Stars, Part 1 - Matthew 2
Which star will you follow?
The world is full of stars, but only one will never fall.
Numbers 24:17, “A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…”
Matthew 2:1-2, Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”
In all probability, the star the wise men saw was an angel God sent to shine as a sign of Christ’s birth.
Throughout Scripture, “stars” are used as a symbol for angels (Job 38:7, Isaiah 14:13, Revelation 1:20, Revelation 12:4).
The wise men weren't just watching the world, they were watching the Word.
They were watching for the birth of a Savior. They were watching for the coming of the Jewish Messiah.
The wise men weren't just studying the stars, they were studying the Scriptures.
Because the Jews had been led away into Babylonian captivity, the Magi had access to the writings of the Jewish prophets like Daniel who had been named “chief of the Magi” by both King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar (Daniel 4:9, 5:11).
Daniel 9:24-25, “Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.”
Like the wise men, as we study the Word, we should be watchful for Christ’s return!
2 Peter 1:19, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Only by following the Star of Jesus can your life shine brighter and shine forever.
Proverbs 4:18-19, “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”
Philippians 2:15-16, “…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…”
Your life will only shine eternally when you’ve made Jesus the star of your story.