The Wise Men
A Star in the East
Matthew 2:1-12about 2 minutes to read aloud
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men came from the east. They had seen a new star rising in the sky. They followed it.
They came to Jerusalem. "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? We have seen His star, and we have come to worship Him."
King Herod was troubled when he heard this. He called the chief priests. "Where is the Christ to be born?" "In Bethlehem of Judea," they answered. "So the prophet wrote."
Herod sent the wise men on. "Search carefully for the Child. When you have found Him, bring me word, so that I too may worship Him." He was lying. He wanted the Child gone.
The wise men went. The star they had seen went before them, and stopped over the place where the Child was. They were overjoyed.
They went into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother. They bowed down and worshiped Him. They opened their treasures and offered gifts — gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. The King of kings had come, and the stars knew His name.
Questions to talk about
How did the wise men know a King had been born?
Show the answer
'We have seen His star,' they said, 'and we have come to worship Him.'
What gifts did the wise men bring?
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They opened their treasures and gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Why did the wise men go home a different way?
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An angel warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.
The lesson
The stars belong to the Lord. He calls all peoples to Himself, from every land, to bow before the King.
