A CHRISTMAS STORY | BETHLEHEM

Rustan Hicks; Great Awakening Ministries

For centuries since the birth of Christ Christians have wondered about the Bethlehem Star that brought the Magi from the East to see this One who was born, “King of the Jews.” Only in our day since the advent of computer programming does it seem we can have a real handle on this enigma. In the days of old it was believed that the planets were “wondering stars” that moved about freely in the heavenlies as God (or the gods) saw fit while all other stars were in an unchanging fixed location. Concerning the sun, moon and stars, God tells us that they would be “for signs and for seasons” (Genesis 1:14). So now, with the help of computers, we can go back and see what the sun, moon and planets were doing at any given time in history.

Daniel played a strategic role in the Christmas story in that he was a prophet, as well as a leader among the wise men or magi who counselled both the kings of Babylon and later Persia. Daniel prophesied on the exact time that the Messiah, the King of the Jews, would come on the scene. Paraphrasing from Daniel 9:24-26, Daniel wrote that there would be exactly 69 weeks of years or 483 years from the decree to begin rebuilding Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1) to the Messiah. Because of this incredible prophesy the Magi, having been taught the messages of Daniel, knew that they were in the season of the Messiah’s appearance. (Taking the exact number of days from the date given in Nehemiah, Jesus presented Himself to the Jewish leaders on the first day of the Passover week, May 30, 33AD. This day was accurate to the day. Four days later He was crucified and three days after that resurrected.) So these Wise Men were watching for a sign of His birth. While they are watching the heavenlies for “signs of the season” they got an eyeful.

In September of 3 BC Jupiter (the King or Messiah planet) was passing through the area of the constellation Leo, the Lion (of the Tribe of Judah), when it came in contact with Leo’s primary star, Regulus (King). If this in and of itself did not get the attention of the Magi then what happened next would have. Jupiter then performed what is called a “retrograde” and reversed its direction contacting Regulus for a second time. It then changed direction again and touched Regulus a third time! Retrogrades happen with planets (17 Earth years for one Jupiter year) but “the King” touching “the King” three times would certainly have gotten our Magi very excited.

After this, Jupiter continued on its course into the next constellation Virgo, “the Virgin.” Nine months after Jupiter’s first contact with Regulus Jupiter created “the Bethlehem Star” with Venus, “The Virgin” while traveling through Virgo. Due West from Persia and right over Israel Jupiter and Venus became one super star. With Venus on top and Jupiter touching Venus from the bottom they created an extremely bright single star. This happened on June 17 of 2 BC. This is when the angels told the shepherds to go see the new born King. This harmonized with the time of year that the shepherds would have their sheep on the hillside at night as opposed to December.

Six months after Jupiter and Venus connected the Wise Men showed up in Jerusalem to find this One who is born “King of the Jews.” Not getting any help from Herod and his advisors the Magi saw something amazing that led them to their King. On December 25, 2 BC, Jupiter had moved due South and hung right over Bethlehem from the perspective of Jerusalem. The amazing thing is that on that night Jupiter did not move west like all the other stars. It stayed stationary all night standing right above this little village. As Matthew wrote, . . . the star . . . came and stood over where the young child was. Moving south toward the Star they were led right to the little village of Bethlehem and then to the door of the place where a couple named Joseph and Mary with their six month old baby Jesus were staying.

There are nine specific things that the Bethlehem star did as recorded by Matthew and for all the centuries of the Church everyone thought the star must be supernatural. With modern computer programming we can see that Jupiter with the aid of Regulus and Venus fulfilled every one of these nine details. Maybe the claims of Christ are worthy to be looked into. In Jesus’ first coming He fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies from the Old Testament to identify Himself clearly as Israel’s Messiah and the world’s Savior. The Old Testament informs us that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, grow up in Nazareth, be pierced through for our sins and rejected by His own. And so it is for you and me today, Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Have you discovered this One who is born, King of the Jews, as well as, Lord of all creation.