The Magi
Art Workshop Lesson
from the Rotation.org Writing Team
Lesson Summary
It's a rare opportunity when an art project is so fun and yet so memorably illustrative of a key life-application that is derived from the original meaning of Greek words Matthew used in verse 11.
Students will create a tin foil sculpture of the Magi presenting their treasures to the Christ child. The figure will be used to remember a key insight hidden in the literal visual meaning of Matthew's Greek words about the attitude of the Magi when they met the Christ Child and "bowed down and worshiped."
Tin foil is a great medium for students of all ages to sculpt with because the results can be as simple or as complex as ability and time allow. Its flexibility is good for telling and retelling a story.
Scripture
Fun with Tin Foil and Strong's Greek to English Concordance
Our focus for the sculpture is on the literal position of the Magi described in Matthew 2:11's Greek phrase, "pesontes prosekunhsan" (pronounced "pa-son-tes pro-say-kun-san"). The common English translations are "fall down and worship" or "knelt down and worshiped" or "bowed down and worshiped." But Matthew's actual words describe a physical position that speaks volumes about the hearts of the Magi as they entered into the presence of the King they had journeyed so far to find.
The word "pesontes" comes from the verb "pipto" meaning, "fall, prostrate, lose authority." It describes a humble and powerless "Lord, I am yours" posture.
The word "prosekunhsan" is even more colorful. It comes from the Greek word, "prosukeo" which means "to kiss the hand" or "touch the forehead to the ground" (and some usages even suggest the action of a dog licking a master's hand). You can look up these words in Strongs online concordance. (Strongs Word Numbers G4098 and G4352)
"Pesontes prosekunhsan" is "flat enough on the floor to kiss it." There's not a hint of power or strength. The position Matthew puts the Wisemen into at verse 11 speaks to their utter lowliness and humility before the real King. "Prosekunhsan" is a position of utter defenselessness rather than a polite bow, or attendance on Christmas Eve and occasional Sunday. By "pesontes prosekunhsan," the Magi (or Wisemen, or Kings) are demonstrating their lowly status and submission before an infant. A strange sight it must have been! By example, Matthew teaches us to honor Jesus with complete humility.
Once you know the "secret" of pesontes prosekunhsan, the spotlight in the story moves off of the well-known three gifts, and onto the greater gift they are physically demonstrating as they prostrate themselves—the gift of humbly giving their lives to Christ, body, soul, and treasure. (A condensed take-home version of this is on the printable attachment.)
Supplies and Advanced Preparation
- Read the Bible Background and Lesson Objectives for this lesson set.
- A large roll of aluminum foil (preferably the heavy duty kind).
- Optional: colored sharpies, cardboard bases, tape, glow-in-the-dark stars.
- Print the take-home explanation of what our sculpture is all about.
Lesson Plan
Opening
Welcome your students and explain how today's lesson will unfold.
Note: You will read the entire passage in a moment, but first you're going to play the "Two Surprises" game that will lead to the reading.
Can You Find the Two Surprises in Verse 11?
Say: Before we read the story together, there's a quick game I want to play about TWO SURPRISES that are in verse 11 of Matthew's story of the Magi (Wisemen). Somebody read verse 11 aloud and then let's see who can spot the two surprises.
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.
Here are two pictures that illustrate the two "surprises." After playing the game, you can share the picture with your students.
First Surprise: The first surprise is that the Magi arrive at a HOUSE and not the manger! How many of you have a manger scene at home that includes the Magi? It's funny how we have pushed together his birth story in Luke with the visit of the Magi in Matthew. So if Jesus was now in a house, how old was he when the Magi arrived? (The scholars suggest Jesus was likely anywhere from a few months old up to 2 years old. So in fact the visit of the Magi could be a visit to TODDLER Jesus!
Second Surprise: They won't guess this one, so you will demonstrate it to them like this:
After reading verse 11 again, the teacher asks for "volunteers" to come forward one at a time to visually demonstrate what they think "bowed down and worshiped" looks like. Various students will try various positions. The teachers says "warmer" or "cooler" to give them hints when they are getting close to the meaning or far from it.
Finally, tell them that Matthew used a very VISUAL pair of Greek words to describe what the Magi did when they entered Jesus' house and saw him for the first time. He said that they "pesontes prosekunhsan" which means this...... (have students copy your moves)
- Get on one knee and say, "this isn't what pesontes prosekunhsan means."
- Then get on both knees and say, "this isn't what pesontes prosekunhsan means either."
- Put both hands on the floor and hang your head and say, "this isn't what pesontes prosekunhsan means quite yet."
- Now lay flat on the floor with your face on the floor and say, "THIS IS WHAT PESONTES PROSEKUNHSAN MEANS!!!" Matthew says they fell down and "prostrated themselves"—face to the floor—this was their position of worship.
- Now let's read all twelve verses while we stay in the PESONTES PROSEKUNHSAN position.
Presentation Note: This "game" uses Body Movement (kinesthetic learning) to help students remember your point.
Questions to ask while remaining in the PESONTES PROSEKUNHSAN position:
1. What made these Wisemen, these Kings or Magi fall on their faces flat to the floor when they saw the infant Jesus? How would you have felt after finding the One sent from God whom you had searching for so long and who would save you from your sins?
2. What do you think Mary and Joseph were thinking at the sight of these three great visitors lying on their floor in front of their son?
3. What does "pesontes prosekunhsan" tell GOD about YOUR HEART?
4. Have you ever worshipped Jesus like that? (Imagine what our church service would be like with everyone lying on the floor!)
(We'll get into a little more life application after the foil sculptures are done.)
Making the Magi "Pesontes Prosekunhsan" Sculpture
Say: To demonstrate what Matthew meant when he wrote "they bowed down and worshiped" Jesus and to be able to share it with others, each of you is going to make your own Magi sculpture out of flexible tin foil. Remind me again: why do we want it to be flexible?
Additional props and scenery can be made quickly if desired, such as a star, treasures, or the Toddler Jesus. For those with the time and desire, tin foil can be colored using sharpie markers. To complete the project, we are suggesting students attach their worshiping Magi to a base and cover it with more shiny foil and glow-in-the-dark stars to become something that glows and reflects at night.
Notes you can share while sculpting:
In addition to talking about the Magi's story and sharing thoughts from the Bible Background, here are some things you might want to share while the sculptures are being made and posed.
"HOMAGE" (pronounced "hom-idge" from the Latin word "homo" meaning "man").
Have you ever heard of the word "Homage"—as in, "we have come to pay him homage"? "Homage" is an old-fashioned word often used at Christmas time in some songs and some versions of the Magi's story. The NRSV say the Magi "knelt down and paid him homage." "Homage" is an act of humility or honor shown to a person, usually a king. In Esther's story, Mordecai refused to pay Haman "homage" and was arrested and sentenced to death. When the Devil tempted Jesus with all the nations and their wealth, he asked for Jesus' "homage."
FALLING DOWN IN WORSHIP!
What would happen if everyone in our church service was asked to "pesontes prosekunhsan"? Would there be enough room? Would some people resist "lowering themselves" or showing that much humbleness?
RESURRECTION = The opposite of PESONTES PROSEKUNHSAN !
The Greek word for resurrection, 'anastasis," means to "rise up" or "stand up." (Demonstrate that with a live student and with a foil Magi.
- How does Jesus "raise us up" from our lowly position and honor us with resurrection?
- How is resurrection Jesus' gift to those who "pay him homage" (pesontes prosekunhsan)??
WHAT IS YOUR POSTURE? ...The position or attitude of your faith?
Adaptations
For younger children: Prepare folded foil strips in advance. Have them demonstrate the position of "pesontes prosekunhsan" with their Magi so they know how to share it.
Help them understand that "pesontes" can be a real position in our prayers—lowering ourselves to the ground instead of just bowing our heads (demonstrate it).
For shorter classes: Prepare folded foil strip in advance. If needed, eliminate the "two surprises" game and go straight from reading and explaining scripture into the sculpture activity.
Written by the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2018, Rotation.org Inc.
