The Magi Visit the Messiah
Matthew 2:1-12
New International Version
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King
Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has
[a]
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship
him.”
3
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he
had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them
where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is
what the prophet has written:
6
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
[b]
7
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star
had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the
child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
9
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when
it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When
they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child
with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened
their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And
having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country
by another route.
John the Baptist Beheaded
Mark 6:14-29
New International Version
14
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were
saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous
[a]
powers are at work in him.”
15
Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16
But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from
the dead!”
17
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and
put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had
married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your
brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But
she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to
be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he
[b]
liked to listen to him.
21
Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high
officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter
of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
[c]
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he
promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24
She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right
now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did
not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring
John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head
on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of
this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
