A long, long time ago, in a distant land, there lived some very clever men. These men were the wise men from the East. They were astronomers and spent their nights observing the stars in the sky. One particular evening, they spotted a very bright new star twinkling over the land of Israel. They knew immediately that this was a very special star that announced the birth of a great king.
The wise men set out on a long journey to find this special king and honor Him. They packed their precious gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh—treasures fit for a king. On their camels, they followed the bright star that showed them the way.
After a long journey, they reached the city of Jerusalem and asked: “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” This news worried King Herod, who ruled over the land, because he wanted to be the only king. He called the wise men to him and asked them exactly about the star. Herod sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and look for the child. When you have found it, tell me so that I too can go and worship it.” But Herod did not mean well.
So the wise men set off again, and the star led them directly to Bethlehem, to a house where they found the little baby Jesus with his mother Mary. The wise men were very happy when they saw the child. They got down on their knees before Jesus and honored Him. Then they gave Him their gifts: the gold, the precious frankincense and the fragrant myrrh.
That night, the wise men received a warning from God in a dream: they should not return to Herod. So they traveled back to their country by a different route.
Thus, we learned that God used the wise men to honor Jesus, and that He also watched over them by protecting them from Herod’s evil plans.
Message of history
God guides people who seek Him, and He protects them in their ways. We can trust God to show us the right way.
Bible passage
The story of the wise men from the East can be found in Matthew 2:1-12. Here is the text from the Schlachter 2000 translation:
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men came from the East to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the King of the Jews who was born?’ For we have seen his star in the East, and we have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this, he was terrified, and all Jerusalem with him. And he summoned all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. But they said to him, “In Bethlehem in Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least of the princes of Judah; for out of you will come the prince who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod secretly called the wise men to him and asked them exactly when the star had appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the Infant; and if you find it, tell me, so that I also may come and worship it. When they had heard the king, they went; and behold, the star which they had seen in the east went before them until it stood over the place where the Infant was. But when they saw the star, they were greatly rejoiced, and they went into the house, and found the Infant with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him, and opened their treasures, and offered him gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And since they were commanded in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their land by another way.”
