It is interesting that the “Angel of the Lord” found in the Old Testament is often Christ Himself in a pre-incarnation appearance (Christophany). If that be accurate here, then Jesus announced His own birth! The multitude of angels praised God. Therefore let us sing, as God has graciously enabled us, with all our hearts the songs of Zion, and give praise unto the Lord our God!

Almost 1500 years before, came the words of God to Balaam: “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel. . .Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion” Numbers 24:17,19. Whatever their lineage, there were wise men in the east who had knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures. Whether in a pillar of a cloud or a fire by night, or Our Lord Himself, a Christophany, they saw the Star of Balaam’s prophesy! Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” Matt.2:1-3. (Herod regarded the news as a threat, not only to his throne, but to the Roman empire. But the chief priests and scribes: how they should have rejoiced in the proclamation of the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah!) But perhaps they are unbelieving; after all, if such an occasion were imminent, they should be the first to know; not some “wise men” from the east! “And he [the king] sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also” vs. 8. When they had heard the king, they departed; [they went “without the camp,” if you please: they departed from the wickedness of Jerusalem. They fulfilled Hebrews 13:13: “Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp. . .” Note the testimony of the wise men: “we have seen his star in the east.” They did not say, We have journeyed, following the star from the east. They came to Jerusalem, perhaps to inquire if the Jewish King was born there. It is after they left from their audience with Herod that “the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.”

“And lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Or should we read it, “and when they saw the Star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy? A duel meaning? They “came in [before the little throne of Grace],” they “saw,” they fell down, and worshipped,” they presented first, themselves; then their gifts. “They departed another way.” (When one enters the Presence of the Living Christ, he will not leave the same way he came!) Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men [but after all, Herod’s supposed wish to see and worship the Christ child was no less than mockery!]

The wise men were exceedingly joyful; Herod was exceedingly wroth! Notice, he sent forth and slew [first] all the children that were in Bethlehem. Herod was troubled; if troubled, then exceedingly anxious; if anxious, then exceedingly impatient! “Five miles to Bethlehem, five miles back! Where are those so-called wise men?” How long will this king sit and wait [or pace the floor of his palace?] He will not rest until this matter is settled!

Bethlehem is only about 5 miles south of Jerusalem. I wonder if Jerusalem could not have seen the light or the multitude of the heavenly host or have heard the thunderous praise: or wonder at the sight of a strange star that moved through the darkened sky: did no one notice? Could it be that the eyes of the wicked were darkened that they could not behold the Glory of God? Could it be that the Glory of God is seen only through the eyes of Faith? Herod! You theologians of Jerusalem! Go out and look for yourselves! Why don’t You follow the star! Then shall you see for yourselves the Son of the Most High God! But they did not; they could not; because they would not!

Look at the following verses in light of the birth of Christ: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” John 1:4,5. Why did the darkness not comprehend the Light? The text from John chapter three gives some explanation: “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be manifest, that they are wrought in God” John 3:17-21.

The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. When Saul journeyed to Damascus and was felled by the great light, those with him saw the Light that “shown round about” him and were afraid - sounds like the shepherd’s experience, doesn’t it? Saul testified, I could not see for the glory of that light! The Light shown in the darkness of the noonday sun! but only Saul heard and comprehended the Life-giving Word of that Light!

The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. When Moses and the congregation came to the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in pursuit, we read: “And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud of darkness to them, [the Egyptians] but it gave light by night to these: [Israel] so that the one came not near the other all the night” Exodus 14:19,20. How is it that Christ, who is Light, was darkness unto the Egyptians? Would any imagine Him to have a “dark side?” Did He withhold light; or did the darkness “comprehend it not?”

Behold! The Light!

John chapter seven enlightens us as to Jesus’ presence in Jerusalem at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. In the midst of festivities he was teaching in the temple. . .

“As the close of the first day of the feast was celebrated. . .the worshippers descended to the court of the women, where great preparations had been made. Four golden candelabras were there, each with four golden bowls, against each candelabra a ladder resting, upon them standing four lads from the rising youth of the priests, with pitchers of oil, wherewith they fed the lamps. The light from these lamps illuminated the whole city.” (M F. Unger)

(It has been said that the light from the temple atop that city might be seen even unto the Mediterranean Sea!)

It is the eighth day. The great lamps shine no more. Jesus “early in the morning. . .came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down and taught them.” John 8:2.

For seven days the temple that sat above Jerusalem issued forth light that brightened the entire city and the surrounding countryside. For seven days the people have gazed in awe upon this grand spectacle. With such a fiery example burned into their minds, our Lord makes a luminous comparison: “I AM the Light of the world!”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. . .And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”

Behold! The Light!

“And I saw no temple therein: for The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the Glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof” Rev. 21:22,23. He’s the Light of the City! “And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the Light of it:” Rev. 21:24. Are we walking, this day, in the Light of the Lamb?

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