A Journey to Find a King

What is that? Is that a new star shining there? We've studied the sky for years, and we've never seen a star just appear. What could this mean? Let's see what it could be. Bring me the maps. Could we have missed something?

The Magi were confused. They had studied the sky, the stars, since the beginning of time. They had mapped the stars' positions and how they moved in the sky from season to season. Never before had a new star just appeared. And this new star was different. This star was brighter than any they had ever seen before.

They began searching for an explanation. They searched records from countries near and far. They found a prophecy foretelling the birth of a king. Another prophecy told of a king to be born in Bethlehem. As they read the prophecies and watched the star, they recorded the star on the map. The star had appeared over the country in which Bethlehem was located. They packed their caravan and began a journey to find a king.

In those days, it was customary for the Magi to seek an audience with the King of the land through which they would be traveling. Indeed, the King would know of the birth of a new king in his land.

As the Magi caravan approached the palace, the guards sent a scout to inquire about their business in Judea. The Magi responded that they were on a quest and were requesting an audience with King Herod. The scout returned to the palace to prepare for their arrival. When they arrived, they were welcomed by the King.

The Magi approached the King and explained the appearance of the strange star and the prophecies they had discovered. They explained that the star had appeared some months earlier over the small town of Bethlehem. They told him that it had then moved; however, it didn't follow the astrological patterns they had seen with the other stars. It had moved and was now over Jerusalem. 

Herod had been raised in a Jewish home and knew the prophecies. But he had since turned his back on God. These prophecies, these scriptures, were just stories to him now. When Herod heard the Magi's tale, he became disturbed. He called all his advisors to discuss what the Magi had reported. They repeated the prophecies that a ruler would come from Bethlehem, who would shepherd the people of Israel. So Herod and his advisors devised a plan to find the child, with the help of the Magi, and kill him. Herod returned to the Magi and told them to resume their search for the King and then return to him so that he, too, might go and worship. The Magi agreed, and they proceeded with the King's blessing.  

Now, they once again studied the sky to find the star. It led them to Jerusalem, where it shone over a small house. The Magi rejoiced, for they had at last found the one they were seeking. When they entered the house, there was Mary with the child sitting in her lap. To her amazement, the Magi knelt down before her and her son Jesus and worshipped Him. They then presented Him with the magnificent gifts they had brought for Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

That night, the caravan camped outside of town. During the night, the angel of the Lord came to them in a dream. The angel warned them of Herod's evil plan and told them not to return to him but to return home another way. The caravan packed up the following morning and began their long journey home. They had met the one true King, the King of Kings, the King of the Jews.

They had met Jesus.