* LESSON
* GIFTS OF THE MAGI
* HANDOUT
Bible Memory Verse:
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:10
HOW MANY HEARD THE STORY OF JESUS’ BIRTH OVER CHRISTMAS VACTION? DID YOU HEAR IT AT CHURCH OR AT HOME? DID SOMEONE READ IT TO YOU FROM THE BIBLE?
What we have talked about in Christian Education class so far happened before the birth of Jesus. This is mainly written about in the Old Testament of the Bible. From now on we are going to talk about what happened after the birth of Jesus. This is written about in the New Testament of the Bible.
The story about the birth of Jesus was written in the first books of the New Testament-mainly in the books of Matthew and Luke. The Magi (Wise Men) visited Jesus some time after His birth. The story of the Magi is told in the book of Matthew.
I am going to read a little of the story of the Magi. Then I am going to ask you some questions. Listen carefully because the answers to the questions are in the part of the Bible, which has just been read. Then I will read more of the story.
BIBLE QUOTES and QUESTIONS:
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’” Matthew 2:1-2
The Bible tells in the Old Testament a long time before Jesus was born that a star would appear when He was born (“…a star will come out of Jacob…” Numbers 24:17).
1. Who was the king at the time Jesus was born?
2. Where did the Magi come from?
3. What did the Magi see that showed them Jesus had been born?
4. What did the Magi call Jesus (they didn’t know His name was Jesus)?
5. Why did the Magi stop to see King Herod?
“When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.’
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.” Matthew 2:3-9
1. How did the Magi know where Jesus was?
2. What did King Herod ask the Magi to do after they found the baby Jesus?
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” Matthew 2:10-12
1. What gifts did the Magi present to Jesus?
2. Why didn’t the Magi go back to Herod after they had found Jesus?
“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘and take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’” Matthew 2:13-18
1. Who appeared to Joseph in a dream?
2. Why did he warn Joseph to flee to Egypt?
3. What did King Herod do when he realized the Magi were not coming back?
4. Why do you think Herod wanted to kill Jesus?
“After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who are trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ So he got up, took and child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’” Matthew 2:19-23
1. Why was Joseph afraid to go back to Judea (where Bethlehem was)?
2. How did the Lord often speak to Joseph?
3. Who are some other people in the Bible God spoke to in dreams?
4. What town did Jesus grow up in?
So much was about Jesus coming was foretold or told about ahead of time in the Old Testament before Jesus was born. It was foretold there would be a special star when He was born, it was foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem, it was foretold that Rachel (Rachel was the grandmother of Ephraim and Manasseh, the two most powerful and prominent tribes in the northern kingdom) would weep when her children were killed, that Jesus would live in Egypt and that Jesus would be called a Nazarene (meaning He would grow up in Nazareth).
God spoke through many prophets to tell us about Jesus’ birth, but even more is foretold about Jesus coming to earth a second time. This could happen soon. When He comes a second time He will not come as a baby, but as a king that will rule forever.
GOLD:
It was common for a king to be given gold as a present. God represents royalty and authority. It is often given as an offering to God.
FRANKINCENSE:
Frankincense is a glittering, fragrant gum that was used in making perfume. It was very costly, so it would be given only on special occasions.
MYRRH:
Myrrh was a sweet-smelling spice used in perfumes and ointments. It too was very expensive. It was used at special occasions, including anointing bodies for burial. This is symbolic of the purpose Jesus had in coming to earth–so He could die for us.
MAGI (WISE MEN)
Bible Memory Verse:
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:10
Words to choose from: BORN, STAR, DREAM, EGYPT, HEROD, NAZARETH, JEALOUS, GIFTS, JEWS, EAST
1. __ __ __ __ __ was the king at the time Jesus was born?
2. The Magi come from the __ __ __ __.
3. The Magi saw a __ __ __ __ that showed them Jesus had been born?
4. The Magi called Jesus King of the __ __ __ __(they didn’t know His name was Jesus).
5. The Magi asked King Herod where Jesus would be __ __ __ __.
6. The Magi gave Jesus __ __ __ __ __.
7. The Magi didn’t go back to Herod after they had found Jesus because they were warned in a __ __ __ __ __.
8. Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to the land of __ __ __ __ __.
9. King Herod tried to kill Jesus because he was __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
10. Jesus grew up in the town of __ __ __ __ __ __ __