Visited by Wise Men

Matthew Chapter 2

The shepherds were not the only ones to receive word that Jesus the Christ was born.  There were men from another country who were somehow told that the Savior was born.  The scriptures calls these men, “wise men.”  We really don’t know much about them.  The scriptures don’t say how many there were, or how they got there, or even how soon after the birth they arrived.  

These men came from “the east” and had seen a star in the sky that was a sign to them that the Savior had been born.  So they came to Jerusalem and asked King Herod, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”  

King Herod asked his own chief priests and men who had studied the scriptures where it was said in the scriptures that Christ would be born.  They told him the scriptures said it would be in Bethlehem.  That was only 5 miles away!  Would Jesus still be there, or would they have to find him somewhere else?

Now King Herod didn’t like hearing that some other king was being born.  Herod wanted to be the only king.  He didn’t understand that Christ was to be a Heavenly King and not King of Judah.

Herod told the wise men to go and find the Christ Child and then come back and tell Herod where he was, so Herod could also go and worship him also.  (But that was a lie, because Herod wanted to destroy Jesus so that Herod could be the only King.)

The wise men went and continued to follow the star until “it came and stood over where the young child was.”  It was a miraculous way for them to find Jesus.

The Wise Men Seeking Jesus by Ambrose Dudley

When they found Jesus, they got on their knees and worshipped him, and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  (Frankincense and myrrh are made from tree sap and because of their pleasant smell, they were used to help things smell nice.)

The wise men were so grateful to God for being led to see the Christ Child and give him gifts.  What an amazing experience!  

After seeing Jesus, the wise men were warned by God in a dream that they should not go back to Herod to tell him where Jesus was.  So they went back to their own country by another way.

What do you think?

• How did these wise men know Jesus had been born?
• Why did these men want to see Jesus?
• How difficult do you think it was for these men to travel, looking for Jesus?
• How difficult is it for us to “find Jesus?”
• The wise men gave Jesus gifts; what gift will Jesus give to them?  To you?
• What else can we learn from this story?

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