Day 1- 01 THE STORY

After Jesus was born, He had visitors. These visitors traveled a long way to see Him. They were called the Magi. We sing a popular Christmas Carol called “We Three Kings,” and it’s easy to let the song explain all the details of the story in the Bible. The song is a fun song to sing, but the Magi were really not kings. They were astrologers. An astrologer is someone who studies stars. These men had heard about the prophecy of the star, and they saw the star over Bethlehem in the sky from thousands of miles away (a prophecy is a prediction of the future). The Magi’s first stop was to see King Herod. King Herod was not a Jew. He was a Roman ruler in charge of Judea, the land of the Jews. He didn’t like the fact that another king was showing up in the land. He was jealous. Read about Herod today.
Read Matthew 2:1-12
Who did the Magi go to see first? What did Herod want them to do?
Put your detective hat on… do you think Herod really wanted to worship Jesus? What do you think he was up to?

Day 2- 02 THE WITNESS

Read Matthew 2:9-12
When the Magi saw Jesus, what did they do? What did the Magi bring Jesus?
Did the Magi return and tell Herod what he wanted?

Day 3- 03 THE SOURCE

After reading this story, did you wonder why the Magi would care to come and see the baby Jesus? Hundreds of years earlier, in the Old Testament, God was giving people clues about when Jesus would arrive. Those clues are called prophecy. God said one of the signs the Savior had arrived was a star. Somehow, the Magi knew about what God had said and watched to see it in real life. Did you know that hundreds of years before Jesus showed up. God’s plan was always Jesus. He planned it before time and has been making it happen since the day He created the earth. The Old Testament is a true story, but inside it are thousands of clues that point to Jesus. You, just like the Magi, can play detective and investigate what the Old Testament says and then see what God says is true as you learn about Jesus in the New Testament.
Read Isaiah 46:10
What does this verse tell you about all the things that God has planned?

Day 4- 04 THE MOTIVE

The Magi sacrificed so much to come and meet Jesus. They traveled a long way from home and it took a very long time to get to Jesus. They must have believed Jesus to be worth it all. When they arrived, they immediately gave Jesus the praise He deserved and then gave Him the best gifts that they could give. They gave Him the best of what they had.
Read Colossians 3:23-24
How did the Magi strive to please God?
Did the Magi worry about what man wanted? (hint… did they do what Herod wanted?)
Do you do all you can to give God your best? What do you think it means to give God your best? Do you think Jesus is worth it?

Day 5- 05 CAUGHT IN THE ACT

This week there is a nativity scene for you to color. As you color, it remember the story of Jesus’ birth and why He came for you. You could frame your coloring sheet and give it to your mother or father for Christmas.

Write down on your character sheet what you learned from this part of the story of Magi.