Lesson 3. King Herod and the Wise Men from the East

• Religious education
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)
• Higher Education (degree)

Instructions

At Herod.docx

Worksheets

Drawing.docx

Crossword Puzzle.docx

Les 3.

King Herod and the Wise Men

Attention!

This lesson includes attachments.

Who were the Wise Men?

The Wise Men were scholars or astronomers, likely from the East, possibly Persia, Babylonia, or Arabia. They were known for their knowledge of astronomy and astrology and used the stars to predict significant events. The Bible describes how they saw a special star that led them to the newborn King of the Jews. They traveled to Bethlehem to honor Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

What do the Wise Men symbolize?

The Wise Men symbolize the search for truth and wisdom, as well as the willingness to undertake a long journey to discover something greater than themselves. They also represent the international recognition of Jesus' royal nature, as they came from distant lands.

King Herod

Who was King Herod?

King Herod, also known as Herod the Great, was the king of Judea from 37 BC until his death in 4 BC. Appointed by the Romans, he was infamous for his ruthless and manipulative ways of maintaining his kingdom. Herod was a clever but merciless ruler who went to any lengths to preserve his power, including having his own family members killed.

Herod's reaction to the Wise Men:

When the Wise Men came to Herod seeking the newborn King of the Jews, he became anxious and jealous, fearing that someone might threaten his kingdom. He asked the Wise Men to tell him Jesus' location but had no intention of honoring him. Instead, after the Wise Men left, Herod ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem (the Massacre of the Innocents) in an attempt to eliminate the new "king."

The Christmas ornaments with the correct statement must be hang in the Christmas tree with the right number.

The remaining ornaments are placed in order, and together they form a word.

1

3

2

4

5

6

8

7

10

9

The angels sang a song (1)

J

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus (3)

E

Maria reacted sadly to the news of the angel (14)

E

Maria was engaged to David (11)

A

Joseph descended from King David (6)

T

A dove told Maria that she would become pregnant (13)

G

Jesus was the youngest son of Mary and Joseph (9)

R

There was no more room in the inn for Mary and Joseph (8)

N

Jesus was born in Bethlehem (10)

L

The shepherds were in the field with their cows (12)

N

Jezus means 'God saves' (7)

N

Jesus was born on December 25th (10)

M

The stories about Jesus are in the New Testament (5)

C

Maria came from Galilee (4)

H

A mangeris a feeding trough

O

The shepherds were the first to visit the newborn( 9)

U

Drag and drop question: Arrange the Christmas ornaments with the correct statements behind them and hang them on the Christmas tree.

What

Here?

is

Wrong

What is wrong here?

Click on the image to display it in full screen.

The slide shows an image in which three bishops are present at the birth of Jesus. This is incorrect. According to Biblical tradition, no bishops are mentioned in the story of the birth of Jesus. The three figures often depicted are the Magi (also known as the Three Kings), who, according to the Gospels, came from the East to honor the newborn child. However, it is not mentioned that there were specifically three of them, nor that they were bishops.

Additionally, it is important to note that the shepherds who were visited by angels play an important role in the Christmas story, but they were neither Magi nor bishops.

What is wrong here?

Click on the image to display it in full screen.

The slide shows an image in which shepherds are present at the birth of Jesus, but there are many gifts in the stable. This is not correct according to biblical tradition. In the Gospel of Luke, it is mentioned that the shepherds heard the news of Jesus' birth from angels and went to the stable to see the child. However, they did not bring gifts. The gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh were brought by the wise men or kings, as mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew, and they came later, not at the birth.

The shepherds were indeed the first to be informed about the birth, but there is no mention of them bringing gifts. Therefore, the image of the shepherds giving gifts is a misunderstanding.

Guided fantasy
 

In Search of the King's Child.

Introduction to Guided Fantasy.

In this activity, students listen with their eyes closed to a story read aloud by you. The story is accompanied by cinematic or calming music. Afterward, the students create a visualization (drawing) of what they have experienced.

Instructions Ask the students to close their eyes, start the music on the second slide, and begin telling or reading the story. After the story, the students should draw what they heard in the story. This can be any part of it. This is what makes this assignment so fun: everyone will draw something different. Have the students take a photo of their drawing and upload it with the photo question.

You can also read the text aloud yourself. The text can be found in the attachment.

Listen with your eyes closed to the story and the music.

You can play the story, or you can read it yourself and just play the music softly in the background.

Start by playing the music softly in the background. Ask the children to close their eyes and sit comfortably. 

you will then begin telling the story of the Wise Men visiting King Herod, guiding the children through the narrative with a calm and engaging voice. Encourage the children to use their imagination as the story unfolds, creating a vivid mental picture of the scenes. 

You  may pause occasionally to allow the children to reflect or visualize certain moments in the story. Ensure the atmosphere is peaceful and focused, allowing the children to immerse themselves fully in the story and the music.

Now make a drawing of things you just heard in the story.

The students make a drawing that represents the moment when the Wise Men (astronomers) visit King Herod. This activity helps the students to visually understand the story and explore the emotions of the characters in the story.

Take a photo of your drawing and upload it here.

Why did the astronomers come to King Herod?

The astronomers, often referred to as the "wise men" or "Magi," came to King Herod because they had seen a special star in the sky, which they believed signaled the birth of a new king. They traveled to Jerusalem to inquire where this new king, the "King of the Jews," had been born, as they intended to worship him. Herod, who was the reigning king at the time, was disturbed by this news because he felt threatened by the possibility of a rival king. This led him to ask the Magi to find the child and report back to him, with the intention of eliminating any threat to his throne.

What is the meaning of the new star for the wise men?

Answer: The new star was seen by the wise men as a special sign, possibly the birth of a royal person, which they believed influenced their destiny.

The wise men brought gifts for Jesus. Look up what they brought and what these gifts symbolize.

Answer: 

The wise men brought gifts for Jesus. The gifts they brought were:

Gold: This symbolizes Jesus' kingship and royalty. It is a precious metal fit for a king.

Frankincense: This is a type of incense, which symbolizes Jesus' divinity and his role as a priest. It is often associated with prayer and worship.

Myrrh: This is a resin used in embalming, which symbolizes Jesus' humanity and his future suffering and death.

These gifts are symbolic of who Jesus is: the King, the divine Son of God, and the Savior who would eventually suffer for mankind's sins.

Why did it become important for the wise men to follow the star in the west?

Answer: Because they believed that the star was a special sign for the birth of a king, and because the star had appeared in the west, they decided to go in that direction to search.

My participation during this lesson