AGE: Infants and Juniors (especially Juniors) |
THEME: Epiphany: The revelation of Jesus to the Wise Men, as told by Matthew the Writer |
PREPARATION: |
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INTRODUCTION: |
| The Leader, dressed up as Matthew the Gospel writer, sits at the table. He tells the story of the Three Wise Men as if he is writing it down. 'Hello! My name's Matthew. Or you can call me Levi if you like - that's my Hebrew name. I answer to both! It looks as if I'm in the middle of Literacy Hour, doesn't it? Well, you're right! I'm actually writing a book - only at the time of Jesus we wrote on scrolls. Look, here's the first chapter (holds up Chapter One). It lists the names of all Jesus' family - right back to Adam. That took me ages to do. (holds up Chapter Two) This is the... But, as we've just been celebrating it, I expect you know all about that! I wrote it down so that people like you would come to know about Jesus. Jesus. What a name! It means 'Saviour', you know. And my book is about him. I got the details from all sorts of people who knew Jesus - people who were his family and friends (we call them Christians now, by the way) as well as people who just saw what was going on, like the guard at Herod's Palace. He's retired now... Anyway, I'll tell you about my next chapter. You may be able to help me as we go along. This is what it's called. (Hold up the third scroll). |
THE STORY: |
| Herod was king at the time - and proud of it! Ruled in Jerusalem, had a marvellous palace, lots of servants and advisors. Bethlehem wasn't that far away, and that's where Mary had her baby and called him Jesus. Joseph had moved them out of the stable after that first night and they were in a rented house now. Well, my contact back at the palace in Jerusalem says that three amazing visitors arrived one night, saying that they were following a star. Apparently they studied stars and worked out from special charts what each star meant. This star meant that a new king was to be born. So they went first of all to the obvious place to find a king: the palace in the capital - Jerusalem. You can imagine how Herod felt when he heard about that! He exploded! "New king indeed! I'm the only king around here! What do you mean, new baby king?!" There was a big meeting. All the men who understood the laws came, and some priests from the Temple. (Sarcastically) "Where is this 'new king' to be born?" Herod asked them. "Find out and let me know!" Well, they had the answer to that already... "Er, in Bethlehem, your Majesty. It's written in the Prophets." "Right!" said Herod. "Get those three star-gazers back in here at once." As soon as they arrived, he asked them what time the star had first appeared. Then he had an idea. "Go to Bethlehem, find this king, and then come and tell me where he is so I can go and worship him too!" So the men left, got back on their camels and horses and off they went, into the night, to Bethlehem. As they went, they looked up and there was the star again! Just the same as when they'd started their journey months ago! Bigger and brighter than ever. Shining right over Bethlehem. And I've been told that when they arrived they came quietly into the house, asking for the new King. When they saw Jesus they fell to their knees and worshipped him! Then they brought in some presents for him. (Let the children tell you what the presents are - you could write them in the scroll as they tell you.) They gave gold - that's for a king. Frankincense - that's for a holy person. Myrrh - that means suffering. And Jesus' mother Mary knew that. That's what made her sad, to think that this baby was going to suffer. Then the Three Wise Men left. Well, my contact at the palace said that they never came back to Herod at all. The word got round that they'd had a warning in a dream not to go there, and it seems that Joseph had a dream that night too. He was to take Jesus and Mary to Egypt, and stay there until Herod was dead. And that's what he did. After all these years it still amazes me that this baby Jesus wasn't just for the Jewish people. Even people from far away wanted to worship him. He came for everyone! (Matthew stands up and collects his scrolls). Must go - got to write about John the Baptiser next, so I'm off to another interview now. By the way, in your time my book's already published... you can read the whole story in the Bible if you like...' Matthew goes out. |
READING: |
| Matthew 2:1-15. This can be read by a child, preferably in a children's version. |
PRAYER: |
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Lord, God, we thank you that Jesus was born as a Saviour for all people. Thank you that Matthew wrote about the star, and the men who followed it, so that people like us could know and understand about your love for all the world. Amen. |
REFLECTION: |
| Ask the children to think quietly for a moment about the Wise Men worshipping Jesus, kneeling before him, offering their gifts. Ask, 'What would you give Jesus if you could?' |
SONGS: |
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'Kings came riding' (Merrily to Bethlehem, 20) 'March of the Kings' (Merrily to Bethlehem, 21) 'We have some news to bring' (Children's Praise, 181) |
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