Stars feature quite frequently in carol services: wise men following ‘yonder star‘; the ‘natal star‘ in ‘Angels From The Realms of Glory’; the fact that Jesus was born on a ‘starry night’ and so on. But whilst the star of Bethlehem is clearly important in guiding the magi to Jesus and in proclaiming the birth of a king, the title ‘bright morning star‘ is actually given to Jesus Himself. (Rev 22:16)
2 Pet 1:19 tells us that we have a prophetic message, a light shining in the darkness. The term ‘bright morning star’ often refers to the last star which shines before dawn and speaks of the end of darkness and the coming of light. Jesus is the light of the world (see Jn 8:12, Jn 1:4) whose coming brings hope to all.
This coming, celebrated at Christmas and prophesied in Numbers 24:17, explains why the wise men followed ‘his’ star and came to worship a king. They expected the king to be born in a palace, an obvious place, but Jesus, though King of the Jews, was born in Bethlehem. They expected the majesty and pageantry of royalty, but found instead a peasant family and an ordinary baby.
Scripture does not tell us if the wise men were disappointed or surprised to find the King of the Jews in such an ordinary, everyday place. Quite often, that is our reaction to God, expecting the razzmatazz of miracles and astounding power rather than the humility of the incarnation: God wrapped in human flesh. The hope that God brings is more than a pipe dream; it is the certainty that God is now with us and is our God. We may fail to see God, however, because He so frequently uses the ordinary and the everyday. Let’s be sure to keep our eyes on the ‘bright morning star’ as we journey on in faith.