“When the Magi saw the star, they went wild with excitement!” (Mt 2:9-10)
The most-translated poem in the world was written in 1806 by a young English woman, Jane Taylor, who was only 23 at the time. It is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which actually has 5 stanzas. The last one reads –
As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Tho’ I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star!
One of the special boons of childhood is a sense of wonder – and a chief bane of adult life is a loss of wonder, when we become grown-up, blasé and cynical.
We Christians should never lose our sense of wonder, especially at this time of the year, for what is more wondrous than the story of the Saviour’s coming into this world? Yet among the many astonishing things that happened, nothing surpasses the miracle of the Star that blazed in the heavens, guiding the Magi to the Child. Was it a real star, a supernatural phenomenon, a meteor, a comet, a super nova? Was it seen by others, or only by the Magi? We cannot say, but two things do shine clearly –
The Wonder Of God’s Control
The world this year seems to be madder than usual. But despite appearances, the Star shows that God has always been and still is in control! We need the perspective of the psalmist (Ps 2:1-6), so that we learn how to laugh with God, for he knows what he is doing! I watched the TV programme Stephen Hawking’s Universe, which demonstrated the exquisite balance that exists in the universe. At precisely one minute after the Big Bang, the rate of acceleration of the expanding matter had to be accurate to the 15th decimal place — 0.000000000000000. One point higher, and the expansion would have been too quick to allow the galaxies to form. One point slower, and the exploding gas would have fallen back onto itself before the universe could coalesce out of it!
Tyrants may scheme, empires may fall, but our God reigns!
The Wonder Of God’s Care
See how God was willing to disturb even the panoply of heaven simply to give a sign to three seekers! And what a wonderful sign it was, for the Star does seem to have been a supernatural phenomenon. It was not actually seen “in the east” by the Magi, but rather, “in its rising” (which was an astrological term), after which it vanished for two years (cp. vs. 11), then suddenly appeared again and miraculously travelled before the Magi from north to south! (vs. 9), which was against nature.
We may learn two things here –
• Usually we are expected to live by faith, without visible signs (note how the Magi journeyed for two years with no supernatural aid).
• But sometimes God does send us a “Star” to provide guidance and direction!
Yet with or without a sign, we should ever remind ourselves that the Father never stops loving us! The Christmas Star still shines for those who have the eyes to see it.
