And they having heard the king went their way; and lo, the star, which they had seen in the east, went before them until it came and stood over the place where the little child was.
The wise men leave Herod's court with the words of the prophets in their ears. At that moment the sign that first set them travelling comes back into view. Two questions follow: what was this star, and why did it return just then?
A common picture has the star hanging over the caravan for the whole journey west. Writers on this verse point out that the text does not say that.
It is also wrong to think that the star guided the wise men from the East across a vast stretch of country and finally brought them to Jerusalem. The star they had seen in the East went before them only after they had departed from Jerusalem. It then says, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." This shows that for a time they did not see the star.
Their joy at seeing it is the evidence. You do not rejoice over the return of something you never lost. Some older translations read "in the East" where the ESV says the star was seen "when it rose."
While the star was out of sight, guidance came through Scripture. Men who knew the text well handed it on to others.
They are like signposts on a road along which they do not move an inch. They pass on the word to those who value it... They alone obey the Word and turn their faces toward Bethlehem. As they do, the star they had lost along the way appears again. It goes before them until it comes and stands over the place where the young child is. It does not leave them now until they are face to face with Him they seek.
The order matters. The sign returned only after they acted on what they had heard.
We shall find it true in our own experience, that where we act in simple obedience, we find all that is necessary. God always takes special care of those who are true to the light, however little it is. But nothing offends Him more than a big claim to light with no heart for the true light, which is Christ.
Commentators differ here. Some hold that no natural event in the sky can account for it.
The star was surely supernatural. No lining up of planets, such as Kepler pointed out, could be called a star. Nor could it have produced such a complete conviction in men who knew the heavens well. It was, in fact, a beautiful witness of the God of nature to the men of nature. He is not bound by the regular order of things, which we so need if we are to have a stable world to count on.
Another writer leaves room for a natural event in the sky at the same moment, without insisting on it:
I do not say that this coincidence is what the magi saw, but it might be the case, since such was the state of the heavenly bodies when these men came up.
Why would a star mean a king to men who lived far from Israel? One writer points to an old prediction that people in the East kept alive.
The "Star" and the "Sceptre" plainly refer to Christ; the former in His first advent, the latter in His second. Quite possibly people in the East remembered this prediction about the "Star" and handed it down from generation to generation. That would have given the "wise men from the east" the idea that the remarkable star they saw marked the birth of the King of the Jews.
The star did not stop over a town. What kind of star can come to rest over one house?
Astronomers tell us there is no record of any special star or comet in the sky at that time. It seems likely God sent this one just for them to see. It could not have been a huge star. It was more like a meteor, since it came close enough to earth to stand right over the house where the Lord was. So it seems it was meant only for the wise men. He was no longer in the manger, but in a house.
- Lost — the star did not stay with them the whole way. Their great joy at seeing it again proves there was a stretch of road without it.
- Word — in that gap God guided by Scripture, handed on by men who knew the text but never moved toward Bethlehem.
- Obeyed — the sign returned as they turned toward Bethlehem. God takes special care of those true to the little light they have.
- Personal — it went before them and stopped over one house, and did not leave them until they stood face to face with the Child.
- Debated — writers differ on what the star was, supernatural or partly natural. They agree on where it led: to the Child Himself.
And when they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Wise men from the east had followed a star to find the newborn King. Somewhere between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, that light came back into the sky. This verse records what that sight did to them. It also divides two kinds of people: those who know where the King is, and those who go to Him.
If the star had shone over them the whole journey, seeing it again would be no cause for joy.
Some say the star travelled along with the wise men. It is a common but very strange mistake. Scripture not only gives no hint of it, but contradicts it. "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." They had seen it in the east. After they questioned Herod, it appeared again and pointed out the birthplace of Jesus. If the Son of the Highest was born into the world, I see nothing strange in an extraordinary event marking it out — an event suited to the wise men's minds, and one that drew everyone's attention. The presence of the Son of God in the world was much more wonderful than that of the star.
Was this an ordinary star? One reference work treats it as sent for this one occasion:
From the account given of this star it is clear that it was sent for this birth alone. It did not only appear to the wise men in the East. It also guided them from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and "stood over" where the young child was. Faith in the power of God removes all difficulty about the star.
The star came back the moment they acted on the little they knew. One writer turns that into a rule for us.
They arrive at Jerusalem. When they leave it for Bethlehem, God encourages them again… And we shall find it true in our own experience: where we act in simple obedience, we find all that we need. God always takes particular care of those who are true to the light, however little it may be. Nothing is more hateful to Him than big claims to light in someone with no heart for the true light, which is Christ.
The scribes in Jerusalem gave Herod the right answer. They never went to Bethlehem themselves.
They quote the text for Herod; and they do it well; but they have no heart for the One they testify to. They are like signposts on a road along which they do not move an inch… The wise men alone obey the Word and turn their faces toward Bethlehem. As they do so, the star which they had lost along the way appears again and goes before them. It goes on until it comes and stands over where the young child is. It does not leave them now until they are face to face with Him they seek.
The same news reached the capital city and these travellers. It landed in opposite ways.
All Jerusalem was troubled; some Gentiles were made exceedingly happy. It was something like what Peter says: "joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory." The matter must have been very important to these men from the east. Otherwise they would never have taken such a long journey. They naturally thought Jerusalem, the capital, would be the birthplace of the King. And now, to see the star again was a great cause for rejoicing.
Why so much joy over a light in the sky? One writer answers from the journey behind them.
If you have a desire for Him, be encouraged by the example of these men. Let their example cheer you. We read — "When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy." Why? Because they had this thought: we are nearing the object of our search now. They travelled over that desert for long weary weeks and months. I have no doubt the question often rose in their minds: "Shall we find Him?" Now their search is about to be rewarded, and they rejoice.
They rejoiced at a sign before they had seen the King Himself. Did the reality match the sign?
But the worship was real, and the great joy with which they had greeted the star when it reappeared was, we may be sure, more than justified by the result.
- Lost light. The star had vanished for part of the journey. Scripture "contradicts" the idea that it went with them the whole way.
- Obedient step. They acted on the little they knew, and the light returned. God "takes particular care of those who are true to the light, however little it may be."
- Idle signpost. The scribes named Bethlehem correctly. They never walked there — right answers with "no heart for the One they testify to."
- Opposite hearts. One city was troubled by the news; outsiders were "made exceedingly happy" by the same news.
- Justified joy. Their gladness at a sign was "more than justified by the result." The star never left them until they stood face to face with Him.