The Wise Men Visit Little Jesus

The Wise Men Visit Little Jesus
(Matthew 2)

When Jesus was born in the days of King Herod, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, saying "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him." (No one but Jesus has ever been born King)

When King Herod heard this, he was very troubled, and when he had gathered together the chief priests and scribes he demanded to know where Christ should be born. And they told him "It is written by the prophets 'In Bethlehem of Judaea.. for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."

Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise men, asked them when the star appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, and said "go and search for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word so I can go and worship him also." So they left the king, and the star which they saw in the east went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was, and they greatly rejoiced when they saw the star.

When they came into the house,* they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and then they opened their treasures, and presented to him gold, frankincense, and myrhh. But they were warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, and so they went back to their own country another way.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying "Get up, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt; and stay there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to kill him. And so Joseph arose, and took the young child and his mother at night, and went into Egypt.

After a time, when Herod died, the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph in a dream and told Joseph to take the young child and his mother back to Israel, and so Joseph took them to Nazareth.

*Parents please note: King James says in Matthew 2:11 that the wise men found little Jesus with Mary "in the house"... tradition says that the wise men came to the manger, but our bible says that only the shepherds came to the stable after the announcement by the heavenly host...

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Memory Verse: Matthew 2:2 "..where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and have come to worship him."

Questions:
1 Why did the wise men come to Jerusalem?
2 Where did the wise men find Jesus?
3 What gifts did they give him?
4 Why did they go back home another way
5 Why did Joseph take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?

Answers:
1 Because they had seen a star shining in the east and had come to worship he who was born King of the Jews
2 In a house with Mary
3 Gold, frankincense, and myrhh
4 Because they were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod
5 Because he was warned by God in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt.

Vicki C. Gross/Oct.'03

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