December 3, 2015 – Matthew 2:1-3

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:1-3Grandpa Wise Man sat in his chair relaxing, his white beard flowing down to his chest.  His three grandchildren came bouncing into the room calling, “Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa…will you tell us a story about the time you followed the star?””Come, sit, children, and I will tell you my favorite story that is very true!  Long, long ago, I read in the scroll about a great man who would be born.  Like always my friends and I watched the sky, for the sky is God’s bulletin board.””What is a bulletin board, Grandpa?””It is a place where messages are sent!  Then one night we saw a huge star in the sky, the biggest we had ever seen.””How big was it?””It was so big that soon we remembered the prophecy given by Balaam, when the spirit of the God came over him.  In Numbers 24, verse 17…a star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel….”We traveled many miles toward Jerusalem, it took many days.  Camels move slowly…and the Star seemed to move before us.  We hurried to Herod’s Palace.  We knew that Herod, being a King, would know about the Baby King being born.  He did not.  He asked many questions.””He didn’t know at all about the Child King?””No, and his questions made us be concerned for the Child King.  We went into the place where the child lay with Mary his mother.  When we saw the Baby…we fell down and worshiped him.  We gave him the gifts we brought – We knew He was the King, Jesus, is His Name.  Then we had a dream, don’t go back to see King Herod.  He wants no one to be king, just him.  We knew the dream came from Lord God, so we came home another way.””I wish we could have seen Jesus.””You do see Him — when you love and obey Him and trust Him every day.”  Then Grandpa Wise Man hugged his grandchildren and prayed for them all.And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matthew 2:11-12