In his book, Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis talks about joy as those tiny moments that just burst upon your soul unexpectedly. You can't create them and you can't hang on to them, but you can remember them forever. Those moments of brilliant insight can inform and alter you entire life. Lewis describes his coming to Christianity by these surprising moments of utter joy.
As I think of the birth of the Savior, utter joy comes to mind. I am thinking this morning of the Star that heralded His birth and must have surprised and awed all who saw it. We call it "The Star of Bethlehem," but it truth it was seen around the world. Wise men far to the east of Bethlehem saw the star and followed it for two years to find Him who was born King of the Jews.
Another group of people saw the star and recognized it as the sign of the Savior's birth. These people lived half a world away in ancient Mesoamerica. There story is recorded in The Book of Mormon. You don't have to be a Latter-day Saint to enjoy this oft forgotten Christmas story.
From Helaman 14, we learn of an ancient prophet named Samuel who foretold Jesus' birth:
1 And now it came to pass that Samuel the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things . . .
2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
4 Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
Believers rejoiced at this news. Like the ancient Jews, these descendants of Israel also awaiting the coming of the Son of God. But as the time for the sign to be given drew close, the non-believers mocked them. It became politically incorrect to talk about new stars and signs and of a God who would have a Son and a Son of God who would save His people. Finally, the persecution became so great that the non-believers (who controlled the government, by the way) set aside a day in which all the believers would be put to death if the sign were not given.
Another prophet, one name Nephi, prayed mightily to God that the sign might come and the believing people saved. This is his prayer and God's response from 3 Nephi 1:
10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
That night, the sign was given.
15 And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came.
. . .
19 And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born because of the sign which had been given.
Millions saw that star around the world. It must have been an incredible and unmistakable celestial manifestation. Most of the people who witnessed it probably didn't understand its meaning, but those who had heard and believed the words of ancient prophets did. When the sign was given, I am sure that they were surprised by joy.
And
so the promises made by our Heavenly Father to each of us, all those long ages
ago in heaven have been fulfilled. He gave unto us a Savior, born to a very
young mother in a little stable in Bethlehem. That event changed the history of the world
forever. Jesus did everything He promised us He would do. Because of Him, we can return to live with
our Heavenly Father. When we feel confused or troubled, we can
look to Jesus just like simple shepherds and wise men and true believers half a world away once
looked at a star, and we, too, will find the Son of God. Let
us remember Him as we celebrate His birthday this Christmas and remember that
quiet and holy night that brought joy to all believers and changed all of
eternity.
© Gebara Education, December
2012
Picture
of third candle of Advent from www.stteresa-avila.org
Picture of the Star of Bethlehem from www.theresainfortworth.wordpress.com
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