In ancient times, the morning star was the brightest star in the sky, easily distinguishable from all others. It was usually the first to appear in the morning and the most prominent light in the sky at dusk. This “star” actually wasn’t a star at all. It was the planet Venus. Nonetheless it represented several things to the ancients. It represented that which is first and most important. It was also used to orient people and to navigate a course in ancient times. Today, we can put a lot of things “first” and often those things we place first become a orienting or guiding feature in our lives. To call Jesus the morning star is to make the claim that he is (or should be) that which guides our life, and the feature of life that “shines brightest”.