Matthew 2:9, 10
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
Peter the disciple and apostle of Jesus said in his second Epistle: 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the mourning star rises in your hearts. II Peter 1:19
The wise men upon hearing the word of the king they departed and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them. While in their home land it had seen the writings of what we call the Old Testament that had guided these men to the truth. The scriptures point to Jesus as the coming Messiah and the rightful King of David’s throne. Their hearts will filled with gladness.
Now, all Jerusalem was abuzz with the news of this new born King. The religious leaders had heard the news from the shepherds but had disregarded because it came from ignorant and lowly shepherds. Shepherds were considered outcast of society for they smelled like sheep and lived with sheep. Yet strangely enough, sheep were used for food and clothing. They were also an integral part of the sacrificial system pointing toward the coming messiah who is described as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of this world.
Then along came these wise men from the East, who followed the star. These learned men that had studied the heavens and saw something unusual in a new star, never before seen star that seemed to move before them. They had read the scriptures and saw in Numbers 24:17 17 I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.
Again the religious leaders rejected the claims made by the wise men as being false for how could these heathen Gentiles possibly know these things. Thus the religious leaders determined to show their contempt for these reports by not evening bothering to visit Bethlehem, seeing whether these things were even true.
Throughout the ministry of Jesus upon this earth the common people, even the gentiles sought to be around him. But, even from the time of His birth the religious leaders began the rejection of Christ that would eventually result in His death.
Yet while the door of light was closing for the religious leaders, this same door was opening before the Gentiles.
The wise men departed from Jerusalem alone and perhaps a little bewildered as to why so few knew and even fewer understood the events that had so recently taken place in Bethlehem. There before them was the star leading them to Bethlehem.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the mourning star rises in your hearts. II Peter 1:19
Christ is that mourning star shining out upon the darkness of this earth. The Holy Spirit goes before preparing the way, making fertile the hearts of men until the day dawns and Christ the Mourning Star rises in your heart.
When they had come to Bethlehem, they came into the house . . .
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