Why a Star?

\”There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. \”

1 Corinthians 15:41

What, exactly, is a star? Stars are fueled by the nuclear fusion of hydrogen to form helium deep in their interiors which keep them from collapsing and give them the energy to shine. They are the most fundamental building blocks of galaxies. Well okay then, not as alluring as popular culture has made them to be. Children wish on them. Shooting stars, which are actually meteoroids, bring delight to anyone who happens to see their trail in the night sky.

On day four of God birthing everything, he created the sun, moon, and stars. In Genesis we see his purpose: God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. The science of stars is real. So is the creation of them. And God does nothing without a perfect plan.

But that plan has twists and turns. If you’ve ever had the joy of seeing the nighttime sky unimpeded by artificial lights, you understand how magnificent it must have been long ago. Ancient pagans worshiped the stars. Modern pagans see the stars as their ancestors. The rabbinical Hebrew meaning of pagan is “worshipper of the stars.” Knowing all of this and so much more, God chose a star to announce the birth of his Son. On the surface, it seems sketchy. People in the first century were already seeing stars as deity. Wouldn’t a huge, bright star suddenly appearing in the heavens only foster these false beliefs?

As in all things, God’s Word gives us real information about the role and purpose of stars. In fact, according to one source, the word “star” appears in twenty-five books of the Bible and in one hundred verses.

Daniel 12:3 – Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Isaiah 40:26 – Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Philippians 2:15 – So that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.

Matthew 2:2 – Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.

To review, Scripture tells us that the wise and those who lead others to right living will shine like stars forever. That God calls forth the stars; he knows each by name and none go missing. Those who are pure shine like stars. A star signaled the birth of a child worthy of being worshipped. And as stars go, this particular one shone most glorious of all.

All of these attributes point to Jesus. Wisdom. Righteousness. Intimacy. Protection. Forgiveness. Deity. Glory. Why a star? Because from the beginning of creation throughout Biblical history, stars have been representative of good. That which God set in the heavens as he spoke the world into being “separated the light from the darkness.”

The star that the wise men followed after leaving the king went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. That magnificent star led them away from Herod’s evil to the purest of good. It stopped over the stable because the center of the universe slept in a manger beneath the shimmering rays of starlight. Purity became illuminated for the angels, the shepherds, and the wise men to see, set aside for all time as an island of light in the deep darkness of sin’s despair. As attested to by John, Jesus came into the world as the true light, which gives light to everyone. The star was never more than a symbol for the light which would come.

If light represents all that is worthy, darkness stands for all that is not. In Jesus, the Father sent his only Son to be the light. After the manger became occupied by this heavenly child, darkness had to flee. The end of the story was written. Light won, both then, now, and forever.

As we go throughout the month of December, in a year that has had more than its share of darkness, keep your eyes on the place where one brilliant star stopped on that night so long ago. Look into the bright eyes of the newborn lying there. And know that his light shines in our hearts today.

Why a star? Because that’s the dazzling birth announcement a special Father chose when he brought true light to the world through his precious Son.

NOTE: On December 21, 2020, the “Christmas Star” will be visible for the first time in 800 years as the planets Saturn and Jupiter align. The sighting is best viewed through a telescope or binoculars. In our neck of the woods, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, look to the southwest sky at twilight, around 5:30-6:30 PM. Whether you see it or not, know that the star isn’t the thing. It’s a natural phenomenon that points to our Savior, Jesus Christ!