“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”  (Numbers 24:17)

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”  (Revelation 22:16)

Light has become an integral part of our Christmas traditions because of the start that guided the magi to Bethlehem and to the one born King.  I think it is no accident that the star played an import part in the narrative of our Savior’s birth.  It was prophesized that, “a star shall come out of Jacob.”  Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of that prophecy.  Jesus, toward the end of Revelation, refers to himself as “the bright morning star.”  The morning star is actually not a star but rather the planet Venus which appears as the last brightest object in the sky before dawn.  I believe Jesus takes this as a title for himself as a symbol that with his coming a new day of light had arrived.  Indeed now we walk in the light of Jesus amid the darkness of the world around us.  As you see the lights of Christmas this year, celebrate the star that came out of Jacob, Jesus Christ, the Morning Star.

STAR IN THE EAST

Hail the blest morn, see the great mediator
Down from the regions of glory descend.
Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger,
Lo! for his guard the bright angels attend.

Chorus:
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thy aid.
Star in the east, our horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant redeemer was laid.

Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining,
Low lies his bed, with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him, in slumber reclining,
Maker, and Monarch, and Sovereign of all.

Chorus

Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odors of Eden and offerings divine,
Gems from the mountain and pearls from the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Chorus

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gold we his favor secure,
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.