They saw a star
Don Coldsmith
Originally published 10:24 a.m., December 24, 2007
Updated 10:24 a.m., December 24, 2007
Since I was a child, I’ve wondered about the Star of Bethelem. We have all the stories about it, descriptions of its appearance, each a little different.
I wrote not long ago about the illogical story of the shepherds in the fields in midwinter when there was nothing to graze.
The Wise Men spent some time on their journey, too, even on fast horses. The story never actually says that they were all there at the same time, of course, and they probably weren’t.
My apologies, right here, to those who will insist on the exact scene as we imagine it. But, there’s really no hint in the scripture about how long the biblical story lasted with all the various visitors. A day or two, a month, maybe SEVERAL months. Or was the time period that it took for the Wise Men to travel from Arabia that winter about the same as it would take for the shepherds to drive the year’s sheep to newly grown pasture that same summer?
Adding all of this together would seem to me to indicate that all of this didn’t happen in a day or two or a night or two, all at the same season, as in our celebrations.
With the changing of the seasons and all, the Star in the East must have been there for some length of time. Long enough to see it, travel for weeks or months, and presumably to still see it when they arrived in Bethlehem.
We once visited a wonderful astronomical observatory at Christmas time, in which the display had been wound back to about the time of Jesus’ birth. That’s pretty well established, of course.
At about that time, things were noted, dealing with several of the major planets. Each was associated with a lineage of one of the branches of the Israelites — i.e. “The House of David,” etc. These might indicate Mars, Saturn, Jupiter — others.
These people were associated, traditionally, with these heavenly symbols, which were thought of as symbolic of their tribes. Their scientists could watch, maybe for a season or two, as the symbols of these tribes, or “houses” made their way across the night sky.
But that seems to me to have been a commonplace event, understood and expected, already a part of their culture. The “Star of Bethlehem” seems to imply something more important.
Also, something more spectacular and lasting longer than the mere movement of the planets, which we see every year. This was something special, EXPECTED by their educated scholars and covering a bigger patch of sky than we usually see involved in the heavens. Lasting, perhaps, for weeks. Something like a comet, maybe. I remembered that a few years ago, we watched Halley’s Comet for several weeks, as it made its way across the southern sky.
Back in the 1980s, wasn’t it? Out came the encyclopedias. Yes, 1886. Previous to that, 1910, a cycle of 77 years. It was a pretty spectacular patch of light, a sight which made the heart beat a little faster, and once more brought to mind the insignificance of mere humans.
Life expectancy at the time of Christ was probably about half what it is now. Halley’s Comet would be seen probably once. Now, a few people may have an opportunity to have seen the Comet twice, once as a child and once in their declining years.
Realistically, it’s probably doubtful that anyone in their late 80s would remember something seen before we started to school. Consequently, the facts about Halley’s Comet don’t really impress us as a possibility that it may have been what the Wise Men (i.e., educated scientists) saw.
From this point of view, it becomes obvious: Most human beings who have a normal life span will have one chance, one summer in which we may be able to wonder at the magnificent sight of the Star which may have guided the Wise Men and shepherds to witness the scene of the Nativity.
And, to quote once more the wisdom of my own Dad, a Methodist clergyman, “Anything that makes someone feel closer to God, and doesn’t hurt anyone else, should be okay with me, shouldn’t it?”
See you down the road.
TruthRising (anonymous) says...
I have been to Isreal numerous times. Bethlehem is not in the mountains like Jerusalem. The climate changes drastically within those few miles. While it may snow more often in Jerusalem, it is significantly milder in Bethlehem. Also, the winters are mild enough to support sheep that are capable on feeding low to the ground similar to goats. There were no gigantic livestock barns that thousands of sheep are rounded up into during winter to keep them warm. Of course, as I can attest, they stay in the field in the winter. Not only that, but during the time of Jesus, the temple sacrifice sheep were kept close and available all year for sacrifice. Anyone who had been to Israel knows there is no distance in the nation it would take two years to traverse. You can walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem in about 2 hours not pushing very hard. At its best it is 263 miles from north to south and varies between 9 and 71 miles wide. The climate from Jerusalem to Tiberias changes to sub-tropic - all year grazing and growing. Then it changes again at the Golan Heights. A shepherd could drive his sheep a mere 10 miles per day and move them from Jerusalem, or even Bethlehem, to graze in sub-tropic Sea of Galilea region. I see sheep in Kansas grazing in the winter until snow gets too bad and the Israel doesn't get nearly the snow we do. It normally only snows, rarely, but in the mountains like Jerusalem. But seven to ten miles down the mountain and you are in the valley around Bethlehem - rarely snow. Israel has several climate zones - Mediterranean, Mountain, desert, and sub-tropic - in a very small nation.
The Bible doesn't say the wise men came when Jesus was born.
The star obviously was able to stop in such a location that the travelers were able to pinpoint the location of the Christ. Think about it. Could a star or a comet do that. It is very high and two people 30 miles apart might both insist it is above them. Like finding a needle in a haystack. Another translation of the word "star" found in revelation is angel. Could it have been a brightly shining angel? I guess it could unless you don't believe in spirits.
Stop blaming your father for what you have chosen not to believe. It's not his fault. He also does not lend to your credibility. Go to Israel. You'll learn a lot.
December 27, 2007 at midnight ( permalink | suggest removal )
TruthRising (anonymous) says...
To finish a thought - if a shepherd wanted to drive his sheep 10 miles per day to sub-tropic Sea of Galilea region from Jerusalem or Bethlehem, it would take only 6 to 7 days.
December 27, 2007 at 12:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )