Wise Men Find Jesus - January 2, 2022

Bible Study “The Wise Men Find Jesus”

Share:  Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.

 

Opening Prayer: O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

This is the last Sunday of Christmas, Epiphany starts on January 2.   What was your favorite part of the Christmas season.  Was there anything that you noticed this Christmas Season for which you would like to give thanks?

 

Questions:

 Can you think of a time when you gave someone a special gift?  What was it and how did that make you feel?

 Can you think of a time when you were in a special program or given a special gift?  What was it and how did it make you feel?

 

Those in power are often threatened by those who might be even more powerful. So it was with King Herod. The wise often have to go home by a different way. So it was with the three kings. In this passage, Matthew invites us to see that the gift of baby Christ will find little acceptance among those he came to – and the gift given is for those who continue to share it. This passage provides the transition from gazing in wonder at the gift to empowering us to go out into the world and share it with those who have not yet noticed the gift.

 

Please open your Bibles to Matthew 2:1-12 and read or read the scriptures below. 

 

Matthew 2:1-12

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “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.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 “‘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 shepherd my people Israel.’[b]

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 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, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

 

Reflection Questions:

  • Imagine you are King Herod, what might you fear about this new baby?  How can this baby be a rival or threat?
  • Imagine you are the wise men.  How did you hear about this baby?
  • Why do you think the Wise Men decided NOT to tell King Herod who they had found?
  • If you were one of the wise men, what would you have done?

 

 Click here for the young learner’s lesson

 

Videos (Click on the words or url)

 

DISCOVER JESUS – The Visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12) ESV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohVtJW387vQ

 

Overview:  Matthew Chapter - 1-13 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Dv4-n6OYGI

 

Activities

Bible QuizThe Wise Men Find Jesus

Word Search: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/1801795/the-wise-men-find-jesus/

 

Map the Journey: Click on the map locate Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Trace with your finger the journey of the Wise Men.  Why don’t you think King Herod wanted to come worship another king? Why do you think the wise men did not go back to King Herod? Why did they bring such odd baby presents? What presents would you bring if you were visiting Baby Jesus?

 

Illustration: Draw a picture of any part of the story on a large sheet of paper

 

Make a Paper Starhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wnu5rlc40E

 

 

Prayer: Almighty God, you have filled all the earth with the light of your incarnate Word.  By your grace empower us to reflect your light in all that we do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen