I mull the story of Christ’s birth, with its simplistic beauty and wonder if I saw the star, would I heed the call of duty?”
                    –Jack Burdette

       “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 2:2 (NIV)
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Often I have thought of that trek so many years ago.  The wise men would have traveled from somewhere near Babylon to Bethlehem, a trip of around 900 miles.  That would mean it would take them around 50-60 days if not longer.  Were there three or twelve?  It really doesn’t matter, but the more there were the longer it would have taken.  Think, it would be a caravan similar to the wagon trains going West in our country or of a large caravan of freight wagons moving along the Santa Fe Trail.
     Something caught their attention.  They were looking skyward; they saw something, something unusual that made them want to find this newborn king.  I will say that there was also something in their heart that was longing, aching for it to be stilled.  The “Star,” the ache, but it wouldn’t have happened if they had not been looking upward.

          Star of the East, oh Bethlehem’s star,
          Guiding us on to heaven afar
          Sorrow and grief are lulled by thy light
          Thou hope of each mortal in death’s lonely night.
                    –George Cooper (“Star of the East”)

     The hope that they saw in the “Star” brought peace, and yet, at the same time anxiousness to find the newborn.  There was something in what they saw.  The answer, perhaps to death.  Was this the man spoken about in the Jewish Prophets?  The Redeemer of mankind.  They had to seek Him.  Think of the trouble it took.  Even if only three, they had to pack their goods, food for the camels, take along extra camels in case of accident, then hire men to work the camels, and remember, these were men of means so they most likely did not travel lightly.

          Fearless and tranquil we look up to thee,
          Knowing thou beamst through eternity.
          Help us to follow where thou still dost guide,
          Pilgrims of earth so wide.

     “Look up,” that was the answer.  No it wasn’t astrology; it was far more than that.  Think for a minute, that “Star” had to have been prepared to appear at just this moment in history.  It was prepared when the foundations of the earth and universe were spoken into existence.  All that the Incarnation holds, the complete story is too wonderful for me to understand, comprehend, and when I think of it I must take it in small amounts.  The wise men traveling, the “Star” that guided their way.  Was it a single star created by the great Creator or was it movement in the heavens that caught the attention of the wise men?  Either way, it was a marvelous undertaking that they began because of something happening in the cosmos.

          Oh star that leads to God above
          Whose rays are peace and joy and love
          Watch o’er us still ’til life hath ceased
          Beam on, bright star, sweet Bethlehem’s star.

     They spent many a night on the trail following the star.  Did they ever tire, or did the hope that was stirred deep in their heart keep them going?  No matter, the “Star” was ever before them.  The “Star” that would lead them to the Light of the world was always shining.  When they gazed briefly at the campfire with the smoke rising, they would hear the faint echoes of “Look upward” and it would bring hope and help steady their thoughts on the journey.  There was something they heard, they saw, they sensed that kept them going; their heart longed to worship the new King.

          Star of the East, thou hope of the soul,
          While ’round us here the dark billows roll
          Lead us from sin to glory afar
          Thou star of the East, thou sweet Bethlehem’s star.

     We know they reached the place where the Child was.  They brought and gave Him their gifts, but we must not forget how they reached their destination.  It was the constant echo of the campfire–“Look up!”  They began their trek by looking up and seeing something.  They continued following the light of that “Star.”  They didn’t waver from their journey; they continued to gaze upward and continued onward until they found the Child–the Savior of the world.  We can only imagine what went through their hearts and minds.  They knew they were in the presence of someone grand and unique; they understood that something majestic, mysterious was happening and they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.  Yes, something wonderful was taking place.  
     What happened to them, we do not know.  I am sure that their hearts continued to burn.  They had been a part of something glorious.  They didn’t falter along the way, but were steadfast in their desire to find this new king.  Onward and upward they continued.  Listen, perhaps you can hear the “echoes” of “Look up…for your redemption draweth nigh”.

Worthiness is not a requirement for a gift.”

Without the law and without the Gospel, evil seemed to reign.”

But there was risk connected with everything, and we were hard men bred to a hard life in a hard land, and the lives that we lived were lonely, yet rich with the voice of our singing, and with tales told of an evening by the campfire.”
                    –Louis L’Amoure  (Killoe)

          “Lift up your spear and javelin and block the ways of my enemies.  Let me hear you say, ‘I am your salvation!'”
                    –Psalm 35:3 (NLT)
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I have often tried to think of the days of Mary and Joseph.  What extraordinary people they were.  No, that’s not right, they were ordinary people who had faith, used it, and obeyed.  That is something we all can do.  But there is more to it.  I once told a friend of mine who has a large church in Brooklyn, I said, “Bill, I could not do what you do.”  He looked straight at me, I can still see it though it happened back in the late 1970s, and said, “You could if God called you to do it.”  
     The calling!  I won’t say much regarding it now, but it is vital.  Today, we look at Mary.  A young girl, possibly as young as fourteen, was visited by an angel and told that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would bear the Son of God.  Wow!  When you think of it, it sort of boggles the mind.  There it is again, that mystery of the Incarnation.  Mary hears, listens, and gives herself over to the will of God and then sings a song.  I like what R.V.G. Tasker said, “Mary sings of a God who is not bound by what men do.  He turns human attitudes and orders of society upside down.”  This song is found in Luke 1.

          46 — And Mary said:  “My soul magnifies the Lord,
          47 — And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
          48 — For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
          49 — For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
          50 — And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
          51 — He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
          52 — He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.
          53 — He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
          54 — He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
          55 — As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”  (NKJV)

     Mary must have known the Scriptures, and it is clear that she had a relationship with her heavenly Father.  She knew of His great power and wondrous mercy.  However, there is more–the song burst forth for several reasons, the promise, the visitation, the recognition of God, but even more–she was to be the vessel in which the covenant, the promise of God would be fulfilled.  God would bring the Messiah to Israel (and to all men) through her.  Thrilled, excited, and maybe a little fearful, but she bursts out into praise.
     Here is a good question and thought raised by William Petersen.  “When God asks you to do something, how do you respond?  Are you scared stiff, or do you follow Mary’s example, praising God that He has chosen to use you to accomplish His will?  He has chosen some unlikely people in the past to do His bidding, so don’t be too surprised if He chooses you.”  Hmm, are you ready for the call?

               “Hear the glad sound, the Savior comes, the Savior promised long!
               Let every heart prepare a throne, and every voice a song.
               He comes the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure,
               And with the treasures of His grace to raise the humble poor.”
                         –Philip Doddridge