The Wise Men Directed
Theme: The Holy Spirit
Theme Verse: "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of Hosts." Zechariah 4:6
Readings: Matthew 2:1-12; Isaiah 60:3; Psalm 72:10-11; Micah 5:2
Optional: Numbers 24:17
Memory Verse: "[the Magi]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. '" Matthew 2:2 (Pre-K to grade 3)
Background: Magi: the wise men/Magi were a class of learned men in ancient Persia. They were like the wise men in the story of Daniel. They advised their king and would have been both astronomers and astrologers.
Time of trip: about four months. For a similar trip see Ezra 7:9.
Date: King Herod died early in 4 BC (according to the present calendar).
Epiphany: The Christian feast of the Epiphany is a celebration of the manifestation (revealing) of Christ to the Gentiles (in the wise men). A more general definition is: a spiritual event in which the essence of a given object is revealed.
When the Magi came "after Jesus was born" Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus had moved into a house. The shepherd arrived at the stable the night Jesus was born. (Not the same night!) We know that Mary and Joseph brought the baby to the temple in Jerusalem while they were staying at Bethlehem. The house was humble because they didn't have much money, but the Wise Men didn't hesitate to give their gifts when they found no palace. Word received: Do not look at the exterior of people--look at their hearts and listen to My words.
After the long journey from Persia the wise men got to the capital, Jerusalem, to ask the king about the one "born King of the Jews", expecting to find him there. "We have seen his star in the East and have come to worship him" (vs.2). Word received: Do you come to worship Me each Sunday? Are you ready to worship Me? How do you need to get ready to worship Me? I want you to prepare yourselves each week to worship Me.
When King Herod heard them he was VERY upset "and all Jerusalem with him." After all he had killed members of his own family lest they steal the throne from him.
We know from our experience in Liberia, also a small country, that a dictator, especially one who murders (or imprisons) anyone who threatens his power, would really upset and scare the whole city and more. Everyone would be worried about his own safety. King Herod called all the religious leader and scholars and asked where the Messiah/King would be born. The answer was Bethlehem. Just because they knew where the Messiah King was to be born did not necessarily mean they thought he had really been born. They showed no interest in going along to see the baby, probably because they were afraid even to check it out.
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2) A word received: I spoke to Bethlehem when it was small and unimportant, I will speak to you even when you feel small and unimportant. You don't need to be important in the eyes of the world to hear me speak to you. Word received: I want you to pay attention to My WORD. It is living and active NOW just as it has been since the beginning.
King Herod secretly summoned the wise men to find out when the star first appeared and pretended that he wanted to worship also. "When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him." (Matthew 2:3) A word received: Many were troubled by my coming among them. Their troubling doesn't equal repentance. I want people to turn to me, high or low, it doesn't matter, I want them to turn to me. The wise men had told the king "We have seen his star" Word received: I made creation, so it's right to say the star belongs to Jesus.
The wise men (sometimes called kings) went toward Bethlehem. They already knew the baby king was to be King of the Jews but they didn't know where till they talked to King Herod. So they went their way and the star they had seen before "went before them till it came to rest over the place where the child was." Word received: Imagine following a star for direction. They had no road map, just the star. That is the kind of faith I want you to have. (Before modern inventions, sailors navigated by the stars but it was never this precise!
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him." (Matthew 2:10-11) A word received: Look at the difference between their wisdom and the knowledge of the chief priests and scribes. Their knowledge (Matthew 2:5-6) did not lead them to seek me. The wise men's wisdom led them to seek for me.
They "worshipped him" Word received: Do you know what it means to worship Me? I want you to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice---that's what it means, giving Me your all. Romans 12:1 says "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
This was a humble house, not a great palace, but the wise men didn't hesitate to pour out their gifts, gifts fit for a king! What are we giving to our king this Christmas time? Ask the Lord what he wants you to give him this Christmas time. Joseph and Mary had to give everything to God in order to follow him and do what he asked them to do. Start a list and pray about what God is asking you to give him (for the first time or again). (The children are being asked to make a list, put it in a little box and put it in the offering.) How are we seeking our king in our daily lives? What are our priorities?
That night God warned the wise men in a dream not to go back to Herod, so they obeyed and went home another way. They were men of faith and believed the dream. Word received: When I speak to you, however I speak to you, I want you to believe.
"When they saw the star they were overjoyed." Just as God had plans for the wise men, he also has plans for you, maybe great or maybe small but they are his plans. Ask the Lord to show you what he wants to do through you. Word received: The road that the wise men took was not easy, but they were filled with joy and wonder at what I was doing.
Psalm 72:10-11 "The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before him; all nations shall serve him." A word received: No matter how important someone is, they still have to bow down before my son.
Isaiah 60:3:"The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." A word received: I want you to walk in my light. Those who are outsiders can walk by my light. Even kings can come to my light.
How to teach word received: What are you willing to leave behind and come to me? The wisemen left home, friends, and safety -- all the comfortable things in their lives. Come, follow me.
Teaching Ideas for Lesson 15
Please read the Study Guide first. Go over Memory Verse to make sure the children understand it and then if they have memorized it.
Remind them their parents need to sign a report slip monthly if they have read the lessons, so they will get credit at the end of the year.
Make sure they know what happened in the story. Get them to tell you.
Basic points of the lesson for little ones:
1. The wise men were seeking Jesus, a king, and they found him. When we ask God to help us find Jesus, He will help. God is faithful.
2. This event really happened. It's not just a fairy tale.
3. It doesn't matter how much or how little you have. God looks at our hearts to see if we really believe and love Him and listen to Him in His Word.
4. The most important thing we do in church is to worship the LORD. What we get out of it is not the most important thing. He wants our attention on Him!
5. God provided for His own Son, Jesus. He will provide for us too. Just ask.
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