Thursday, December 20, 2012
December 20 - The Wise Men
The Wise Men are always a huge hit with the kids. I pull out the Nativity costume bin and props for this one, and all of the kids get to be wise men. I bought cheap battery-operated candles as well, so we can turn out the lights and let the kids take a short journey before sitting in front of our manger with a baby Jesus in it for the lesson.
Timeline: c. 1 B.C.
Opening Song: In A Little Stable-piano; vocal copy
Have the children ring bells while singing.
Ornament: wise men
We can learn many lessons from the wise men.
1. The wise men journeyed from afar following the new star and seeking the King of the Jews. We must also follow the scriptures and the prophet and constantly seek Christ, no matter how difficult or long our journey may be. Sometimes that difficulty is much more manageable than a long journey across the desert. Our journey might be to our knees each morning and night, our struggle may be to avoid temptation and mocking of others, and our best efforts may include open our scriptures each day to seek Christ.
2. The wise men listened to the warnings they received from God and did not return to Herod. We can be wise in listening to the Holy Ghost in our lives. We can steer clear of evil and follow the light of Christ.
President Benson said, “And now, my beloved brothers and sisters, what must we do this Christmas season—and always? Why, we must do the same as the Wise Men of old. They sought out the Christ and found Him. And so must we. Those who are wise still seek Him today. ‘I would commend you,’ urged Moroni, “to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written’ (Ether 12:41). And God has provided the means—the holy scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon—that all who seek may know that Jesus is the Christ. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Keeping Christ in Christmas,” Ensign, Dec 1993, 2)
3. Like the wise men, we can also bring our most precious gifts to the Lord. What gifts from us does He hope for? Decide on a gift you would like to give to Christ for this New Year.
Closing Song: “With Wondering Awe” Hymns, 210 or Night of Miracles p. 49-51 (-58)
1“We Three Kings,” New Era, Dec. 2009, 24-27; Wikipedia; “Thoughtful Gifts,” by Rebekah Atkin, New Era, Dec. 2011.
Extra Activities
From christcenteredtraditions.blogspot.com:
1. Gift a new journal to each child with a picture of the Savior mounted in the front, in which they can record their gift to Christ and their following efforts throughout the year. Consider writing a short entry under the picture of Christ about giving a gift to Him who gave us the greatest gift of all. Have a family motto throughout the year of “Wise Men Still Seek Him” and intentionally plan ways to bring the Savior and His atonement into the forefront of your family activities.
2. Three Kings Game: Use 3 wise men figurines that are safe for little hands. Have them travel through the house each day getting closer to the baby Jesus. Take turns hiding and finding them. The wise men can occasionally leave a word of inspiration, a scripture, a quote or a treat behind.
3. Another simple game for children is to find the fancy button that fell from the cloak of one of the wise men.
Have children dress up as wise men carrying battery-operated candles. Turn off all the lights in the house and have the children take a journey to find the baby Jesus (you can give them a route or you carry a light to follow). After they present gifts, they can sit in front of the baby Jesus for the lesson.
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, 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” (Matthew 2:1–2).
King Herod ruled at that time, and when he heard of the wise men’s question, he was troubled because he didn’t like the idea that there was another king of the Jews. He called the chief priests and scribes together and asked them where Christ was to be born. They answered that a prophet had written that Christ would be born “in Bethlehem of Judaea.” Herod sent for the wise men and asked them about the star they had followed. He then sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “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” (Matthew 2:8). Herod did not want to worship Jesus; he intended to kill Him.
The wise men followed the star and found the young Jesus, “and 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” (Matthew 2:9-11). Because the wise men had received a warning from Heavenly Father in a dream, they did not return to Herod but went by another way to their homeland.
The wise men brought three gifts for the Christ child. These gifts were very precious, practical, and also symbolic. Gold symbolizes kingship and royalty, and was appropriately given to the newborn King of the Earth. The gold most likely helped Mary and Joseph travel to Egypt when they needed to protect Jesus’ life from Herod.
Burning Frankincense repels mosquitoes and would help protect the baby Jesus from dangerous illnesses carried by mosquitoes. Frankincense was mixed with oils to anoint newborn infants and those considered to be moving into a new phase in their spiritual lives, and was a symbol of Christ’s divinity – the Anointed One, beginning His mission on earth.
Myrrh, a bitter oil, has been highly valued since ancient times for its fragrance, its medicinal qualities, as a wound dressing, and as a special perfume used in preparing bodies for burial. As such, myrrh symbolized Christ’s healing powers, the “bitter cup” He would drink, and also His death and burial. 1
If you are able, buy real gold, frankincense and myrrh (you can find gift sets online). Let the children hold and smell each item as you talk about them.
photo taken Dec. 2011
4. For an art project that goes along with this theme, the wise men can be created from handprints.
Image from christcenteredtraditions.blogspot.com
This year, I asked Jon to send the kids on some kind of journey. He used his iPhone flashlight to provide the “star” for the kids to follow. They journeyed around the house, and picked up the pace to a run for a while!
When they returned to the living room, they all awed at how the reflection in the TV really looked like a star - with four shining lines in each direction.
I have several different wise men ornaments. They aren’t too difficult to find.
Complete Devotionals HERE.
(last year)
(this year)
This video “The Wise Men Seek Jesus” is not very action-packed, but is still nice. Watch these segments: 1:15-1:40, 3:00-5:30.
Watch “The Wise Men” (0:49).
