19-Herod's Persecution and the Flight to Egypt

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. (19)

References:
Matthew 2:7-22.
Contemplations on nativity, H.H. Pope Shenouda.

Notes for Servants
-It is surprising that when the Lord, Jesus Christ was a child, He did not use His power. He fled
to Egypt although, He had authority over Herod's soul.

Objectives
General: Keep away from evil.
Specific:
The children will be able to ...
A. Search for God as those wise men, where can we find Him?
B. Learn that we should always offer God the best things.
C. Flee from the evil things, such as fighting others.

Bible Verse

" Out of Egypt have I called my son. "
(Matthew 2:15 )

Teaching Aids
1. A picture showing the visit of the wise men to the Lord Jesus.
2. A picture showing the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt.
3. Video.

Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Servant shows the children the great love of the wise men who came from a far country.
(5) Servant explain the symbols of the gifts and shows the children what each gift stands for.
(6) Servant explains that the flight of Jesus Christ was not because of fear but it was to fulfil the
prophesy, "Out of Egypt I have called my Son."

Story Time
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and assembling all of the chief priests and scribes
of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of
Judea." Then, Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star
appeared, and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you
have found Him bring me word, thatI too may come and worship Him..." and the wise men went their way
and lo, the star which they had seen in the east went before them, until it came to rest over the place where
the child was.
When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced extremely with great joy and going into the house,
they saw the child withSt. Mary, His mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him. Then, opening their
treasures, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Being warned in a dream not to return
to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now, when they had departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and
said, "Rise, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there untilI tell you, for Herod is
about to search for the child, to destroy Him." He rose and took the child and His mother by night, and
departed to Egypt. It was a very long journey. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to
fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my Son."

Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.