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 WAS THERE A STAR OR COMET AT THE TIME OF JESUS' BIRTH? It's safe to say there were plenty of stars. As for the star of the Christmas story, the gospel of Matthew says: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him'" (Matthew 2:1-2). There are various astronomical events on record that have been associated with this: > a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in 7 BC > a conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in 3 BC > a supernova in 4 or 5 BC > Halley's comet in 12 BC However, the story in Matthew says that once the Magi were in Judea, "the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was" (Matthew 2:9). It seems that Matthew has in mind a supernatural phenomenon, rather than a well-timed astronomical event. More questions about Jesus' life |
Picture: carvings showing the story of Christ on the west front of Chartres Cathedral, France. |
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