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Friends United Meeting |
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December 1999
When They Saw the Star
Philip Hoffman
Read: Matthew 2:1-15
In our imagination, it is evening time, and darkness is settling down over the countryside. Standing on the rooftop three Wise Men are looking up into the sky. Gaspar raises his hand and points off to the west. He says, "There! You can see it already, and it is hardly dark yet. It is the very first star to appear."
Melchior strokes his beard: "Well, maybe it is just one we have missed. Perhaps we have just discovered a new star."
Gaspar shakes his head. "No, if it were some faint, little star, that might be, but this is the most brilliant star in the heavens. You can see it when it is still almost daylight. Why did it suddenly appear just these past few weeks? I have searched and searched through the records, but I can't find anything like it. It is a mystery I cannot explain."
Balthazar nods his head. He opens his mouth and very slowly he speaks: "This is a profound mystery, too deep for us mortals to understand." For some hours these three men discuss the movements of the heavenly bodies, and the strange appearance of this bright new star.
That night Gaspar has a dream. Waking early, he hurries to share the dream with his two friends. As Gaspar opens the door, he sees someone coming across the courtyard. Why, it is Melchior. Gaspar cries out, "Melchior, I think I have found out about our star." Gaspar is surprised at Melchior's reaction. He doesn't seem the least bit surprised. "Melchior, last night I had a very wonderful dream. First, a man appeared. He was not an ordinary man. He shone like the moon, only much brighter. And, Melchior, this is what he said, 'I am the servant of the Most High God.' Now mind you, Melchior, he was not a Buddha, and he was not a god of the Hindus. He was an angel of the Most High God.' You remember, Melchior, the Hebrew people worship that God. We have passed through their country on the caravan route that goes down into Egypt."
Melchior nods his head, so Gaspar continues his story. "Melchior, the angel said that our star is a sign that the 'Most High God' has placed in the heavens. He said that this God is sending His Son to be King of the Hebrew people. Very shortly this Child is to be born, there in the land of the Jews."
All the while Melchior just smiles, nodding his agreement. Finally he says, "Gaspar, you make me very happy. Last night I had the same dream. Balthazar lives much closer to me than you do, so I went to his house first. Of course, Balthazar is not so quick to speak as you are, so I got in the first words. In my excitement, I told him all about the dream. When I finished he said, 'But Melchior, last night I had the same dream.'
"I hurried over here to tell you. Balthazar is home getting his camels ready and packing his provisions. We think this is a sign to us from the 'Most High God,' so we are taking gifts, and we are going to see this wonderful event. Are you going with us?"
For several weeks these three men travel on their journey. Each evening at dusk the star appears; it shines with brilliance, brighter than any other star. Then one evening the star fails to appear. Gaspar is concerned about what they should do. Melchior is troubled too, but Balthazar is the first to come up with a plan. He says, "Gentlemen, we will all agree that the 'Most High God' has been leading us thus far. Sometime tomorrow morning we will enter the country of the Hebrew people. Before long we will arrive at their capital city of Jerusalem. Once we arrive there, everybody will know about this wonderful event. All we will need do is ask."
About noon, as they pass through the gates, Gaspar calls out to the gatekeeper, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
The gatekeeper looks surprised. He asks, "What did you say?"
Gaspar repeats his question, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East and are come to worship him."
The gatekeeper scratches his head and can give no information. The three men ride on into the city. Balthazar motions toward the stall of a goldsmith. He says, "There is a man who should know. Surely he has been working hard these days, to manufacture gifts for this wonderful event." So they dismount from their camels and enter the stall of the goldsmith. But the goldsmith has no answer.
As they go from stall to stall asking their question, news of their arrival spreads through the city. By and by, it reaches the palace and falls on the ears of King Herod. Immediately he sends a centurion with a party of soldiers to invite these noble men to accept the hospitality of his palace. Then Herod sends a message to the high priest saying, "I desire an immediate conference with your most learned scholars." With much concern he presents his problem: "In your religion you speak of a Messiah who is supposed to come and set himself up as ruler. Now this is what I want you to tell me, where is this Messiah supposed to be born?"
The chief priest answers the question, "In Bethlehem of Judea." One of the scribes opens a scroll and begins to read. He says, "Here in the prophet Micah it says, 'And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."
Dismissing the priests and scribes, Herod calls for the Wise Men. "Gentlemen, I understand you have been inquiring about a new king, and that you have been following his star. Pray tell me, when did you first see this star? Have you been following it a long time?" Put at ease by Herod's friendliness, the Wise Men tell him the whole story.
"Well, gentlemen, the only information I have for you is this, the child is to be born in the town of Bethlehem. I wish I could tell you more, but I cannot. Now Bethlehem is not a very large place. Surely if you go there you will find the child. Really, I am very much interested in your mission, and I would like to ask a favor of you. When you have found the child, come and bring me the news, so that I too can come and worship him."
As they start toward the little town of Bethlehem, Gaspar glances up toward the sky. He cannot contain his joy. Clapping his hands with excitement he cries, "Look! There it is! The star is there again!" This time the star seems to be moving. The Bible says, "And it went before them until it came and stood over where the child was."
This story seems like a fairy tale, but it is true. I am sure that the Bible doesn't tell us these things just to entertain us. Here are three lessons that we should learn.
The Wise Men were sure that they had a message from God and that God had been leading them, but they came up against a blank spot. For just a little season they did not know which way to go, or where to turn. Here is our lesson: when you come up against blank spots, you will find your answer in God's word. These men didn't have any Bible, but the answer was there all the time. God knew where they could find the answer, so God brought them into contact with Herod, and Herod made contact with the men who studied the Bible. The scribes found the answer in the Bible and passed it on to Herod. Herod in turn passed the answer on to the Wise Men. The answer was in God's word, and God knew the method He could use to bring them into contact with His word. It will work for you just like it worked for them.
There is also a lesson from the scribes and priests. They were religious men; they studied God's word, they memorized God's word, they taught God's word. When a question was asked they had the answer on the tip of their tongues. But even when they knew that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem, they did not bother to go down to Bethlehem to find Him. The Wise Men, on the other hand, were not God's chosen people. They didn't even have a Bible, but when they received God's message that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, they immediately started for Bethlehem. It is obeying God's word rather than memorizing God's word that brings pleasure to God.
Then there is a third lesson, this time from King Herod. Herod was the king and he didn't like the idea of some other king coming into his territory. You see, Herod had more faith than the priests and scribes; he believed God's word, but instead of obeying God, Herod started to fight. It seemed as if things were working out to Herod's advantage. Herod would be able to "nip this thing in the bud" before it even had a chance to get started. That is the way it looked to Herod, but when God's word prophesies that some event will take place, that thing will take place no matter who fights against it. It looked for sure that Herod would go down to Bethlehem and take the life of that little Baby. But he didn't. God warned the Wise Men and they did not return to Herod. God warned Joseph and he took the little Baby down to Egypt where He was safe. If you set yourself to fight against God's word, you are fighting a losing battle.
Copyright (c) 1999 Friends United Meeting
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