Stars do more than cook…they tell a story!
We love the star that enables us to cook - but stars do far more than that. They give off life sustaining energy and heat, enable us to see and even navigate the globe. They are breathtaking on a clear night and help us see how small we really are in this universe. But more than that, they tell an amazing story…
One particular 'star' you may have heard of, thinking it was a fairytale - but it turns out is far more than that… Christmas - ‘the star of the fairytale’ It is recorded that around 25th Dec 2 BC some wise men (called Magi) arrived at Bethlehem after following a 'star' to give gifts to a toddler living in a house. He had been born in a dirty stable but by the time these Magi arrived, Mary, Joseph and Jesus had moved on. The Magi had travelled for around 1500km by camel to get there and gave very expensive, symbolic gifts to this little baby. Why? What was this star and what does that mean for you today?
How looking at the stars led to amazing Revelations!
Stars / Astrology
In times of old, long before electricity, peple were acutely aware of the stars / planets and how they moved at night. Some men who were highly educated, (and wise) realised that the stars seemed to anounce major events - like their motion was planned. They studied and looked intently for the signs that had revealed major events: they were acutely aware of the heavenly bodies...
**September of 3 BC The king planet (Jupiter) went into close conjunction (nearly touched) with the king star (Regulus). This was a rare enough event on it's own, however this time it happened not once but 3 times. The stars were saying King! King! King! It got their attention.
But not only this - where this sign happened was also amazing. It happened at the feet of the constellation Leo (the Lion). Why is this important? Because In the Bible thousands of years earlier, it is said the King will come from Judah (the Lion) and the rulers staff will be between His feet! (Genesis 9:9-10)
Amazingly, after this, Virgo the virgin constellation follows Jupiter into the sky with the sun enveloping 'her'. This fulfils more words from the Bible: “... I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head” (Revelation 12:1 )
Guess what they saw next at her feet? Right after this, the moon rises exactly as the scripture had said. The stars (and moon) were speaking, no wonder they took notice!
**June 2 BC Jupiter (the king planet) & Venus (the mother planet) come into such close conjunction they appear as one. From specific calculations, we know this would have been the about the brightest star anyone had seen in the sky up until this point. This ‘bright star‘ fulfils all 9 needed points of ‘the star’ mentioned in the Bible. Far from a fair tale, this actually happened.
**December 2 BC Jupiter, after it’s motion through the sky appears to stop (due to retrograde motion) right over the town of Bethlehem. These pagan Magi, following this stars trajectory, find Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus and give Him 3 symbolic gifts. GOLD - He was the king FRANKINCENSE - He was the priest MYRRH - He was born to die
Why did these highly eductaed men see the star and everyone else missed it? Because they were looking at the stars for signs, and they had studied the predictions of God’s prophets. You may wonder why pagan men in a pagan land were studying the Hebrew sacrd texts? This was thanks to Daniel in the lions den: the pagan ing was so amazed that he installed Daniel as a ruler, who influenced the religious foundation of that nation. Everything ties in together nicely...
The Predictions that Prove reliability…
Predictions
You may be very sceptical of predictions - with good reason. From the ambiguous writings of people like Nostradamus to the blatantly false and changing predictions of certain religions, to the weather / stock forecasts, they are often completely unreliable. However, there are verified examples where someone claimed God spoke to them, they give a prophecy and it comes true. You will find hundreds of pin point accurate prophecies and fulfilments in the Bible.
Some of these prophecies predicted the birth of a King who would save and rule. A few are below:
Many, many more were written and fulfilled, such that the probablity of them coming true are far outside the realm of possibility^2. But they have been verified, prooving the Bible reliable.
^2 Probability that just 48 Biblical prophecies about Jesus would come true = #1 chance in 10 ¹⁵⁷. The Bible has >1000 prophecies, 668 of which have been fulfilled! Of those, there are 322 prophecies about Jesus (the Messiah), the odds for just 48 of those being fulfilled? 157 zeros!
What is the Story?
The Real Story:
As amazing as all this is about the stars and ‘Christmas’, the true Star is the one born in a manger.
The whole Bible tells the details of a loving God, Creator of everything, who brings life to everything. Despite His love, care and protection, people chose to do the only one thing He said not to. The intimate relationship between God and humans was broken: guilt, shame and sin entered the previously perfect world. The effects of this ‘fall‘ should have lasted forever - it should have left us all doomed…
But God makes temporary provision for sinful people by supplying animals to be the payment for their sins. If a perfect lamb was killed, the blood would be accepted as payment for the people’s sin against the Holy, perfect, loving God. God provided a way for people to live with Him despite their sin. But they still could not come too close or they would die.
But then, planned from the beginning, God sent His own and only Son to earth. His own Son would become the one and only sacrifice for sin, for all people, for all time. Jesus, the Lamb of God was perfect, Divine. He lived a sin-free life and performed many. many miracles. Then, after telling His disciples what was about to happen, He allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured, humiliated and killed. His life, ministry and death fulfilled hundreds of prophecies spoken thousands of years earlier, to the letter!
You've likely heard about it, because a few days later, He rose from the dead (again fulfilling prophecy) appearing to hundreds of people before retruning to Heaven.
But why did He go through so much?
Why is the Story Relevant?
He did it for you and me! God didn't want humans to be separated from Him for one minute longer. He knew we were covered in sin and doomed to hell.
He had set certain laws in place like: "the soul that sins, it shall die" "the wages of sin is death" So anyone who has sinned (told a lie, thought up their own 'god', stolen anything, lusted after another human [porn/sex b4 marriage], dishonoured their parents etc) was condemned to death & hell.
But He didn't want that to happen so he sent His One and only Son to earth to pay your fine on the cross.
Only God Himself could cleanse you of sin. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die on your behalf. God's wrath against sin, meant for you and I, landed on Jesus instead. When He died on the cross, He paid the price for all your sin.
No matter who you are, what you have done or what you believe - there is only one way to be made right with God - by the blood of Jesus. Ask God to save you this Christmas. He can. Believe and Trust what Jesus did for you and your sin.
Repent (turn away from your sin) and follow Jesus. In return He will change you, help you and save you. If He saves you, you will live with Him forever. This Christmas why not think about Jesus - the one who started this whole thing? Give Him your life, honour Him as King, Priest and Saviour! His birth was God’s gift of life to you! The code for a discount is “Save me Jesus”
How can I know?
Bible
We have heard how the Bible describes the incredible events around the birth and death of Jesus…and conatins many prophecies about said events.
In fact, the whole Bible, from start to finish, reveals God's master plan for humans. It is a profound yet simple plan that involves the Creator becoming part of His Creation and rescuing the people He created.
If you think it is a crazy claim, or you don't believe - that is fine. Just look at the actual evidence and the trustworthiness of the Bible. (Contact us for a comprehensive list)
Repeatedly, the Bible makes claims that should be very easy to prove false. In fact, many have tried to do that very thing - some even devoting large sections of their lives to that cause. But the result is often that the person will come to trust the Bible's reliablity and message.
It is truly unique. From prophecies to history to archealogy to sceince to numerology to textual criticism, to external corroboration, there is plenty of evidence to point us towards trusting the Bible.
No matter which way you examine the Bible, you will be faced with the same questions: “Will I believe it? ” and “what will I do about it? ”. Our desire is that you would be willing to ask God to reveal Himself to you, that you would know the Truth about Jesus and that you would be saved. It will change everything!
How can I know?
You can meet this Star by reading the Bible here: https://www.biblestudytools.com/nlt/john/1.html (Bible Study Tools - NLT version). You can read or even listen for free. There is also a free phone app called YouVersion.
The Bible is God’s love letter to you - read it as if He is speaking directly to you - because He is!! The goal is to meet the Author as this will change everything.
I would recommend reading and re-reading the Gospel of John. Even listen to it as you drift off to sleep - the difference it makes is amazing!
A helpful ’system’ can be to read ¾ New Testament and ¼ Old Testament. Of the New Testament, make ½ of that in the Gospel of John (or other Gospels - Mathew, Mark or Luke).
Reading each book from start to finish is the safest, though take your time and ask God to reveal Himself to you as you read at your own pace. If you have questions, ask Him & then read wherever you feel led. The more you read the more you will experience the profound change.