The Wise Men

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

MATTHEW 2:11

WE’VE OFTEN HEARD about the wise men who came to visit Jesus after his birth. These men traveled from the East, following a star that they understood as a sign of a very important birth. They came with precious gifts, ready to worship the newborn King.

A part of their story that we may not hear as much about is how they outsmarted King Herod, who saw baby Jesus as a threat and wanted to have him killed. The wise men first stopped at Herod’s palace, asking about the newborn King. Herod immediately became jealous and wanted to know when they found Jesus. Herod said it was so he could worship the baby too. But secretly, Herod planned to kill him.

After the wise men found baby Jesus and delivered their precious gifts, they left and went another direction. An angel had visited them in the night and told them not to return to Herod. They outsmarted the evil king, and Jesus escaped to Egypt with Mary and Joseph.

DO

Play a couple rounds of hide-and-seek with your family or friends. How is this game like what happened when Jesus was born and had to escape to Egypt with his parents? What might have happened if the wise men had returned to Herod?

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for sending the wise men to worship baby Jesus and give him gifts. Thank you for sending an angel to warn them about Herod. Please remind me to follow your instructions like the wise men did. Amen.

READ

Matthew 2:1-6; Matthew 2:12-15