They hold a place in every Christmas Pagent; Wise men 1,2, and 3. They are a piece of the nativity story we all know and have heard many times, but the bible is sparse in its detail of these men. Even leaving out their names. It also leaves out; the impossibly long journey, the dust, leaving family behind, the risk, the hope that had to wait so long to be fulfilled.
In many ways we’re on that journey now, aren’t we? Holding our breath. Our hope ebbing and flowing as each morning brings with it a new set of challenges and joys.
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Waiting for the day when we too will see the face of Jesus. And searching daily for a deeper relationship with him while we’re here on earth.
This year I shared a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with my children. This poem holds startling true to the gospel accounts and yet Longfellow masterfully weaves a tale filled with his mind’s own details of what the journey to Bethlehem must have looked like for the wise men.
The Three Kings is a retelling of the gospel account, but it is also a journey of hope, of anticipation, of wonder and awe. It is our journey and a great model of true worship. A perfect way to center our hearts on Christ before Christmas as we look at our own hearts and attitudes.
Nativity Poetry Study of The Three Kings
I put together a Nativity poetry printable pack for you to use with this poem. It is a side-by-side look at stanzas of the poem and how they reference the gospel record.
The wise men are a fantastic example of how worship looks. The pack includes study questions to get your kids thinking about the wise men and their place in the Christmas story.
It includes:
- A printable version of the poem
- A side by side comparison of the poem and the nativity story from the gospels
- Discussion Questions
To check out the Nativity poetry pack and to read the poem and the verses we studied with it, head over to Pool Noodles & Pixie Dust. This Nativity poetry is a great way to set our hearts on Christ this Christmas.
Read more & download your free study here!
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What an interesting viewpoint to study this Christmas. I also.appreciate the other Christmas posts, and the links. Thank you.for putting this together.
Thank you, Colleen! I was surprised when I found this poem at how closely Longfellow followed the nativity story. It was a great way to get them thinking about the part the wise men played in the story. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!