Matthew 2:1-12, New International Reader's Version

The Wise Men Visit Jesus

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. ²They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose. Now we have come to worship him.”

³When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. ⁴So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Messiah was going to be born. ⁵“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied. “This is what the prophet has written. He said,

⁶“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah.
A ruler will come out of you.
He will rule my people Israel like a shepherd.’” (Micah 5:2)

⁷Then Herod secretly called for the Wise Men. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. ⁸He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report it to me. Then I can go and worship him too.”

⁹After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. ¹¹The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So, they returned to their country on a different road.

Message:

I wonder if you have ever been up so early in the morning that you were able to watch the sunrise. Everything is very dark, and then slowly, little by little, light starts to break through the skyline. Isn’t it just beautiful? The light coming up from the sun’s morning rays. Today is what the church calls Epiphany Sunday. Epiphany means appearance. On this day, Christians remember the appearance of Jesus to the wise men. You remember the wise men from the Nativity scene, don’t you? (Allow children to respond.) That’s right, from far away, the wise men saw the light of Jesus’ star in the east and came to worship him. I imagine it was like seeing the sun rise in the eastern sky, but a whole lot brighter.

Jesus’ arrival was good news for the whole world!

Perhaps, you are looking for Jesus, just like the wise men were. Through reading the Bible, we learn that if someone is looking for Jesus, then they will find him.

I want to teach you “motions” to act out while I read from the Bible. Follow along with me.

This is Jesus. (Hold your hands in front of you like you are holding a baby.)

This is Jesus, lying in a manger. (Begin to rock your arms in a motion slowly to suggest rocking a baby.)

Who would put a baby in danger? (Shrug your shoulders to suggest uncertainty.)

Hope is finding Jesus!

Here are the wise men who came from a far. (Hold your hand over your eyes to suggest looking and searching for someone/thing.)

They traveled up and down the hills and valleys following the star. (Point up.)

To find Jesus lying in a manger. (Rock arms like cradling a baby.)

Who would put a baby in danger? (Shrug your shoulders to suggest uncertainty.)

Joy is finding Jesus!

Here is Jerusalem. King Herod lives there. (Hold your hands above your head to suggest a crown.)

Here is King Herod, getting mad. (Make a mad face.)

But smart enough to pretend he’s glad. (Move your hand down over your face, changing a mad look to glad.)

The wise men asked him, “Where oh where?” (Scratch your head like you’re puzzled.)

Is this the baby boy, born to be king? (Hold your arms to suggest holding a baby.)

The one whom angels sing?

Herod lied to the wise men who came from afar. (Hold your hand over your eyes to suggest looking and searching for someone/thing.)

Who traveled up and down the hills and valleys following the star. (Point up.)

The star that leads to Jesus lying in a manger. (Rock arms like cradling a baby, again.)

Who would put a baby into danger? (Shrug your shoulders to suggest uncertainty.)

Peace is finding Jesus!

This is Bethlehem, oh little town. (Hold your hands out, palms up.)

To whom the Savior of earth from heaven came down.

Bethlehem, said the prophets of old

Is the town we’ve long been told

Where the baby would be born, the tiny king. (Hold your hands over your head to suggest a crown.)

The one of whom the angels sing.

The wise men went there, who came from afar. (Hold your hand over your eyes to suggest looking and searching for someone/thing.)

They traveled up and down the hills and valleys following the star. (Point up.)

To find Jesus lying in a manger. (Rock arms like cradling a baby, again.)

Who would put a baby into danger? (Shrug your shoulders to suggest uncertainty.)

Love is finding Jesus!

This is the smile upon the face. (Smile.)

Of everyone in every place.

Look at the light, the star of joy. (Point up.)

The happiness at finding the baby boy.

We offer these gifts, we bow, worship, and behold! (Kneel on one knee.)

Take our frankincense, myrrh, and gold.

They gave their gifts and worshiped the king. (Hold your arms out in front to suggest offering a gift.)

The one of whom the angels sing.

The wise men went there but came from afar. (Hold your hand over your eyes to suggest looking and searching for someone/thing.)

They traveled up and down the hills and valleys following the star. (Point up.)

To find Jesus lying in a manger. (Rock arms like cradling a baby, again.)

Who would put a baby into danger? (Shrug your shoulders to suggest uncertainty.)

There is hope, joy, peace, and love in finding Jesus!

I wonder…have you found hope, joy, peace, and love in Jesus?

Prayer:

Jesus, you are the light that shows us God’s love for the whole world. Shine on me, so that I can share your light with others. When we show hope, joy, peace, and love to others, we are truly sharing your light to a world that needs it.