Looking for the star
ROSALIND HERBERT
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What is the importance of the Star of Bethlehem in the celebration of Christmas?
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AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY: The Star of Bethlehem.
The Star of Bethlehem plays a significant part in the celebration of Christmas. Jesus Christ was born during the reign of the great Roman emperor Caesar Augustus.
Many years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretold that a messiah would be born in a stable and that wise men from the east would follow a star, which would lead them to the manger and to the baby.
The story is told of how the wise men (called the Magi) travelled from afar to pay homage to the Saviour and were guided by the light of the star, which stopped at the manger where Jesus was born.
Herod, king of all Judea, had strictly told the wise men that they should return to him when they had found the baby Jesus saying he wanted to go and worship him. But the wise men knew that Herod wanted to kill the baby and they went home in a different route. Herod was enraged. He sent out an edict that all children under the age of two should be put to death. Mary and Joseph had travelled many miles to Jerusalem during the festival of the Passover, when the Angel of God passed over the Israelites who had smeared blood on their doorposts. The Israelites ate the Passover lamb standing and in haste as is the custom even today. The Passover festival was a commemoration of their escape from slavery in Egypt and safe journey into Israel.
Many people gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It also coincided with the taking of the census by the Roman government as the Jews had to pay tribute to Caesar and sign the register.
In Bethlehem
And that was why Mary and Joseph were there even though Mary was heavy with child and her time was near. Mary rode on an ass as she was already in labour and they halted in Bethlehem, 18 miles from Jerusalem.
There was no place in any of the inns, but a kindly inn-keeper seeing Mary's condition took pity on them and allowed them to rest in the stable. It was here that Jesus was born.
Now, Jacob and Sarah lived just behind the inn at Bethlehem. The innkeeper Nehemiah was a good friend of theirs. People had been filtering into Bethlehem and the Roman soldiers found it difficult to keep law and order.
"Do you know, Sarah, I distinctly heard a baby cry last night," said Jacob.
They both agreed that they had heard a baby cry in the night, from the stable, outside their house.
"Listen Sarah," said Jacob, "I am going to the stable to see what is going on. Are you coming? Look Sarah, the shepherds are running down the hill carrying their lambs. They are shouting excitedly and pointing to a very bright star. Look Sarah, look. It is such a lovely star. Come on, let's go and find out."
Years later, this same star had beautiful lyrics written by famous musicians in praise of it. A very common carol is "Noel, Noel."
Sad to say, Israel in not a haven of peace today. But the Church of the Nativity (built on the site where Jesus was born) has not been affected.
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