In the east?

From: Vanetten.Edward (vanetten.edward@corona.navy.mil)
Date: Thu Dec 19 1996 - 11:54:00 EST


     Matthew 2:2 records that the Wise Men saw the star
     "in the east". I understand that this may
     be an idiom meaning "at its rising in the
     eastern sky". I always thought that "the east"
     referred to the Eastern region from whence
     the wise men came as stated in verse 1,
     "from the east to Jerusalem". In other words
     when the wise men first observed the "new
     star" appear, they were in their homeland
     "in the east[ern region]" located some distance
     east of Jerusalem. The "new star" SIGNALED the
     birth of the Christ child. It was not intended to
     be used as a constant guide from their homeland to
     the Christ child, as witnessed by verse 2 when
     the wise men asked "Where is he that is born
     king of the Jews?" They understood that this
     celestial phenomenon was a sign indicating the
     birth took place and upon seeing the expected
     sign, they made preparations for their long journey
     westward to Jerusalem to worship the long awaited
     for Messiah. In verse 7 Herod asked them how
     long ago was it that they first observed the
     star while they were "in the east" at their
     homeland. This gave him an approximate age
     of the child. When the wise men visited
     Jesus to bestow their gifs he is described
     as a "young child in a house", not a "babe
     in a manger", because of the several months
     that had elapsed from when the star had first
     appeared and when the wise men finally arrived
     at the home in which Jesus was living.
     
     I feel these wise men were not only knowledgable
     in astronomy, but more importantly were wise in
     understanding the things of God and his purposes.
     They had respect for the writings of the prophets
     that predicted the birth of the Messiah in
     Bethlehem. They came to WORSHIP the child, not
     just pay him a visit. They were under God's
     protection as indicated by the dream not to
     return to Herod. Perhaps they in their homeland had
     prophecies that spoke of a "new star" that would
     arise to signal the birth of the Christ child, and
     that this child would be born in the region
     around Jerusalem. Verse 9 records that the star
     "came and stood over where" Jesus was. This was
     reported by Matthew, because it was miraculous
     phenomenon, not just an event that normally occurs
     over the passage of time during the rotation
     of the earth. The life of Jesus was full of
     miracles and it started with his birth.
     The wise men were not lead from their homeland
     to Bethlehem by the star, but were lead there
     by their righteous desire to seek out and
     worship their Savior.
     
     Ed Van Etten
     Ontario, California
     vanetten.edward@corona.navy.mil



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