"Bedtime Bible Stories"

From the Book of Matthew,
Chapter 2, Verses 1-12

Far away, in mysterious lands to the east,
there were wise men who studied the stars
in the heavens. They believed these stars
could tell the future. One night, they saw a
special star they believed told them of a
great event. Together, they traveled
to Jerusalem. There, they asked people,
"Does anyone know where the child who is to
become the King of the Jews is? We have seen
his star!" When King Herod heard of the wise
men's questions he ordered them to appear before
him. When they arrived, they asked him, "Do you
know where the baby who is to be the King of the
Jews was born?" This disturbed King
Herod very much, since he was considered by the
Romans as the King of the Jews. He asked
his own wise men, "Where do the prophets say the
Messiah will be born?" "In Bethlehem," they
answered. So King Herod told the travelers, "Go
to Bethlehem to see if you can find this child. If
you do, come back and tell me so I can worship him too."

The wise men agreed and thanked King Herod for his
help. Little did they know the only reason Herod wanted
to know the location of the baby was so he could order it
killed\ He didn't want anyone else to claim to be a king in
his kingdom!
The wise men traveled to Bethlehem. There they
found Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. They bowed down
before him and presented him with three gifts. They gave
him gold, frankincense (which is a sweet-smelling
incense), and myrrh (which is a special perfume). Mary
accepted the gifts for the baby and wondered how these
strange men had known of her baby's birth.
Nobody knows how many wise men came to visit
baby Jesus that day. Many people guess there were three
since they brought three gifts.
As the wise men were returning to Jerusalem, an
angel of the Lord came to them in a dream. "Don't return
to Herod," the angel warned, "because he wants to kill the
baby!"
So the wise men returned to their own country
without going back to Jerusalem. When King Herod
realized they were not coming back, he was furious. He
ordered all of the babies in Bethlehem to be killed.
Before Herod's soldiers reached Bethlehem, the
angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said,
"Take Mary and the baby to the land of Egypt!"
Joseph did as the angel commanded and escaped!
Baby Jesus was safe!
Some time later, an angel came to Joseph again an(
told him, "King Herod is dead, now you can go bad
home."
Years earlier, a prophet had said that God had said
"I will call My Son out of Egypt." Now this prophesy ha(
come true!