The final candle is lit on the Advent wreath to celebrate the arrival of the Christ child. Merry Christmas to one and all!
And here is the final installment of my Advent devotional. Once again, it is purely for you to read if you want to. The final piece is from the Wisemens' perspective. Although most of our Nativity scenes depict them as arriving on the night of Christ's birth, they probably came much later- most likely a year. We know this because of the word which the Gospel writer Luke uses to describe Jesus- a word for child which meant a child of toddler age.
We had studied and calculated and charted the stars more times than I wanted to count. And with each and every calculation, the signs and portents were all the same. The blazing star that beckoned us each and every night signified the birth of a glorious king; one who far surpassed any other we had known of or knew now. We were convinced that we must meet him. So the provisions were packed. The camels made ready. It will be an arduous trip. We will first cross to the Great River and follow it northward. Upon reaching Dura-Europa we will cross over to Palmyra and on through the desert to Damascus. This will be the most significant part of our journey, for the desert is arid and hot under the sun, but cold and dangerous with the moon's light. We will then turn southward toward Jerusalem, for we understand from ancient times that this is where the royalty of David reside and our studies show that this new king is from his line.
It’s so easy to travel today. You can call a travel agent who will make all the arrangements for you. If you know how to find things on the Internet you can make your own arrangements and save money by planning the trip by yourself. You can travel by plane, by boat, by train or car. If you live in the city, you might travel around by taking a taxi, a bus or even a bicycle. And some people even travel just by hiking with everything they need in a back-pack. When the Wisemen traveled to see the baby Jesus, they had no travel agencies helping them out. They didn’t have a map, GPS, or a fancy hotel to stay in. They didn’t have a car, a bus, or a motor home. They had camels, tents, and a star.
Where did the Wisemen come from and how did they know to follow the star? A long time ago, a man named Daniel had been taken captive into the land of Babylon. Daniel faced many dangers in Babylon but God protected him. Daniel loved God and became an important leader in Babylon. Daniel was also very wise. He understood the Scriptures and taught the Babylonian astronomers all about the prophecies written in them. Many years later, these Wisemen realized the prophecies were coming true when they saw the star. They began their long journey from Persia (formerly Babylon) to Israel to see the promised Messiah because they believed the prophecies were true.
The star was no ordinary star, comet or planet. Its appearance must have been so unusual that it immediately caught the attention of these Arabian astronomers. They searched their books and ascertained the cause of the phenomena was a royal birth. The people of the ancient world often associated significant events with spectacles in the sky, so it was not surprising they were willing to take the long journey to discover the source of such a beautiful light. Although tradition says that there were three Wisemen, that number is only assumed since three gifts are mentioned. They probably traveled in a much larger group which is why Herod the Great was so concerned about the king that they sought. He did not have a legal claim to the seat of power in Jerusalem as an official heir of David would. His inquiry about the whereabouts of this child, so that he too may go and worship, is purely politically motivated. But Herod's intent is thwarted by a dream the Lord sends to the Wisemen. Averted from returning to Herod, they leave Bethlehem by another route and head to the eastern side of the Dead Sea, traveling north on the other side of the Jordan River.
Many people like to put stars on the top of their Christmas tree to remind them of the celestial sign that guided the Wisemen on their way to Jerusalem. Some scholars have suggested that this light was similar to the Pillar of Fire that guided the people of Israel in the wilderness. No matter what the star looked like, it takes great faith to make such a long journey. It takes great faith to believe in something you can’t see. But faith like that is always rewarded. .
When we put our faith in Jesus, it is just like taking a journey as the Wisemen did. The Wisemen were rewarded when they found the Child. The star reminds us of the rewards for following Jesus. Every year at the beginning of Advent we take a journey to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. We begin a journey of faith and look to the Holy Spirit, God's Light in us, to help us see the way to the manger. We are rewarded when we recognize that Christ is the center of Christmas. He is our Savior and He has promised that He will come again. Our faith in Jesus will be rewarded when Jesus returns. Until then the Holy Spirit will guide us on our journey of faith.
@ididntdoit87 Thank you Hillary!
@summerfield Thank you Vikki!
Thank you Carla, Rick, Bev, Ana, and Kathryn! We had a wonderful Christmas and wish the same to each and every one of you!
@sangwann Thank you Dione! I am so glad you enjoyed reading it!