Led by a Star

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Matthew 2:1-15

TO CHEW ON: “’Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:2

Every night the wise men studied the stars. They wrote down when they rose and set. They gazed at their colors and brightness. They drew them and looked for shapes formed by their positions in the sky. Most of all they tried to figure out what the stars meant.

One day a new bright star came out. Such a star could mean only one thing: a new king had been born.

"Wise Men Follow a Star" by A. O. Stemler and Bess Bruce Cleaveland

The star seemed to be moving, so the wise men followed it. For weeks and months they rode, probably on camels, and always at night so they could see the star’s light. It led them west toward Judea. The star must be telling of a new Jewish king.

"Journey of the Magi" - James Tissot

When they got to Jerusalem, they went to see King Herod. Surely he’d know if a new king had been born.

King Herod was troubled when he heard about a new-born king. After all he was the king. He asked the Jewish scholars where a Jewish king should be born. They studied their scrolls and found the answer in Micah 5:2. Bethlehem was the place.

“When you find the child, make sure you come back here and tell me. I want to worship him too,” Herod told the wise men.

They were excited when the star appeared again.

"Journey of the Magi" - Artist unknown

It led them to Bethlehem and stopped over a certain house. Inside they found Joseph, Mary and the young Jesus. The star had led them to the king they had been seeking! They fell down and worshiped Him, then gave Him the gifts they had brought – gold, frankincense and myrrh.

"Adoration of the Magi" - Artist unknown

God brings people to Jesus in many ways. The wise men found Him by following a star. Some people meet Him when missionaries come to their country to tell about Jesus. Others find Him by reading the Bible. Still others are introduced to Jesus by their family members or friends.

Have you met Jesus? If you have, you can be like the star and light the way for others to find Him too.

PRAYER: Dear God, help me to lead others to You. Amen.

"The Story of a Journey" - Artist unknown


SUPERSIZE IT: Avoiding Herod’s Trap
Did the wise men go back to Herod? Did Herod find Jesus? Read Matthew 2:12-15, then put the scrambled story in the right order.

1. At night the family made a secret getaway.

2. That night the wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.

3. The family lived in Egypt until Herod died.

4. After the wise men left Joseph had a dream. “Get up,” an angel said to him. “Escape with your family to Egypt. Herod is planning to kill Jesus.”

5. The wise men went back to their country another way.


ANSWERS

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.


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