The Wise Men

In a far away country, wise men who studied the stars were talking together.  "I have seen a new star in the sky," one man said to the others.

"Could it be the sign we have looked for?" said another

"Has the new King of the Jews been born?" asked a third.  They decided to follow the star until they found the newborn king.

For many months they traveled toward the new star.  At last they entered the country of Judea and went to see Herod, who ruled in that land.  They asked him if he knew where the newborn king was living.  Herod was furious.  He wanted no one but himself to be king in Judea.  He asked them to find the child and then come back and tell him where the child was, so that he, too, could honor him.  He did not tell the wise men that he planned to kill the child.

The wise men left King Herod, and the star led them to Bethlehem right to the place where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus lived.  They worshipped the child and gave him beautiful and expensive gifts.  They did not tell Herod where they had found the boy, for God warned them in a dream of Herod's evil intentions.

Herod, enraged when the wise men did not return to him, ordered that all the baby boys in Judea be killed.  An angel warned Joseph about Herod's plan, so Mary and Joseph escaped with Jesus to Egypt.

In time King Herod died, and Mary, Joseph, and Jesus returned to Israel and made a home together in Nazareth.  Joseph worked as a carpenter, and he and Mary raised their little boy.  Mary often thought about all of the things that happened.  She cared for her son as she watched him grow into the man who would save the world from sin.

(From Classic Bible Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.  Used by permission.  This book may be purchased at your local Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).