The Star and the Angelic Choir

    Many sermons preached during the Christmas season talk about the wonderful assortment of people who were brought to the Christ-child throughout the story. The humble Jewish shepherds, the rich, educated Magi, even Simeon and the prophetess Anna. But what is just as interesting are the various ways those different people were led to Jesus. Why did the shepherds get the choir of angels while the Magi got a star? Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit about the Christ-child, and we don't know how that happened, but it could well be very different from the other experiences in the story. The methods of revelation were as diverse as the characters to whom they were given. Why? We can't know for sure, but here's a thought.

    As each of us journey to know Jesus intimately as our Savior and Lord, and to realize the message of the Gospel in our lives, we sooner or later come to understand that each child has a unique relationship with the Father. Just as giftings, needs, and callings differ, so do each of our paths to finding Jesus. Simon Peter's journey to knowing Jesus was different from Mary's and Martha's, and Paul's was vastly different from Zachaeus'. Similarly, mine is different from my parents' and my friends'. Some are given visions and prophecies, others are provided unusual spiritual advisors, and still others are blessed with minds that are poured into study. But what we all have are the Holy Spirit's guidance and a path towards knowing Christ. And that is what we see in the Christmas story.

    Wouldn't it be wonderful if every one of us could experience the vision of angels? I'm sure the Magi would have loved it as well, and it surely would have enabled them to locate Jesus more easily. But that was not granted to them. Instead, they were given something that was probably a little less extravagant but that fitted their unique set of abilities and knowledge. There is considerable debate about who these eastern men were, the subjects in which they were educated, the very nature of the star (if it even was a star), and how they could possibly know what it meant. Those debates are beyond the scope of our discussion, but whatever the case may be, the Magi seemed to be the only ones who deciphered the message in the heavens. Could it be due to their possible connection to Jewish literature through Daniel? Or maybe their connection to the pagan prophet Balaam and his prophecies about Israel? Maybe it was their knowledge of astrology that helped crack the code, or maybe it was something else entirely. But the point remains that the message of the star of Bethlehem was perfect and sufficient for a certain kind of people.

    This is not to say that the method of revelation is any indication of a person's sophistication or social status. The star is not reserved for learned folks nor the angels only for the uneducated. They are just different, but perfectly fitted for their respective audience.

    In the same way, while some of us may want to have visions comparable to the Revelation, God may grant us only a star to guide our pursuit of Him. And that's okay. That's good. It shows that He knows each of us uniquely.

    The question now is: what do we do with what has been given to us? For the shepherds, it was: will you do what the angel said and spread the news? For the Magi, it was: will you follow the star? For Paul on the road to Damascus, it was: will you follow Jesus who appeared to you? For C. S. Lewis, it was: will you go where the truth leads, even if you go reluctantly?

    To each God grants as He wills, and with it comes a corresponding call to action. What will your answer be?