A God Wink.

We Three Kings. Love it. It is one of my all-time favorite Christmas jingles... it's the low octave and haunting melody that gets me every time. But, it is also who the Magi were that moves me...

While the Israelites felt mounting anticipation of the long prophecized new king, what is often not mentioned is the prophecies and anticipation outside of the Jewish faith that also pointed towards the coming of a new great Ruler. In the West, Roman historians Suetonius and Tacitus both record such expectations. And in the East, we turn to the Magi as our example.

Of course, there is speculation on exactly who these men were; what (for the most part) is agreed upon is that the Magi did not worship the God of Israel and that astrology and celestial signs were an important part of their belief system. The "Star of the East," as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, served as an important omen to the Magi and prompted their long journey from (most likely) Babylon to Bethlehem.

I believe that the ancient anticipation found outside of Israel of a great Judean Ruler is a powerful reality to sit with. While our Lord moved in and through the Israelites, He is a God who walks in every detail, and His prophecy was an important part of His coming. Just as He does today, God, who came to save all mankind and not only Israel, meets all of us at different points in our walk towards Him. The expectation of His coming by non-Israelites is just another example of His perfect providence and provision. 

Biblical scholars and astronomers have offered their own theories on what exactly the "Star of the East" was, also called the "Star of Bethlehem." Some surmise it was a comet or supernova; however, both of these explanations fall short of explaining the full extent of the "Star of the East" that was recorded in Scripture and ancient astrological records from that time. A strong theory with significant support is a rare visible occurrence of Jupiter and Saturn aligning — an event that happens just short of every 1000 years and hasn't happened since the Middle Ages. This close conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn means that as both planets pass one another on separate planes of rotation, they create a phenomenon that, from the Earth, is seen as a bright spot in the sky visible from anywhere over a period of a few days. 

I am not an astronomer, (I struggle with finding the big dipper when my kids ask), so my explanation may fall short of scientific precision. However, what I do know is that this once-every-thousand-year event happened again just a few years ago during the height of Covid in December 2020 when everything felt quite unsure and broken. What perhaps is even more of a God-wink is that the two planets' visible conjunction reached its peak on December 21 — the Winter Solstice. On the shortest and darkest day of the year, our sky glowed as a reminder to the world of the birth of Christ and His mission to bring the light of hope to our broken world.  

My dear reader, you certainly don't need a narrative from me underscoring the beauty of this timing. Our Heavenly Father is so good all the time. This twinkle in the sky that was last seen during the invasions of Genghis Khan and last seen before that when our Lord Jesus Christ was a baby just recently slipped through our sky again. It is a grace to be connected with generations past in this special way, a common thread that ties a unique experience together. It reminds us that we are a part of something bigger — a family of men and women who come into this world and look toward the heavens for something more. And perhaps the most beautiful gift of all is realizing the beautiful truth that there is indeed something to be seen when we look up. The limitations of our human eye may not always catch the glory that is God, but He is always present, commanding the galaxies, and moving each of us towards the gifts of wonder and hope. Let us remember that even in the midst of our worldly trials and sufferings, there are still beautiful things to be seen, that God is still in control, and that just when we need it most, He will always remind us that He is the light that shines in the darkness.

Today, teach your child about Epiphany and the Magi by downloading the Pray, Grow, and Serve below!