This feral was very aggressive - it had been killing chickens and was a danger to children.

The Original Christmas Lights! It is thought that around 25th Dec 2 BC some wise men arrived at a house in Bethlehem after following ‘a star’ to give gifts to a baby…

Is it a fairytail -make-believe, is it based loosely on facts or is there more to it?

First off, most of what you have likely seen in movies and plays is incorrect. The baby was born in a dirty stable but by the time the wise men arrived, Mary, Joseph and Jesus had moved on. The baby would now have been more a toddler, the wise men weren’t just wise men (and there wasn’t just three!) and ‘the star’ wasn’t just some magical occurrence. There is a rational and very logical explanation…


Stars / Astrology
In the times these things happened, electricity had not yet been harnessed - the only lights were simple oil lamps and people were often outside at night - with open roofs for sleeping outdoors. When you live like this (coming from first hadn’t experience) you notice things in the night sky. A lot! the general people would notice much - but there would also be much that only the learned or people acutely looking for would see. Some, who were looking. were known as ‘wise men’.

But these ‘wise men’ were theologians, astronomers, astrologers, seers not just academics - they had many facets or understanding all encompassed in what we know as ‘wise men’. Called ‘Magi’, many realised that the stars and heavens were telling a story and declaring amazing things. We now know from science why they made such an important, long and costly journey: Here’s a little of what they actually saw…

September of 3 BC:
The king planet (Jupiter) went into close conjunction (nearly touched) with the king star (Regulus). This was rare enough, but this time it happened not once but 3 times. It was bright and noticeable, the stars were saying King! King! King!

But not only this - where it happened was also amazing. It happened near the feet of the constellation Leo (the Lion). Why is this important? Because In the Bible (Genesis 9:9-10) it is said the King will come from Judah (the Lion) and the rulers staff will be between His feet!

But then to add to this amazing one-off event, Virgo the virgin constellation follows Jupiter into the sky - the sun is shining on her and at her feet is the moon. The symbolism in what was being declared would have been unmissable to the learned. And although there is no written record of what they saw, the Bible records the vision of a man (John) on the Island of Patmos who sees what they saw:

Rev 12:1 “...I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head” A remarkable coincidence of impossible odds or were the stars speaking?

June 2 BC
Jupiter (the king planet) & Venus (the mother planet) come into such close conjunction they appear as one. The king and the mother come together - can anyone say ‘pregnant’!? From specific calculations, we know this is the brightest star anyone has ever seen in the sky up until this point. This ‘bright star‘ fulfils all 9 points of ‘the star’ that we read about in the famous Christmas narrative. The 9 points are listed at the end for those wanting to dig a little deeper and see this is no mystical or made up idea.
December 2BC
Jupiter, after it’s motion through the sky seems to stop (due to retrograde motion) right over the town of Bethlehem. The Magi (of unknown number) find Mary, Joseph and Jesus and give Him 3 symbolic gifts: GOLD - He was the king FRANKINCENSE - He was the priest MYRRH - He was born to die Why did these pagan Magi see the star and everyone else missed it? Because they were looking at the stars for signs, and they had read the predictions of God’s prophets thanks to Daniel who God saved from the lions. Amazing how everything ties in together nicely to preserve and point towards the Saviour!

Predictions
You may be very sceptical of predictions - with good reason. From the ambiguous writings of people like Nostradamus and some cults to the weather / stock forecasts, they are often wrong. Very wrong. There have been at times however, the True God actually spoke through prophets and specific things came true to the letter.

Pin point accurate and undeniable, the consequence for getting these wrong was death! When this happened people knew and wrote it down along with details of what actually happened (the fulfilment). You will find hundreds of these that are verifiable in the Bible.

Some of these prophesies however, were predicted for future times and wise men would (and do) look for their fulfilment. Some of these prophesies predicted the birth of a King who would save and rule. Some notable ones:

1. A virgin will give birth to ‘God with Us’(Isaiah 7:14).

2. A ruler will rise from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

3. He will be a descendant of David (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

4. Many boys will be being killed when He is born (Jeremiah 31:15)

5. He will die for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53)

6. None of His bones will be broken (Psalm 34:20)

7. Soldiers gamble for His clothes (Psalm 22:17-18)

8. Betrayed by a close friend (Psalm 41:9)

9. for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12)

10. He will be buried in a rich mans grave (Isaiah 53:9)

11. He will rise again! (Psalm 49:15).

12. Many, many more were written and fulfilled.

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 8:12 (NLT)

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:4-14 (NLT)

Although this Light, God Himself was coming to earth, He never came to have a good time or live a full life - He came to die. And to die for our sin - we deserved death, yet He paid the price.

Fittingly, the lights above all pointed towards The Light when this was happening too…

Using Kepplers equations, we can see that there was only one lunar eclipse while Pilate was in office - on April 3rd 33AD - the day the Light was hammered to a cross. The day of the crucifixion.


The below, taken from bethlehemstar.net, summarises the key points:


“That day followed a night of horrors predicted by the prophet Isaiah. In place of sleep for Jesus there were torch-lit hours of interrogation and mockery, spittle in the face and beatings, barbed lashes tearing flesh from his back and thorns pressed into his scalp.

Isaiah wrote that the messiah would be beaten until “marred beyond human likeness” (2). And so, Jesus was brutalized during multiple “trials” and retrials before priests Annas and Caiaphas (3), King Herod (4) and Roman prefect Pontius Pilate (5). In the end, his fate was decided by a mob (6). He was marched to Golgotha, the “place of the skull,” and crucified. He would die within six hours.

The gospels tell the chronology. Hammers thudded spikes through Jesus and into the cross at 9 AM (7). He was raised up. At noon and for three hours the sky was darkened (8). In the Temple at Jerusalem, only priests were permitted to enter the presence of God—a thick curtain excluded common men. During the crucifixion, this veil was torn apart, top to bottom, as a shattering earthquake split rocks and broke open tombs (9). In the darkness and tumult of these signs, even the Roman guards regretted their part in the killing (10).

Jesus died at 3 PM (11). He was removed from the cross before nightfall to preserve the sanctity of the impending Passover (12). But the signs and wonders did not end. When the moon rose that evening, it was blood red. We can imagine the wonder of those who were present through all of this, and their increasing dread as the signs kept coming.

But there is more which they could not see. Kepler’s equations indicate that the moon rose already in eclipse, already bloody, fulfilling Joel’s vision. Necessarily, this means that the eclipse commenced before moonrise. With software we can look below the horizon and see Earth’s shadow begin the eclipse. When we do, we find that at 3 PM, as Jesus was breathing his last on the cross, the moon was going to blood.

The sky at Christ’s birth can be viewed as a kind of visual poetry, with the new moon symbolically “birthed” at the foot of Virgo, the virgin. To complete that celestial poem, on the night of Jesus’ death the moon had returned to the foot of the virgin. But now it was a full moon. A life fully lived, blotted out in blood.”




The whole Bible tells the details of a loving God, Creator of everything, who brings life to everything. Despite His love, care and protection, people chose to do the only one thing He said not to. The intimate relationship was broken and guilt, shame and sin entered the previously perfect world. The effects of this ‘fall‘ should have lasted forever.
But God makes temporary provision for sinful people by supplying animals to be the payment for their sins. If a perfect lamb was killed, the blood would be accepted as payment for the people’s sin against the Holy, perfect, loving God. God provided a way for people to live with Him despite their sin. But they still could not come too close or they would die.
But then, planned from the beginning, God sent His own and only Son to earth. His own Son would become the one and only sacrifice for sin, for all people, for all time. Jesus was perfect, Divine. He lived a sin-free life and performed many. many miracles. Then, after telling His disciples what was about to happen, He allowed Himself to be arrested, tortured, humiliated and finally killed. His life, ministry and death fulfilled hundreds of prophecies spoken thousands of years earlier, to the day!  But why? He did it for you!
The wrath of God landed on Jesus, His own Son, for your sins and killed Him. It is impossible for you to earn forgiveness no matter how good you are, how much you try or which religion you follow. We are all born sinners, we sin and are slaves to it. It often feels good at the time and sometimes we are not even aware of it. But even one sin needs to be cleansed otherwise we will be separated from God for good and His anger will burn against us.
Only God Himself could cleanse you of sin. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to die on your behalf. When He died on the cross, He paid for all your sin. This torture and death were meant for you...but He took the punishment instead! 
No matter who you are, what you have done or what you believe - there is only one way to be made right with God - by the blood of Jesus. Ask God to save you this Christmas. He can. Believe and Trust what Jesus did for you and your sin. Repent (turn away from your sin) and follow Jesus. In return He will change you, help you and save you. If He saves you, you will live with Him forever.
This Christmas why not think about Jesus - the one who started this whole thing? Give Him your life, honour Him as King, Priest and Saviour! His birth was God’s gift of life to you!


The Nine Points of the ‘Christmas Star’

Bible When we read the Bible in certain places we can see a lot about the birth of Jesus described and explained. In just one chapter about the story of Jesus we can see 9 things about the star the Magi followed to find the baby Jesus. All 9 can be verified as fulfilled by accurate calculations in the time around Jesus’ birth. (see www.bethlehemstar.net for more detailed information) These things are not isolated.
Many, many prophecies recorded thousands of years before the event(s) by people in distant lands have been shown to be accurate. And they happened without knowledge of the prophecy. For instance, Roman soldiers did things that were prophesied to Jesus and with His clothes. These Romans had no knowledge of the prophecies and certainly would have been trying to avoid anything coming true to do with the Jews desire for their own king.
Archeology has continually also uncovered things once thought to be false or fairytales. In every case they verify the authority and accuracy of this unique book. From the walls of Jericho that fell to civilisations that were thought not to exist, the Bible has long stood the test of calculated and thorough scrutinisation.
Science in its true form continually supports the Bible despite the constant efforts of theorists to propagate ideas without foundation. Many top scientists agree with the statement “a little bit of science will turn you away from the Bible...but a lot of science will turn you right back to it” - issued by a very famous scientist you probably know who! No matter which way you examine the Bible, you will be faced with the same questions: “Will I believe it?” and “what will I do about it?”. Our desire is that you would ask ‘God’ to reveal Himself to you, that you would know the truth about God, Jesus, the Bible and that you would be saved. If you need a Bible please ASK and we will give you one for free.

1. It signified birth.

2. It signified kingship.

3. It had a connection with the Jewish nation.

4. It rose in the east, like other stars.

5. It appeared at a precise time.

6. Herod didn’t know when it appeared.

7. It endured over time.

8. It was ahead of the Magi as they went south from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.

9. It stopped over Bethlehem.

Matthew Chapter 2 (NLT)
Visitors from the East
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?
5 In Bethlehem in Judea, they said, for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,
for a ruler will come from you
who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

The Escape to Egypt
13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother, the angel said. Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.
14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herods death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I called my Son out of Egypt.
16 Herod was furious when he realised that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise mens report of the stars first appearance. 17 Herods brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18 A cry was heard in Ramah—
weeping and great mourning.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted,
for they are dead.


The Return to Nazareth
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 Get up! the angel said. Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.
21 So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22 But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herods son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23 So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: He will be called a Nazarene.


GENESIS 49:9-10 (NLT)

9 Judah, my son, is a young lion
that has finished eating its prey.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down;
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The sceptre will not depart from Judah,
nor the rulers staff from his descendants(* between his feet),
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honour.

REVELATION 12:1-5 (NLT)
1 Then I witnessed in heaven an event of great significance. I saw a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon beneath her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because of her labor pains and the agony of giving birth.
3 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. 4 His tail swept away one- third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
5 She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.