Reflections by the Pond
December 3, 2003

Christmas: Nothing to Hide

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18 niv

We have become accustomed to perceiving the Bethlehem star as a beacon--a directional, guiding, even prodding light that pointed the magi toward the place and time of Jesus' birth. And it certainly was that; how better to persuade a collection of astrologers and mystics to travel such a long distance to worship a new God not their own.

Man needs heavenly assistance to point him to Christ, for there are few things terrestrial that will. Man has also--since his first day in the Garden--given special attention to supernatural, or even just fascinating portents in the skies. Since his earliest days, earth-bound man has given respect to the language of the stars. So it makes perfect sense, on an earthly level, that God would point the way to the newborn Savior using star light.

But that ancient phenomenon was really more than just a beacon pointing the way. Up until then gods--and even the God--had been shrouded in ominous mystery. Pagan gods dwelt in the shadows, and even Jehovah restricted access to His holiest place to the high priest--and then only once per year.

Then he took the testimony and put it into the ark, and attached the poles to the ark, and put the mercy seat on top of the ark. He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up a veil for the screen, and screened off the ark of the testimony, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Exodus 40:20-21 nasbu

The Bethlehem star did not just point the way, but also illuminated the object of the magi's adoration. For now God would be revealed to man. No longer would access be restricted to just "holy" men, and no longer would Jehovah God be only for Jews. The incarnation of God in a lowly stable of Bethlehem meant that now man--any man, woman or child of any race--would have direct access to his Maker and Lord.

From now on God would not only be more available, but He would be more visible, more explained. He was now dwelling, for a while, on earth. He would dwell in flesh, and thus be touchable. His words would be audible to anyone within hailing distance. He could be embraced, and like the earthy breath of his place of birth, he would have about Him the smell of men.

The illuminating star was God's first way of declaring that in Christ there would be a new and wondrous access to Him. Light removes the shadows; it removes the mystery that so intimidates and repels. Light describes something that was previously cloaked in darkness. Jesus describes the invisible God. More than that, since Jesus is Light, the heavenly light of the star reveals its kin:

And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." John 12:44-46 nasbu

The Bethlehem star was God saying to man, "Come unto Me. Look upon Me. For I have nothing to hide."