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Thursday, 18 December 2008 14:42 |
 HBC member Florence Harper Haney shares a story of the Nativity through the eyes of a wise man.
We Saw His Star
by Florence Harper Haney
We saw his star in the East. What an exciting time is was for all of us, Gaspar, Melchior and me, Baltasar. For many years we had studied the stars and the ancient prophecies. Then a great star appeared in the heavens. The time had come! We carefully packed our gifts. We gave much thought about what we should take to the new born King. We decided to take gold, as an offering for a royal Son; frankincense, to honor him; myrrh, to please with its aroma. We loaded our supplies on camels and donkeys. We had a long journey before we would be able to lay these gifts at the feet of the Holy One and worship Him.
Let me tell you what happened in Bethlehem so far away. We talked to Mary and Joseph when we arrived. I saw the young child sleeping in his mother's arms. I spoke to the shepherds who were the first to hear the good news. They told us how the angels appeared to them one starry night on the hills above the little town of Bethlehem. Now I know the full story of that holy night.
Joseph told us that he and Mary had to leave Nazareth and journey to Bethlehem to enroll for Caesar's taxation. It was a long hard trip, especially for Mary who was soon to have a baby. She rode on the back of a small donkey for many a mile.
Joseph searched for a place where they could rest. How tired they were! They needed a place where the baby could be born. "No room," said the innkeeper. "But you can shelter in my warm stable. It will be quieter there than in the busy inn yard."
Mary rested gratefully on the hay with sheep and oxen close by. Her baby boy was born there and she wrapped him in soft clean clothes she had brought with her. Gently she sang a lullaby to her wonderful child.
Joseph tenderly took the baby and laid him in the soft manger hay and watched him while Mary slept. He told us how much she needed her rest.
The shepherds told us of the glorious sight they saw in the night skies as they guarded their sheep. Angels! A multitude appeared to them, praising God and saying, "Peace on Earth!" The shepherds' fear passed away as they heard the great and wonderful news. "The Savior is born! Christ the Lord! Go see Him now with Mary and Joseph."
They raced from the hills through the dark streets. They knelt before the manger, bathed in light from that shining star. They worshiped the Holy Son of God. When they went back to their sheep, they told everyone they saw about the Savior's miraculous birth.
We three came later to Bethlehem. King Herod's chief priests and scribes read to us the words of the prophet Micah. "And you, Bethlehem, are not the least among the leaders of Juda, for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel." We went on our way rejoicing. We knelt at the feet of Him who is the fulfillment of the prophecy. An angel appeared to us and warned us not to go back to Herod, so we returned by a different way...
We have been called kings and wisemen. The only true King is our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The only ones who are wise are those who come to worship Him. Not with gold and frankincense and myrrh, but with their whole hearts and souls and minds.
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"We Saw His Star" is printed on this web site by permission of the author Florence Harper Haney. For questions or permission to reprint, contact Mrs. Haney through
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