Scripture References: Matthew 2:1-12
Matthew in his beautiful story of the birth of Jesus makes much use of a star. He tells how wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, having followed the light of a star. They asked: saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). They continued to follow the star beyond Jerusalem “until it came to rest over the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9).
It was His star and Jesus was identified by its light. He was a baby with the light of a star in His face.
Eternity Entered Time
Light is one of the best marks of identification for Jesus. Matthew saw the coming of Jesus as the fulfillment of a prophecy that said: “The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16).
Luke spoke of His coming as “whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high” (Luke 1:78). The birth of Jesus was like a dawn, like the coming of morning. And Luke in his exquisitely beautiful story of the birth of Jesus tells how “the glory of the Lord shone around” (Luke 2:9) the shepherds as they kept “watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). John at the beginning of his Gospel wrote: “In him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
The climatic event of Jesus’ life, His resurrection, was set within light, the fresh lovely light of early morning. The women who brought spices to anoint His body discovered He had risen at the breaking of the morning. They looked into His empty tomb by the light of dawn.
Jesus said of Himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
It is not strange, however, that light is used to identify Jesus since the Bible as a whole makes such extensive use of it. It is one of the best metaphors to tell what God is like, what He is doing, and His presence in our world. It speaks eloquently of such moral and spiritual forces as, love, truth, goodness, and justice.
The Bible begins with light. The first thing God created was light. God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), and light broke over a dark, restless, chaos. The Bible ends with light. There is a new city perfectly lighted with no trace of darkness or evil in it. From beginning to end the Bible makes an extensive use of light.
The Bible speaks of the light of God’s countenance and His causing His face to shine upon us. His truth is light, and His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Isaiah tells us that “the Lord will be your everlasting light” (Isaiah 60:20).
There are three bold attempts to define God in the New Testament. God is spirit. God is love. God is light. “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). All three definitions are so simple. All words in the definitions are monosyllables. It must be the route of simplicity that leads us to reality.
Isaiah’s simple yet urgent invitation is typical of the spirit of the Bible: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5).
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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