The three wise men who came from the East followed a star. They believed that whatever they saw in the sky meant that a new king was being born for Judah. These men were astrologers, people who read the future and see omens in the sky. They were also astronomers and knew the orbits of the planets, the sun and the moon and about the stars themselves.
It is suggested by some modern astronomers that what the wise men saw was either a nova or two or more planets coming together and so seeming much brighter and bigger. Probably it involved the planet Jupiter as this was considered to be an omen of something royal happening.
Christmas day was only fixed by western Christians on the 25th of December about 400 years after the death of Jesus. This was probably to coincide with the Roman festival of the winter solstice, rather than being the actual birthday of Jesus. It seems most likely from astronomical evidence that Jesus was really born in the spring.
Working it Out
1. Astrologers look at planets and stars and chart their movements. What are the names of the 12 constellations of stars, one for each month of the year, which are birth signs? Does your newspaper have ‘your future in the stars’ or something similar? Are the predictions so general they could apply to anyone? Could they apply to you?
2. If you have internet access see: http://www.savannah-weather.com/weather/star.htm. When do the writers consider the most likely year for Jesus to be born?
3. What can you find out about the mid-winter festivals in your country?
4. Read the story of the three wise men: Matthew 2:1-12 Can you find out what the gifts they brought the baby Jesus were and why did they bring these particular gifts? What were the gifts used for or what did they symbolise? The Christmas Carol “We three Kings” might give you a few clues.
