CHRISTMAS STAR AND SCEPTER
NUMBERS 24:12-19
TODAY WE BEGIN THE SEASON OF ADVENT AND IN THIS PASSAGE I WANT TO LOOK AT TWO SYMBOLS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE COMING KING. VERSE 17 SPEAKS ABOUT THE STAR AND THE SCEPTER.
A SCEPTER IS A SIGN OF ROYALTY. IT IS THE POSSESSION OF SOMEONE IN AUTHORITY. AS PART OF HER CORONATION QUEEN ELIZABETH WAS PRESENTED A SCEPTER. THE SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE AND THE FEDERAL HOUSE OF COMMONS CARRIES A LARGE ORNAMENT INTO THE CHAMBER AND PLACES IT PROMINENTLY ON A TABLE TO BEGIN THE SESSION. MARCHING BAND LEADERS CARRY AN ELABORATE STAFF WITH THEM THAT THEY USE TO DIRECT THE BAND.
THE SCEPTER THEN IS A SIGN OF AUTHORITY OR ROYALTY. HERE IN VERSE 17 A RULER IS PROPHECIED TO RISE UP OUT OF ISRAEL, AND A STAR FROM THE LINE OF JACOB AND BOTH WOULD BE FULFILLED IN THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
WE ARE GOING TO SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME FOCUSING ON THE STAR. THE STAR IS AN IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF CHRISTMAS OFTEN USED ON CHRISTMAS TREES. I FOUND SOME INFORMATION ON THE MOST POPULAR AND SOME PECULIAR CHRISTMAS TREE TOPPERS THAT YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING.
SOME POPULAR TREE TOPPERS WERE: SNOWMEN
GINGER BREAD MEN
SPHERES THAT LOOKED LIKE
STEEPLES ON RUSSIAN
CHURCH BUILDINGS
A PEACE SIGN
SOME UNUSUAL TOPPERS: ELVIS PRESLEY (BLUE CHRISTMAS)
THE GRINCH
TINKERBELL
GLENDA (THE GOOD WITCH FROM
WIZARD OF OZ)
YODA (FROM STAR WARS)
THE MOST POPULAR THOUGH WERE: ANGELS
STARS
THE TRADITION OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE WAS INTRODUCED BY MARTIN LUTHER. HE PUT CANDLES ON THE TREE FOR HIS CHILDREN TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF THE STARS IN THE SKY WHEN JESUS WAS BORN.
BUT WHAT ACTUALLY DID THE WISE MEN SEE THAT MADE THEM DETERMINED IN THEIR MINDS AND HEARTS TO FOLLOW IT?
I’M REMINDED OF A STORY OF A FAMILY DRIVING TO A NEARBY TOWN FOR A CHRISTMAS SEASON GET-TOGETHER. AS THEY PASSED THE ANGLICAN CHURCH THERE WAS A MANGER SCENE IN THE YARD AND THE YOUNGEST BOY ASKED HIS MOTHER WHAT IT WAS.
SHE EXPLAINED THE NATIVITY SCENE, POINTING OUT THE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS. “THAT IS MARY AND JOSEPH...AND THE BABY JESUS, THERE IN THE MANGER.”
A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER THEY PASSED THE METHODIST CHURCH, WHERE THERE WAS A SCENE DEPICTING THE JOURNEY OF THE WISE MEN. “WHO ARE THEY?” THE LITTLE BOY ASKED.
HIS MOTHER REPLIED, “THOSE ARE THE WISE MEN, WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THE BABY JESUS.”
“WELL, THEY’RE NOT ALL THAT WISE.” THE YOUNG BOY REPLIED, “THEY WON’T FIND HIM THERE. HE’S DOWN THE STREET AT THE OTHER CHURCH.”
WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE STAR WAS, BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU AN IDEA TODAY THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT OF. FIRST LET’S DISLODGE SOME OLDER THEORIES.
1. A METEOR: THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT A METEOR WOULD HAVE BURNED OUT LONG BEFORE THE MAGI ARRIVED.
2. A COMET: COMETS GENERALLY INSPIRED FEAR, NOT HOPE, CERTAINLY NOT WORSHIP. HAD THIS BEEN A COMET IT WOULD HAVE DRIVEN THE WISE MEN AWAY.
3. A SUPER NOVA (AN EXPLODING STAR): A SUPERNOVA WOULD NOT HAVE LASTED LONG ENOUGH FOR THE MAGI TO HAVE MADE THE TRIP, AND THERE IS NO RECORD OF A SUPER NOVA OCCURING AT THIS TIME.
4. A THEORY THAT BEARS MUCH WEIGHT IS THAT THIS STAR WAS THE RESULT OF THE LINE UP OF 3 PLANETS, SATURN, JUPITER AND MARS. IT HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 1000 YEARS AND WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAPPENED AROUND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
THIS IS A VERY PROMISING THEORY. JUPITER IS KNOWN AS “THE STAR OF DAVID” OE “THE STAR OF THE MESSIAH”. THIS ALIGNMENT WOULD HAVE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN ISRAEL’S FIRST DELIVERER MOSES WAS BORN. IT COULD ALSO BE SEEN IN THE CONSTELLATION OF LEO THE LION. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THE MESSIAH WOULD ALSO BE KNOWN AS “THE LION OF JUDAH.”
WITH THESE MANY THEORIES IT WOULD BE QUITE EASY TO TAKE OUR EYES OF THE PRIZE. THE MIRACULOUS REALITY OF ALL THESE THEORIES IS THAT GOD WOULD SUSPEND THE NATURAL ORDER AND ALLOW FOR A MIRACLE TO OCCUR.
THOUGH THERE ARE MANY THEORIES ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS, AND THE ONE THAT I HOLD TO, WAS OFFERED BY 2 RESPECTED SCHOLARS ALFRED EDERSHEIM AND DWIGHT PENTECOST.
THEY SUGGEST THAT THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED “STAR” REALLY MEANS “RADIANCE” MUCH LIKE THE WORDS OF EZEKIEL 11:23:
EZEKIEL 11:23: THE GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM WITHIN THE CITY AND STOPPED ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN EAST OF IT
THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING GLORY OF THE LORD, AT THE TRANSFIGURATION
MATTHEW 17:5: WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, A BRIGHT CLOUD COVERED THEM, AND A VOICE FROM THE CLOUD SAID, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I LOVE; WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED. LISTEN TO HIM!”
WE SEE THIS IN REVELATION 1 WHERE JOHN SEES CHRIST IN ALL HIS GLORY. EZEKIEL TELLS US THAT THE “GLORY OF THE LORD” LEFT THE TEMPLE, AND IT IS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN UNTIL LUKE.
EZEKIEL 10:18: THEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD DEPARTED FROM OVER THE THRESHOLD OF THE TEMPLE AND STOPPED ABOVE THE CHERUBIM.
LUKE 2:9: AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE AROUND THEM, AND THEY WERE TERRIFIED.
THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH REPRESENTED THE RETURN OF THE GLORY OF GOD TO ISRAEL. THE STAR WAS THE SHEKINAH GLORY OF THE LORD.
PSALM 19:1: THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD; THE SKIES PROCLAIM THE WORK OF HIS HANDS
AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE AWESOMENESS OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD IS THAT FOR THE SHEPHERDS AND FOR JOHN, WHO BOTH SAW THE GLORY OF THE LORD, THEY WERE BOTH TERRIFIED.
THE STAR THAT THE WISE MEN SAW WAS DIFFERENT. IT DID NOT BELONG IN THE SKIES. IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING THESE STUDIERS OF THE STARS HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE. WHAT DID IT MEAN?
I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU THREE THINGS THAT THE STAR CAN MEAN FOR US TODAY.
1. THE STAR IS A LIGHT THAT GUIDES US TO THE LIGHT.
I FIND THIS TO BE SO FANTASTIC. THIS GREAT LIGHT IN THE SKY IS GOING TO LEAD THE MAGI TO THE MESSIAH.
ISAIAH 9:2: THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; ON THOSE LIVING IN THE LAND OF DEEP DARKNESS A LIGHT HAS DAWNED.
THAT LIGHT THAT DAWNED WAS JESUS.
JOHN 8:12: WHEN JESUS SPOKE AGAIN TO THE PEOPLE, HE SAID, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. WHOEVER FOLLOWS ME WILL NEVER WALK IN DARKNESS, BUT WILL HAVE THE LIGHT OF LIFE.
IN DARKNESS THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES BRIGHTER. DOES YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR CHRIST? IF HE LIVES IN US THEN WE TOO SHOULD BECOME SHINING LIGHTS THAT POINT TO THE PLACE WHERE HE CAN BE FOUND.
HE IS THE FAIREST OF TEN THOUSAND AND HE IS THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR OF REVELATION.
REVELATION 22:16: 16 “I, JESUS, HAVE SENT MY ANGEL TO GIVE YOU THIS TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCHES. I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, AND THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR.”
2. THIS WAS THE STAR OF THE KING:
WE ARE THE SERVANTS FOR CHRIST, AND WE SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO OUTSHINE HIM IN ANY WAY. JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS, AND OUR EFFORTS SHOULD POINT OTHERS TO CHRIST.
ON OUR CHRISTMAS TREE WE HAVE ONE STAR, AND THREE HUNDRED OTHER WHITE LIGHTS. NONE OF THE LIGHTS BY THEMSELVES CAN MATCH THE LIGHT OF THE STAR.
TOGETHER THEY SHINE WITH RADIANCE AND BEAUTY THAT MAKES THE TREE COMPLETE AND BEAUTIFUL. JUST BECAUSE A LIGHT IS SMALL, DOESN’T MEAN IT’S INSIGNIFICANT. IT’S THE SMALL LIFGHTS THAT MAGNIFY THE LARGER LIGHT.
IT’S THE SMALL LIGHTS WORKING TOGETHER THAT DISPELLS THE DARKNESS AROUND US.
JUST AS THE MORNING STAR HAD INFLUENCED THE MEN HE HAD CHOSEN TO FOLLOW HIM, SO TOO DO THE SMALLER LIGHTS INFLUENCE OTHERS TO BECOME PART OF THE LIGHT.
ARE YOU SHINING FOR CHRIST TODAY? PEOPLE SHOULD FIND YOU NOW, AND IN TWENTY YEARS TIME STILL SHINING FOR CHRIST AND POINTING THEM TO THE PLACE WHERE THE SAVIOUR IS TO BE FOUND.
JESUS SAID:
MATTHEW 5:14-16:
YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A TOWN BUILT ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN. 15 NEITHER DO PEOPLE LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A BOWL. INSTEAD THEY PUT IT ON ITS STAND, AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE. 16 IN THE SAME WAY, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
3. THE LIGHT IS AN ETERNAL LIGHT:
THE LIGHT OF THE STAR IS A LIGHT THAT WILL NEVER GO OUT. IT IS AN ETERNAL BEACON OF HOPE AND LIFE.
THROUGHOUT HISTORY MAN HAS TRIED TO SNUFF OUT THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. THEY HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN HIM AWAY, AND TO DISCREDIT HIM. WHEN ALL ELSE FAILED, THEY TRIED TO DESTROY HIM.
THEY HUNG OUR LIGHT ON A CROSS, AND BEAT THE LIFE OUT OF HIM. WHEN THEY WERE DONE, THEY SEALED HIM IN A CAVE FOR THREE DAYS AND FELT THAT THEY HAD SUCCEEDED. THE LIGHT WAS GONE.
THEN CAME THE MORNING OF THE THIRD DAY, AND THE DARKNESS THAT HAD FALLEN ON THIS EARTH WAS PIERCED BY A SINGLE RAY OF LIGHT COMING FROM THAT TOMB AND WOULD SOON FLOOD THE ENTIRE EARTH.
THIS LIGHT CAME FROM A SPARK THAT CAME INTO THE WORLD IN BETHLEHEM JUST A FEW YEARS EARLIER.
CONCLUSION:
YOU AND I ARE TOLD IN EPHESIANS 5:8 TO WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT. THAT IS OUR PURPOSE AS SMALL LIGHTS, TO POINT PEOPLE TO THE STAR, THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM, THE MORNING STAR, JESUS CHRIST.
DANIEL 12:3: THOSE WHO ARE WISE WILL SHINE LIKE THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEAVENS, AND THOSE WHO LEAD MANY TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, LIKE THE STARS FOR EVER AND EVER.
WHEN WE DO IT RIGHT EVERYONE AROUND WILL REALIZE IT’S SOMETHING SPECIAL. ULTIMATELY OUR LIGHT WILL DRAW PEOPLE TO WORSHIP THE KING. WHEN WE DRAW PEOPLE TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, WE SHINE LIKE STARS IN GOD’S PRESENCE.
A HINDU TRADER IN INDIA ONCE ASKED A MISSIONARY, “WHAT DO YOU PUT ON YOUR FACE TO MAKE IT SHINE?”
THE MISSIONARY WAS A BIT SHOCKED, ANSWERED, “I DON’T PUT ANYTHING ON IT.”
THE HINDU BEGAN TO LOSE PATIENCE WITH THE MISSIONARY AND SPOKE MORE FORCEFULLY. “YES YOU DO! ALL OF YOU WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS SEEM TO HAVE IT--- I’VE SEEN IT IN THE TOWNS OF AGRA AND SURAT, AND EVEN IN THE CITY OF BOMBAY.”
SUDDENLY THE CHRISTIAN UNDERSTOOD, AND HIS FACE GLOWED BECAUSE OF CHRIST, “NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN, AND I WILL TELL YOU THE SECRET. IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE PUT ON FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM WITHIN. IT’S THE REFLECTION OF THE LIGHT OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS.”
WHEN PEOPLE SPEND ENOUGH TIME AROUND US, THEY SHOULD NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT. HOW IS YOUR REFLECTION TODAY?
