The Wise Men Visit Jesus
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, following a star they believed announced the birth of a new king. They asked around the city, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Word of this reached King Herod, who was deeply troubled -- he had no intention of sharing his throne. He secretly called the wise men to find out exactly when the star had appeared, then sent them to Bethlehem with instructions to report back once they found the child, claiming he too wanted to worship him. In truth, Herod wanted to find and eliminate any rival to his throne.
The star the wise men had seen went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. Overjoyed, they entered the house and found Jesus with his mother, Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him, then opened their treasures and presented him with gifts fit for a king: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, the wise men returned home by a different route, protecting the child from Herod's true intentions. Their long journey, guided by nothing more than a star and a deep conviction, became one of the earliest acts of worship offered to Jesus by people far outside his own nation.
Read the Bible passage
See the full scripture text this story is based on.
- 2:1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
- 2:2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
- 2:3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
- 2:4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
- 2:5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
- 2:6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
- 2:7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
- 2:8And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
- 2:9When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
- 2:10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
- 2:11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
- 2:12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
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