One of the magi: We have found the king!
One of the magi: We bring presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

One of the magi: We have come on a long journey, from far away in the East. We are scholars and astronomers.

While the magi studied the sky, they saw a new star appear.

They recognized this as a sign from God that a great king had been born.

One of the magi: Let us go to Jerusalem and find this king!

After traveling for a month, they reached Jerusalem and inquired where the new king had been born.

One of the magi: We have come to worship the new king who was born to be the king of the Jews. Where can we find him?
Man: No king has been born here!

At the time when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea was governed by King Herod the Great.

When King Herod learned of the magi’s visit, he called his counsellors.

King Herod: What king are they talking about?

King Herod: Do your sacred Scriptures say anything about a baby who will become king of the Jews?
Counsellor: “And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”¹
King Herod: Call the magi at once!

Herod: You must look for this child in Bethlehem. Once you find him, let me know where he is so that I can also go to worship him.
Herod (thought bubble): When I find that child, I’ll kill him! No one but me will be the king of the Jews!

Following Herod’s instructions, the magi set out for Bethlehem, with the star once again guiding them.

One of the magi: Look, Bethlehem!
One of the magi: The star has stopped over this house! Our journey is finished.
One of the magi: God has led us to the royal child.

Dialogue:
One of the magi: We must now retire to our camp. We’ll leave early in the morning to tell King Herod of the good news.

But in the morning as they were preparing to depart…

One of the magi: I had a dream in which God warned us not to return to Jerusalem. Herod is jealous and wants to kill the child!
One of the magi: We’ll go home by another route.

When King Herod learned of the magi’s secret departure, he was furious and ordered all the baby boys in Bethlehem to be killed!

It was similar to what another king, long before, had done to the Hebrews who were slaves in Egypt.²

King Herod (thought bubble): No one will take my place as the king of the Jews!

But an angel had appeared to Joseph.

Angel: Get up and flee with the boy and his mother to Egypt. Stay there until I say it’s time to go.

Joseph: Mary, we must leave right away! An angel has warned me in a dream.
Mary: Now? In the middle of the night?
Mary: What about our house and belongings?
Joseph: The angel said that Herod wants to kill Jesus.
Mary: Where are we going?
Joseph: To Egypt.

¹ Matthew 2:6 ESV
² See Exodus 1:8–22.