Overview and Objectives

According to the New Testament, a group of Magi from the East followed a “starlike sign” to the Jewish town of Bethlehem. What they found was a child they believed to be the long-awaited Jewish Messiah. For hundreds of years, Old Testament prophets had been speaking of “a Star” and “a Scepter” that would come out of Israel (Numbers 24:17). The Old Testament also predicted a ruler of Israel who would come out of Bethlehem, a ruler “whose goings forth are from old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to do the following:

As you proceed through this lesson have the following question in mind.
Popular Christmas carols speak of a star that stood over the place where the newborn baby Jesus lay. The Bible records that such a historical event did take place. What views have you heard to explain this celestial sign?