The Wise Men Follow the Star

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men — magi from lands in the East — arrived in Jerusalem asking, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star rising and have come to worship Him." News of this question spread and troubled King Herod greatly.

Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them to find the child and report back — pretending he wanted to worship Jesus too, though in reality he planned to destroy Him. The wise men followed the star again, and it led them to the very house where Jesus was. When they entered and saw the child with Mary His mother, they fell down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures: gold, frankincense, and myrrh — royal gifts for a King.

Warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home by a different route. God protected Jesus from Herod's evil plans. The Coptic Church sees the wise men as the first Gentiles — people from outside Israel — to come and worship Jesus, showing that He is Savior of all people, from every nation on earth. Their journey teaches us that seeking Jesus is always worth the long road.