The Magi’s Star – Astrology/Astronomy/Myth/or Miracle
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January 2, 2022
How did the Wise Men follow “A Star” westward to Jerusalem and then, follow it south to Bethlehem?
This movement of the magi's star is impossible. How can Christians argue against such a statement?
“Astrology was widely used at the time, and with the Magi coming from Babylon, it's plausible that they were astrologers. And due to a particular alignment of planets and stars, they may have read a hidden meaning among the stars, leading them to King Herod. For example, Jupiter's display could have been of great significance here, as astrology associated the planet Jupiter with royalty, so the moon passing it in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C. could have heralded the birth of Christ.”
A conjunction between planets and stars occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth. These events can continue every night in a similar location for days or weeks. If the wise men were to follow the moment of conjunction, it's possible they would have been led in a specific direction.
“[The] alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon and the sun in the constellation of Aries on April 17, 6 B.C … fits with the story for a few reasons. First, this conjunction happened in the early morning hours, which aligns with the Gospel's description of the Star of Bethlehem as a rising morning star. The Magi also lost sight of the star, before seeing it come to rest in the place where baby Jesus lay in the stable. This could have been the result of the retrograde motion of Jupiter, which means that it appears to change direction in the night sky as Earth's orbit overtakes it.”
The conjunction led them to Jerusalem, and there, they talked to the Jewish leaders who instructed them to go south to Bethlehem. So, the only time they used “The Star” to navigate was when they were approaching Bethlehem. Mt 2:9-11 says that they were overjoyed to see the star hanging over the town as they approached, and it led them to the house of the toddler Jesus.
Thus, you can tell all those who argue that Christ's infancy narrative is "mythical" that the only thing the New Testament asks you to believe about “The Star” is that some extraordinary celestial body passed over Bethlehem.
Image: pixabay.com - Star of Bethlehem
Most information from: https://www.space.com/star-of-bethlehem
