Responses to Christmas Then and Now -and what about that "star" and the "Magi"?

On a day much like this, approximately 2024 years ago, things were anything but peaceful in Jerusalem. The half a million or so inhabitants were on a knives edge. They were troubled! What was troubling them? Did it have to do with the mysterious visitors, from a far-off land, who after a long and difficult journey had suddenly ridden into the city? And what about that "star" the wise men (Magi) had seen?

The day had started out as relatively normal, until the soldiers tasked with controlling the city gates and keeping the peace, saw...