Lesson Learned: We give presents at Christmas time to remember Jesus’ birth.
Materials Needed: sheets, pillows, chairs, 1 present for each child, Christmas music
Bible Verse:
Matthew 2:1-12
1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “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.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Talking Points: People from all over the world had been waiting for and expecting Jesus’ birth. Some men from far away, men called Magi or Wise Men, heard about this special baby, Jesus, and wanted to visit Him. They traveled a long distance and finally arrived to see Jesus when he was a couple of years old. They knew exactly where to find Him because a bright star shone over His house. These wise men brought special gifts for Jesus to celebrate His birth. I bet you’ve had a few birthdays, too, where people bring you gifts to celebrate the day you were born. We give gifts at Christmas time to remember Jesus’ birthday every year.
Questions: How did the wise men know where Jesus was? What did they bring Him? Why do we give gifts at Christmas time?
Activity:
Usually, I post our activities after we do them but I’m doing this one before so we can do it tomorrow on Christmas Eve.
Take some time to set up a “stable” (blanket fort) that your whole family can fit under. Arrange pillows to make it comfortable and turn on some Christmas music.
Then, invite your family in to exchange one present, just like the wise men brought something to share with Jesus.
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for sharing Your Son with us. Thank You for Christmas. Help us to always remember why we celebrate and remember Your special Son.