6 Things to Know about the Star the Magi Followed
Share
Trying to understand the mysteries of the created world are one of the many ways God has invited people to get a glimpse into His nature, His will, His character, and His power. Sometimes He even manipulates the world, defying the natural law put in place, to work true wonders. He parted the Red Sea, made a donkey speak, and made the world go without light during the crucifixion.
One of the great wonders and mysteries of the New Testament is the star that shone in the sky so the magi from the east could find the Messiah and worship Him. It is intriguing, but the Bible says very little about it, since the purposes of the gospels are to tell about the life of Jesus, not to present scientific explanations about one-time phenomena.
That doesn’t mean we don’t know anything about the star, and many respected thinkers have solid, factually based theories about what it was, and how the magi learned to be looking for it.
Here are six things to know about the star the magi followed:
1. Visibility
The star was visible from at least as far away as Persia, the former kingdom of Babylon, which was in the same region as modern-day Iran.
The magi came from afar, with many scholars believing at least some of them came from modern-day Iran. Some others hypothesize that they could have come from as far as India. While tradition depicts three magi, wise men, or even sometimes translated as kings, the Bible is unclear about how many came. The number three comes from the three gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
2. Foretold by Daniel
The magi may have been looking for the star as a sign in the sky heralding the Messiah because they followed the teachings of Daniel.
One of the many questions that goes unanswered in the Bible is, how did these wise men from far away know to be looking for a sign in the sky for a Jewish king? How did they know this Jewish king would hold significance for them?
While there are a few theories, one of the stronger ones is that the magi were men who served in the city of Babylon, followers of the teachings of the Prophet Daniel. During the time of the exile, 597 BC to 538 BC, several young Jewish men rose to prominent positions at the Babylonian court, serving God in a pagan land. This included Daniel. It is possible that people influenced by Daniel during his lifetime continued to follow his teachings, his religion, and looked forward to the same promise of redemption. Astrology was a practice at the time, so they may have been looking to the heavens for signs of the promises of Daniel’s God.
Other theories suggest that just like Jewish religion made its way into Africa, such as with the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10) and the Ethiopian Eunch (Acts 8:26-40) it may have made its way deeper into parts of central Asia. In recent years, people groups further into Asia have claimed to be followers of Judaism, and are theorized to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. If true, their existence could support the idea that worship of the one true God was more global than often believed at the time of Jesus’ birth.
3. Astrological Phenomenon
Some astronomers believe the “star” may have been a comet, a supernova, the planet Jupiter or the constellation we call Aries. Others believe it was an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and the sun in the constellation of Aries.
While it can be easy to assume the star over Bethlehem was a bright, universally visible spot in the sky, the Bible is actually silent on how many people were able to see it, and – if it was visible to the multitudes – what people thought of it. The magi knew what it meant, and they followed it, but if it was noticeable to others is unclear.
Part of why the magi may have been aware of it was because they may have studied astrology, the reading of the location of the stars and the planets. When looking for a scientific explanation, there are only a handful of things that can create that bright of a light in the sky. If it was not just a star miraculously placed there by God for that purpose, which is entirely possible, then God could have used other natural wonders to create such a bright light, including supernovas and planets.
4. It Disappeared for a Time
The star disappeared for a time when the magi were in Jerusalem, which is why they asked Herod where the child was.
The Magi followed the star to Jerusalem, and stopped at Herod’s palace for clarity. Then the Bible records, “After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was — the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9). The star rose again after they left the palace in Jerusalem to go to nearby Bethlehem.
God used this star, whether a natural or unnatural phenomenon, to guide the magi so they could provide the appropriate gifts for the young Messiah, and so they could testify to His arrival.
5. Herod’s Ignorance
King Herod did not seem concerned about the appearance of the star, but only at the birth of a king who could be a rival to his throne, meaning he may not have understood Scripture well.
The Bible records, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born” (Matthew 2:1-4).
Herod did not seem to recognize the significance of the star, nor why the birth of this king of the Jews would be a blessing for all mankind. Even though many people at this time did not understand the true purpose of the Messiah’s mission, Herod only saw a threat to his power.
6. It Was Long-Awaited
The star was prophesied as far back as the Pentateuch, by Moses. In the Book of Numbers, the Prophet Balaam was given a prophecy about a coming ruler who would strike down Israel’s enemies. The details included some about his birth, as recorded in the Book of Numbers:
“I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.He will smash the forehead of Moab
and strike down all the Shethites”
The star referred to Jesus, but also to the star that signaled his birth as a sign for the people who were looking for it. These Scriptures may have been what the Magi used to look for a Savior.
The bright star in the dark sky has become one of the symbols of Christmas and new hope for believers around the world. Even non-believers will often put a star at the top of their tree in celebration. Christians should use this symbol as a way to share the gospel, the good news about the reason that Christmas is celebrated.
“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).
Jesus came to pay the price for the sins of all people, and if they put their faith in him, repenting of their sins, then anyone can be saved from hell and into eternal life.
Sources
Finegan, Jack. Handbook of Biblical Chronology: Principles of Time Reckoning in the Ancient World and Problems of Chronology in the Bible. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998. p. 300.
Lisle, Jason. “The Star of Bethlehem” Answers in Genesis.
O’Callaghan, Jonathan. “What was the Star of Bethlehem?” Space.com, Dec. 22, 2022.
"Star of Bethlehem." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church. New York: Oxford University Press. 2005.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/vovan13
Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.