The magi’s message from the star does not end with the statement that they were seeking the newborn king of the Jews. Since the star has announced him as King of the Jews, the magi proceed to the Jewish capital: to Jerusalem for the King of the Jews. This points out a great difference between Jesus and Herod, who was not born king of the Jews but acquired the kingship by his cunning and by the grace of Rome.īecause of his innate kingly stature, a celestial sign marks his birth as that of the King of the Jews. The message heard and the meaning taken from the magi’s star is that Jesus is born King of the Jews. The eager audience immediately learns the reason for their visit as the story quotes the magi, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage” (Matthew 2:2).
Matthew’s audience lends its ears to the voice of the gospel reader and hears that magi, or astrologers, have arrived from the East in the city of Jerusalem, the center of the world for the Jewish people. In this excerpt, Pettem examines the ancient meaning of the star that the magi would have understood, giving us a deeper understanding of this famous symbol. In The Star of Bethlehem: Science, History, and Meaning, Michael Pettem combines a modern scientific understanding of stellar phenomena with a fascinating account of ancient astronomy and history to illuminate this key biblical event. The star of Bethlehem is one of the most recognizable elements of the Christmas story, and yet its true nature and meaning are shrouded in mystery. Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest Email LinkedIn