Journey's End

TEXT: Matthew 2:1-12

The camels plodded majestically over the desert sand and up and down sloping hills. No sand was too hot, no hill too high for the Wise Men riding on the camels' backs. They were determined to find the newborn King. He truly must be a great King because they had seen His special star in the sky. It was beautiful, so brilliant and unlike any they had ever seen before. It seemed like a lantern lighting a dark pathway.

Finally, they told the camels to stop. They had entered the city of Jerusalem. We must be getting close, they thought. A King could easily be born in a city such as this.

They began to ask people where they could find the child, born to be King of the Jews.

Someone told King Herod about the Wise Men questioning the people. He asked some priests and scribes if they knew where this new King was to be born. They told Herod of the prophecy that said Christ would be born in Bethlehem. Then he called the Wise Men to him and told them to search for the new King in Bethlehem.

So, they started out once again to look for the young child. And, again, the star was leading them.

When they came to the village called Bethlehem the star stopped and shone over a little house.

That was a surprise! No castle? No royal palace? Still, this is where the star had led them. They climbed off their camels, carefully unpacked their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, and went to knock on the door.

Joseph and Mary, inside the house, had no idea they were about to be visited by such great men. Joseph heard the knocking and opened the door. And there stood some of the most important looking men he had ever seen. Their clothing showed that they were rich. He knew they must be very great. Mary stood back and held Jesus in her arms, wondering what this was all about.

"Forgive us for disturbing you," the men said to Joseph, "but is there a young child living here? We have been following a special star to find the child, born King of the Jews! The star is no longer moving so we think we must have found the place where He lives."

Joseph did not seem to find the Wise Men's words strange. He glanced at the gifts they held in their hands. Then he looked at their faces. "Yes, Jesus lives here," he said as he opened the door wide and motioned for them to enter.

Then they saw Jesus in His mother's arms. And, as they knelt to worship God's Son, they knew that every long and weary mile of the journey had been rewarded!

PARENT'S CORNER

This week, direct your child's attention to the stars. If there is a clear night, bundle up and go out to view the many stars in the sky. Look at pictures of stars in books or an encyclopedia. Count how many stars you can find on the Christmas cards you have received. Do you put a star on your Christmas tree or wrap gifts in paper decorated with stars? Relate all of these to the miracle star followed by the Wise Men.

Cut out a large star, and on each point print one of the following references: Matthew 2:1-2; Luke 1:28; Luke 2:7; Luke 2:8; Luke 2:13. Stick a tack or pin through the middle of the star. Let your child spin the star, then draw a picture of the scene represented by the point that stops closest to him.