east”.

A new star they had not seen before.

This tips them off to a great event taking place.

There are a variety of possibilities as to their specific origin (Babylon, Persia, Egypt, and the Arabian desert have all been mentioned).

The only thing we know for sure is that they were from the east for that is where they saw His Star.

They also knew this star was very important for they came looking for the “King of the Jews” to worship Him.

How did they know of the coming of Jesus?

This reference to a “star” has an Old Testament background in the story of Balak and Balaam in Numbers 22.

The book of Numbers recounts the journey of God’s people from Mount Sinai to the edge of the promised land, and as they journeyed they grew in power and might.

This scared Balak, the king of Moab, so he called for Balaam, a magician—a seer.

Balaam had been summoned from the eastern mountains to curse the house of Jacob and the people of Israel, but as the story continues, God makes clear to Balaam that he is not to curse the Israelites but to bless them.

Balaam obeyed God and blessed Israel three times.

Balaam’s final speech begins in Numbers 24:16–17:

Platt, D. (2013).

Exalting jesus in matthew.

(D.

L. Akin, D. Platt, & T. Merida, Eds.) (Mt 2:2).

Nashville, TN: Holman Reference.

These astronomers do what we all do, study about the subjects we like and learn.

They had read the writings of Balaam [astronomer] and when they saw this star in the east, they knew it had something to do with the King of the Jews [scepter] and they came to check it out, worship him.

Even the priests and scribes confirm this when Herod asked them [v.4-6]

2. What time the Star Appeared; 7-8

Now Herod wanted to know the timing of the first sight they had of the star so he could know the age of the Child and kill him [v.16]

But there is an OT prophesy from the Book of Daniel that gives the exact time that Christ would be born.

If these men were from the Persian or Babylonian area they would have been exposed to the writings of the Jewish prophet Daniel, who had been the chief of the court seers in Persia.

So when they saw the star in the east, they would have calculated the timing and as the prophesy of Balaam and Daniel come together, they knew for certain that the King of the Jews, the Messiah [Savior of the world] had arrived.

[Rebuilding of Jerusalem, Christ coming, crucifixion, second coming]

3. The Star Appeared and Moved; 9-10

When they were ready to go to Bethlehem, 5 miles south, according to the scriptures of where this Ruler would be born, the star appeared and guided them there.

It’s amazing that nobody in Jerusalem noticed this bright star.

Not Herod, the priests, scribes, nobody but these wise men.

And the scriptures never say that the star guided them to Jerusalem, but they saw the star in the east and set out to seek the king.

[10] “When they saw the star”, it seems the star had gone after they started their journey and reappeared, only to the wise men, to guide them to the house where Mary and the young Child Jesus were and worshiped Him.

Science is based upon facts.

So lets looks at some facts about stars.

Stars don’t move.

They are stationary objects unless the are burning out.

Stars don’t move and then stop as would a vehicle.

It is very unlikely a star would stop at a designated point as this one did over a specific house.

Star don’t shine, go out and then shine again as this one did.

Stars always look as if they move from east to west due to the rotation of the earth.

This star moved to the south to go to Bethlehem.

So what was this star?

The term “star” could be another way of saying an angel guided the Magi.

In the Scriptures stars and angels were often closely identified with each other.

The phrase “heavenly hosts” was also used interchangeably for both.

So we see angels can be called stars as well.

But this star moved and was only seen by the wise men.

How do we account for this.

Close;

The star of Bethlehem in was likely an Angel of God or a manifestation of the Shekinah Glory of God.

The Shekinah, which literally means “dwelling of God,” was the visible presence of the Lord.

Either an Angel or the Shekinah Glory would fit the phenomenal actions of The Star of Bethlehem.

It shouldn’t surprise us that God would use a miraculous sign to signal the birth of His Son, the Light of the World.

These wise men were Gentiles.

Remember what Simeon said about Jesus as he blessed God at the circumcision of Christ;

Those with eyes to see rejoiced with exceedingly great joy!

How about you?