Life Notes
The Brightest Star
By Tim Russ
(Matthew 2:1-2 NIV) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
Ah, Christmas, that time of year where we pull out all the decorations, eggnog, presents and good times. Almost everyone tops the tree with a star and the nativity scenes come with a star. The star that shone at the first Christmas gained the attention of the entire world.
That star guided the wise men, Magi, keepers of the limited knowledge of astronomy mingled with the old fallacies of astrology. They combined their knowledge of astronomy with spirituality and came to the conclusion that a special king was being born.
They followed that knowledge to its ultimate conclusion. They found the King that had been prophesied. His entry into the world was quite different than these men of great knowledge had anticipated. A small child laying in a cave in the side of a hill. Humble parents. No great fanfare. The meekest of entries into a world of sin.
Today we top our Christmas trees with stars in remembrance of that wondrous journey these three men undertook. We remember how God used forces in the universe to announce the arrival of the baby king, gift to humanity. But are we focusing on the real star?
The child born in Bethlehem that night was much more than a human being. He was God in the flesh! Jesus, Son of God, had entered into the body created for him, in submission to the will of His Father. God had humbled himself to become a man in order to give humanity its greatest opportunity.
God's pleasure in His Son's perfect submission was that of a glowing father. It glowed so brightly that it lit up the night sky. It was the glow of God's great love for all of us.
Jesus gave us the shining example of God's love. The brightness we need to be focused upon is the brightness that God has shined upon us. It is a light that has shined among the Gentiles. It is a brightness that removes all darkness. It's brilliance washes away all the fears of the darkness and all the stains that accompany that darkness.
If you have not accepted that shining gift that God has offered us all so freely I urge you to open the door of your heart and ask him to shine his light into your darkness. If you are a child of the King through his great mercy I invite you to become a sun bather and bask yourself in the Son's bright glow.
(Revelation 22:16 NIV) "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
Copyright © 2007 Tim Russ. All rights reserved.