Lesson #53: We Have Seen His Star Part 2

Children Sabbath School Lesson #53 for 12-7-2013 Song for opening the Sabbath School: Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord (A Psalms of Praise 100:1-2) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. Opening Prayer requesting one of the little ones or mommies or daddies to give prayer Lesson #53: We Have Seen His Star Part 2 Matthew 2:6 (KJV) And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. This week boys and girls, we will continue with part 2 in our study, We Have Seen His Star! Matthew 2:3 (KJV) When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:4 (KJV) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. Matthew 2:7 (KJV) Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. Matthew 2:8 (KJV) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 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. Isaiah 49:6 (KJV) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Matthew 2:18 (KJV) When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 1

Let s continue in our book Desire of Ages, Chapter #6, pages 61 63 The priests are rehearsing traditions. They extol their religion and their own piety, while they denounce the Greeks and Romans as heathen, and sinners above others. The wise men are not idolaters, and in the sight of God they stand far higher than do these, His professed worshipers; yet they are looked upon by the Jews as heathen. Even among the appointed guardians of the Holy Oracles their eager questionings touch no chord of sympathy. {DA 61.1} The arrival of the magi was quickly noised throughout Jerusalem. Their strange errand created an excitement among the people, which penetrated to the palace of King Herod. The wily Edomite was aroused at the intimation of a possible rival. Countless murders had stained his pathway to the throne. Being of alien blood, he was hated by the people over whom he ruled. His only security was the favor of Rome. But this new Prince had a higher claim. He was born to the kingdom. {DA 61.2} Herod suspected the priests of plotting with the strangers to excite a popular tumult and unseat him from the throne. He concealed his mistrust, however, determined to thwart their schemes by superior cunning. Summoning the chief priests and the scribes, he questioned them as to the teaching of their sacred books in regard to the place of the Messiah's birth. {DA 61.3} Question: Boys & girls, where the wise men idolaters? And what was Herod suspiction about the priests with the strangers? Answer: No, in the sight of God they stand far higher than do these, His professed worshipers. And, He suspected the priests of plotting with the strangers to excite a popular tumult and unseat him from the throne. This inquiry from the usurper of the throne, and made at the request of strangers, stung the pride of the Jewish teachers. The indifference with which they turned to the rolls of prophecy enraged the jealous tyrant. He thought them trying to conceal their knowledge of the matter. With an authority they dared not disregard, he commanded them to make close search, and to declare the birthplace of their expected King. "And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Matthew 2:6 KJV {DA 62.1} Herod now invited the magi to a private interview. A tempest of wrath and fear was raging in his heart, but he preserved a calm exterior, and received the strangers courteously. He inquired at what time the star had appeared, and professed to hail with joy the intimation of the birth of Christ. He bade his visitors, "Search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also." So saying, he dismissed them to go on their way to Bethlehem. {DA 62.2} Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 2

Question: Boys & girls, how did Herod really feel in his heart during his private interview with the magi? And, what did Herod inquired about the star and what did he professed? Answer: A tempest of wrath and fear was raging in his heart, but he preserved a calm exterior, and received the strangers courteously. And, what time the star had appeared, and professed to hail with joy the intimation of the birth of Christ. The priests and elders of Jerusalem were not as ignorant concerning the birth of Christ as they pretended. The report of the angels' visit to the shepherds had been brought to Jerusalem, but the rabbis had treated it as unworthy of their notice. They themselves might have found Jesus, and might have been ready to lead the magi to His birthplace; but instead of this, the wise men came to call their attention to the birth of the Messiah. "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" they said; "for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him." {DA 62.3} Now pride and envy closed the door against the light. If the reports brought by the shepherds and the wise men were credited, they would place the priests and rabbis in a most unenviable position, disproving their claim to be the exponents of the truth of God. These learned teachers would not stoop to be instructed by those whom they termed heathen. It could not be, they said, that God had passed them by, to communicate with ignorant shepherds or uncircumcised Gentiles. They determined to show their contempt for the reports that were exciting King Herod and all Jerusalem. They would not even go to Bethlehem to see whether these things were so. And they led the people to regard the interest in Jesus as a fanatical excitement. Here began the rejection of Christ by the priests and rabbis. From this point their pride and stubbornness grew into a settled hatred of the Saviour. While God was opening the door to the Gentiles, the Jewish leaders were closing the door to themselves. {DA 62.4} Question: Boys & girls, what did the priest and rabbis lead the people to regard the interest of Jesus to be? And, when did the priest and rabbis rejection of Christ start? Answer: They led the people to regard it as a fanatical excitement. And, here began the rejection of Christ by the priests and rabbis. From this point their pride and stubbornness grew into a settled hatred of the Saviour. Song: Let s learn a beautiful memory verse song together dear ones! Matthew 2:23 (KJV) And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 3

The wise men departed alone from Jerusalem. The shadows of night were falling as they left the gates, but to their great joy they again saw the star, and were directed to Bethlehem. They had received no such intimation of the lowly estate of Jesus as was given to the shepherds. After the long journey they had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders, and had left Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city. At Bethlehem they found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King. None of the world's honored men were in attendance. Jesus was cradled in a manger. His parents, uneducated peasants, were His only guardians. Could this be He of whom it was written, that He should "raise up the tribes of Jacob," and "restore the preserved of Israel;" that He should be "a light to the Gentiles," and for "salvation unto the end of the earth"? Isaiah 49:6. {DA 63.1} Question: Boys and girls, what was the magi disappointment about regarding the Jewish leathers after the long journey? And, what didn t they find to protect the newborn King in attendance? Answer: They had been disappointed by the indifference of the Jewish leaders, and had left Jerusalem less confident than when they entered the city. And, they found no royal guard stationed to protect the newborn King. None of the world's honored men were in attendance. Song: Let s learn a beautiful memory quote song from the Spirit of Prophecy together dear ones! Isaiah 49:6 (KJV) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. "When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshiped Him." Beneath the lowly guise of Jesus, they recognized the presence of Divinity. They gave their hearts to Him as their Saviour, and then poured out their gifts,--"gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." What a faith was theirs! It might have been said of the wise men from the East, as afterward of the Roman centurion, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." Matthew 8:10. {DA 63.2} Next Week: We will continue with Part#3 in our lesson book, We Have Seen His Star! Closing Prayer request one of the little ones or mommies or daddies to give prayer Next Sabbath: Chapter 6 We Have Seen His Star, on Sabbath December 14, 2013. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 4

Have a Blessed Sabbath dear one, and enjoy your activities. God Bless! Children Sabbath School Lesson #53 Matthew 2:8 (KJV) And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 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. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 5

Word Search Puzzle W P Q U F A O W D N I T B C Q B D G U E C F R S S D P N O N E E K P E E E N R X R N V U X N A P T R T H Y Z L X N I M C K U Y R K R A I P I S T T A Q G G K Y I S I H P R Y M I M R E H E A R S I N G T S S R E T A L O D I S C I S E J R S S E E C W R T S D T P R N K E P E H V E N M L X H I U E M U G O A C E A E P X L A E T D O E P N Z M C L U U L E C R Y C M N N N E C M E D U K R M O G B R M S A O T U C A N T E O L I W U H W E A G E R R H O R H R O I S T A S L A E C N O C O L E C V T O Y U Y P A L A C E H N E G S O R J T P D R T N U T R A W H T N D X Y T O N E I L A D N C E R E L I G I O N M X D T S U R T S I M E R D X H G V Z L P E W U K O R E E O X I F G D C L A W A A S A F W D A N R Y V H C Y Y O I Q M O T P K A Y T G M X A P A T H W A Y T H F H S X S I D R G L O I U E D W Q N R E K Y O E ALIEN CHORD CONCEAL CONCEALED COUNTLESS DENOUNCE EAGER EDOMITE ERRAND EXCITE EXCITEMENT EXTOL GREEKS GUARDIANS HEATHEN HEROD IDOLATERS INTIMATION JEALOUS KING MAGI MISTRUST ORACLES PALACE PATHWAY PIETY REHEARSING RELIGION RIVAL ROMANS ROME SCHEMES SECURITY SYMPATHY THWART TUMULT TYRANT UNSEAT USURPER WORSHIPERS 40 of 40 words were placed into the puzzle. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 6

Crisscross Puzzle DISREGARD BIRTHPLACE BETHLEHEM JUDEA INTERVIEW TEMPEST WRATH CALM EXTERIOR HAIL DILIGENTLY DISMISSED ELDERS IGNORANT RABBIS PRIDE ENVY SHEPHERDS UNENVIABLE EXPONENTS TERMED COMMUNICATE GENTILES CONTEMPT FANATICAL REJECTION STUBBORNNESS HATRED JOURNEY CONFIDENT PROTECT CRADLED MANGER PEASANTS GUARDIANS BENEATH DIVINITY FRANKINCENSE MYRRH CENTURION 40 of 40 words were placed into the puzzle. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 7

Cryptogram Puzzle #1 The character style to solve the cryptogram puzzle phrase is by Number Cryptogram Puzzle #2 The character style to solve the cryptogram puzzle phrase is by Number Unscramble each Cryptogram Phrase (The clue to solve the word phrases are on page #1) Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 8

Activities Answer Key Word Search Puzzle Solution + + + U + + + W D N I + + + + + D G + E + + + S S + + N O N E E + + + E + N + X + + + U + N A + T R T H Y + L + + I + C + + + R + R A I + I S T T A + + + K + I S + + P R + M I M R E H E A R S I N G T S S R E T A L O D I S C I S E J + S S E E C + R T + D T P R N K E P E H + E N M L + H I + E + U + O A C E A E + + L A E T D O E + + + M C + U U L E + R + C M N N N E + M + + U + R + O G + R + S A O T U C A N + E + L I + U + + E A G E R R H O + H R O + S T + S L A E C N O C O L E C + + O Y U Y P A L A C E + + + + S O R + + + + R T N U T R A W H T + + + Y T O N E I L A D N C E R E L I G I O N M X D T S U R T S I M E R + X + G + + + P E + + + + + E + O + I + + + C + A + + A + + + + + A + R + V + + + + + I + M + T + + + + T + + + A P A T H W A Y T + + H + + + + + + + L + + + + + + + + + E + Y + + (Over, Down, Direction) ALIEN (5, 15,W) CHORD (2, 11, SE) CONCEAL (17, 12, W) CONCEALED (9, 9, NE) COUNTLESS (1, 13, N) DENOUNCE (2, 9, SE) EAGER (14, 11, E) EDOMITE (6, 8, NE) ERRAND (4, 6, NE) EXCITE (11, 15, SE) EXCITEMENT (20, 1, S) EXTOL (19, 16, N) GREEKS (16, 11, NW) GUARDIANS (13, 10, NW) HEATHEN (16, 7, NW) HEROD (20, 11, S) IDOLATERS (10, 6, W) INTIMATION (11, 1, SW) JEALOUS (16, 6, SW) KING (18, 4, N) MAGI (16, 18, NW) MISTRUST (8, 16, W) ORACLES (18, 12, N) PALACE (8, 13, E) PATHWAY (8, 19, E) PIETY (9, 7, NE) REHEARSING (10, 5, E) RELIGION (10, 15, E) RIVAL (10, 16, SW) ROMANS (19, 11, N) ROME (6, 18, NE) SCHEMES (1, 6, SE) SECURITY (14, 6, SW) SYMPATHY (18, 13, S) THWART (14, 14, W) TUMULT (8, 7, S) TYRANT (6, 14, NW) UNSEAT (8, 14, SW) USURPER (4, 1, S) WORSHIPERS (8, 1, SE) 40 of 40 words were placed into the puzzle. Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 9

Crisscross Puzzle Solution 4. BIRTHPLACE 7. CENTURION 8. BETHLEHEM 9. MYRRH 10. TEMPEST 11. CALM 12. DILIGENTLY 15. DISMISSED 17. DIVINITY 18. RABBIS 21. FRANKINCENSE 22. PEASANTS 23. UNENVIABLE 27. GUARDIANS 28. PROTECT 31. INTERVIEW 32. HATRED 33. JUDEA 34. HAIL 35. GENTILES 37. JOURNEY Across 1. CONTEMPT 2. EXTERIOR 3. MANGER 5. EXPONENTS 6. REJECTION 7. COMMUNICATE 11. CONFIDENT 13. ENVY 14. STUBBORNNESS 16. DISREGARD 19. WRATH 20. CRADLED 21. FANATICAL 24. IGNORANT 25. BENEATH 26. ELDERS 29. SHEPHERDS 30. PRIDE 36. TERMED Down 40 of 40 words were placed into the puzzle. Cryptogram Puzzle #1 Solution Isaiah 49:6 (KJV) And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. The Scramble Cryptogram Puzzle Phrase from page # 1 Cryptogram Puzzle #2 Solution Matthew 8:10 (KJV) When Jesus heard [it], he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. The Scramble Cryptogram Puzzle Phrase from page # 1 Children s Sabbath School _ Lesson#53 (12.7.13) Page 10