The story of the Wise Men in Matthew’s Gospel has always been an enigma. The only three important terms in that tale—“wise men,” “star,” and “east”—are all lost in obscurity, rendering it useless as a record. For this reason, many scholars consider it just another miracle story of the kind that surrounded other ancient heroes. But what if a piece of information was missing whose recovery would make it as clear today as it was to the original readers? In The Wise Men and the Star, Dr. Miller explains how he uncovered that missing piece, which then revealed who the Wise Men were, the location of the East when they arrived in Bethlehem, and what was the star they saw.

It was a journey that would change everything.I am a Magi, as was my father. My home is the magnificent world of the palace. I am privileged to do what I love: lose myself in scrolls, study, and speculation. But there are moments, sometimes just seconds, when I can no longer ignore the heaviness of my soul. I am weary of the politics, lies, and intrigue of palace life.My dear friend and fellow Magi Gaspar is certain he has witnessed the rising of a new star. It seems impossible, but he showed me the calculations. If this is true, it is sacred. The other Wise Men have announced they will travel to explore the stars meaning.I too will go on this journey, maybe more to escape than to explore. Perhaps I will find meaning along the way. Perhaps what we find will be remembered for generations. Perhaps it will be the dawning of a new era . . . For all Wise Men know a new star marks a new beginning.

This book is filled with inspirational short poems to enlighten and enhance the spirit of Christmas.

Paul addressed the Book of Romans to both Jews and Gentiles, even though Rome was primarily a Gentile city. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that most believers in the churches at Rome were Gentiles. The reason that this was important is that the Judaizers continued to infiltrate the local churches and Paul was determined to stop their false message of adding law-keeping to grace from taking root, and to demonstrate that the Gospel is for all, Jews and Gentiles.

Was there a meaningful stellar sign over Bethlehem? What did it look like to someone looking up at the night sky? Did wise men really come from the East seeking Israel’s Messiah sometime after the birth of Jesus? The biblical account of the wise men and the star that announced the coming of the Messiah of Israel has inspired and puzzled people for two millennia. Important aspects of Babylonian astronomy seem to be involved in understanding the star’s appearing. But in addition, The Lion Led the Way also explores the men and events from a profoundly Jewish perspective. The traditional Jewish names of stars and planets, Jewish symbols, as well as Jewish dates, all seem to be keys to unlocking the mystery of the famous star. The star of Bethlehem was not the brightest of the heavenly lights, nor was it the most spectacular starry manifestation of all time. However, it was part of the most meaningful set of celestial events in human history. The God of Israel is surprising. His ways are not our ways; his thoughts are not our thoughts. The star gives us a concrete example of God’s intervention in the universe. Book website: www.star-of-bethlehem.info

Reprint of the original, first published in 1883.