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When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:13-23

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine a grandpa talking about his eleven grandchildren. He might say: “She sure is something!” or “He sure is something!” Sometimes it’s just a little laugh from a baby. A silly joke from a toddler. A great math test from a 3rd grader. Or a hustle play in basketball from a middle schooler.

Grandkids sure are something!

King Herod thought the same thing—but in a bad way—about the baby born in Bethlehem. People were calling him the “King of the Jews,” wise men had come to worship him, and now Herod felt outsmarted. There sure was something about this baby! But Herod didn’t like it—so he tried to get rid of Jesus.

Yes, there really is something special about this baby—and God wants you to know it.

So, what makes this baby so special? God himself became a child so that you could be called a child of God! That’s why, yes, there’s definitely something about this baby Jesus!

Dear Lord, we thank you for working throughout history to accomplish our salvation. Lead us to marvel at your grace, your protection, and your love for us in Jesus. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

Questions for Elementary Age Children

Questions for Middle School and Above

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