“And there shall be signs in the sun, in the moon, and stars…” –Luke 21:25
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea in the days of Herod, the king, behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying ‘Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” Matthew: 2: 1-2
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” — John 1:9
“Though you have not seen him. you love him. Thou you do not now see him, you believe in him, and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible, and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Peter 1:8-9
Who were the Magi? The Magi, wise men from the east, were religious men who practiced astrology. They may have been a tribe of priests among the Israelites called the Levites. They interpreted dreams and offered sacrifices before fires. The English word magician comes from Magi. (Bible Query: Responding to Asimov’s Guide to the Bible on the New Testament, biblequery.org)
What can probably be determined about Jesus’ natal horoscope using astronomy and astrology? The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles saw much celestial drama in investigating the period from May 3 through December 2 B.C.E. This corroborates the thinking of early scholars who placed the birth of Jesus in the period of 3 to 2 B.C.E. (Associates for Scriptural Knowledge: “The Star of Bethlehem in History” Jesus might have been born at this time.
The “star” the Magi followed may well have been a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus that occurred on June 17, 2 B.C.E. Seventy-two days after the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter (August 27), four planets came together under Leo, the sign of the king. They were Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. This might have signaled a powerful new beginning for the world. (Ibid)
August 27th falls under the astrological sign of Virgo. Virgo is associated with being chaste and a virgin birth. Christ could have been born then. *
Jupiter and Regulus, the biggest star in the constellation of Leo, met three times in 3 and 2 B.C.E. On September 14, 3 B.C.E. the king star came into contact with the king planet, Jupiter, and the royal constellation, Leo. The Magi saw this and headed in the direction of Jerusalem looking for a special child. (Ibid)
Christ was a new kind of king. He did not desire power, money, fame, or a harem. Jesus healed a leper, a societal outcast, a blind man with spittle and mud, a cripple, ate with a hated tax collector, and brought Lazarus back from the dead. By his actions and deeds, he showed us how to live in the secular world and to obtain a spiritual life. That is the true meaning of Christmas. He died so that those who accept him as their Savor and strive to become more like him by doing good works will follow him to heaven when their lives have run their course. “My house is a house of many mansions. I go now to prepare a place for thee, that where I am ye may be also.” John 14:2-6**
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*In the end it does not really matter when the Messiah was born. It is enough that he came to make humanity better. Christ said, “I have come so that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
**It is my understanding the Marc Edmund Jones, famous astrologer and a minister, thought the mansions referred to were symbolically the houses of the zodiac. It is also interesting that there were twelve apostles and twelve astrological signs.