Herod the Great really does epitomize the darker side of the Christmas story, and his choices were down-right morally offensive. These games therefore look more at the elements of choice, clues, and searches. The first two games here use a card set that can be found by clicking on the picture. There are different games listed for “The Magi” and for “Refugee Jesus” if none of these options work for you.
This is similar to the popular ‘Dobble’ or ‘Spot it’ where cards are dealt to two players and, upon turning the top card over, one symbol on each card will match. The first player to identify this match wins both cards until one player runs out of cards. There is a post for this game, click on the picture to go directly there.
Link to Herod looking for clues and signs to help the Magi find Jesus.
Not Herod
Ages 7+
Small group
Requires setup time
Quiet game
Can be seated
Use the “sets” version of the card game above for this. You will need 3 cards per player (one set per 7 kids). Sit in a circle and swap cards with your neighbours until you have 3 cards with the same symbol on them. Every 2 cards has one matching pair but finding 3 of the same is not as easy. Make sure your match isn’t Herod! You could repeat with 4 or even 5 matching items to make this game harder.
Link to Herod only having partial information about the Christ Child.
Save the crown
All Ages
Any size group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Set up a simple obstacle race. Place a paper crown on a small cushion and have the children transport it through the maze and back to the start.
Link: Talk about how fragile Herod’s power was.
Finding the Christ
Under 7’s
Any size group
Requires setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
A ‘hide the thimble’ alternative. Print a small picture of a baby and hide it in the room. Variants – play as rounds where the baby is re-hidden, or you can print multiple copies and have each child find one.
Link to Herod’s search.
Supporting limbs
Ages 7+
Big group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Space needed
Have the youngsters get into small groups of 3–4 people. The idea of the game is for the group to support each other so that not everyone has to stand on the floor. Nobody is allowed to sit on the floor. Roll 2 dice, one for the number of feet that can be touching the floor, the second for the number of hands that can be touching the floor. (Hints : just pick numbers if you don’t have dice and try balancing on your knees)
Link: Talk about how sometimes we need the support of those around us, and that Herod’s power depended on him being the only one at the top.
For the play post this time round, there are a couple of games that require this set of cards. There are 21 cards in total, spaced over 3 pages of printout. They are designed like the popular game ‘Dobble’ or ‘Spot it’ but have only 5 images rather than the usual 8. Every card in the pack has one image in common with another card.
To make this game, you will need the 3-page template printout and some scissors.
All you need to prepare for the game is cut the card out and shuffle into a pile. Consider backing them onto thin card if you want to use them repetitively.
ND: The game will work with missing cards and multiple copies mixed together!
To play the Match IT game: The classic game is for 2 players. Give each player the same number of cards, setting the spares aside. Have each player turn over one card and race to find the image that appears on both cards. Whoever finds the image first wins both cards, and they are added to their pile. If you lose all your cards, you are out. If you want to stop the game, then the player with the most cards is declared the winner.
To play the Not Herod game: In this version of the game, the children are sat in a circle and need to swap cards with their neighbours. The aim is to collect 3 (or 4) of the same image. Scattered throughout the cards are 5 of each image. The only set you don’t want is Herod – but beware, you may need one card with Herod on it to complete your set!
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Though these little baubles are linked to the Herod the Great lesson, they are suitable for any Christmas lesson as there are 3 different designs – The Magi & Herod, the Shepherd & Angel and Mary & Joseph. Including Herod in our Christmas decorations reminds us of the darkness that came with the joy, the strife that accompanied The Prince of Peace arriving.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page of the 3-page template printout, scissors, some string or wool, a hole punch or awl, and a glue stick. If you have a large number to prepare, then the circles are exactly 3 inches (7.62 cm) and a circle punch of this size allows you to cut 2 thirds of the circles.
Cut out the six circles, making sure to leave the hanging tab attached. Fold every circle in half with the picture on the inside. The circles with hanging tabs must be folded with the tab along the crease line.
Flatten one circle and add glue to the back.
Leaving it folded, add another circle onto just one side.
Keep adding half circles to each side.
Make sure there are 2 circles between the hanging tabs.
Once the final circle is added, you will see the hanging tabs overlap – DO NOT glue these together!
Punch through the hanging tabs, a small punch works best for this, but an awl or sharp pencil would suffice.
Tread your string and then open up the bauble.
Hang and enjoy!
Download your FREE TEMPLATE using the relevant link in this box. Help keep the free items on this site free by donating. This site supports my family as we live by God's great economy.
This worksheet looks at the story of Christmas with particular consideration to Herod the Great. It references the bible passages for both the Christmas accounts as well as the Deuteronomy law. It considers the cost of Jesus’ arrival to each of the main players in the accounts. This worksheet would work well as an extension activity or review, for an individual or as small group work – many of the questions could work well as small group discus.
To complete the worksheet you will need some color pencils, a copy of the bible and to turn your thinking caps on!
The PDF can can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
These are the Character resources provided for: Be Quiet – Unclean spirit (Mark 1)
For each passage, there is a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page. All other graphics are extra’s!
Click on the images below to see a larger version. Save the images by right click + ‘save image as’ (computers) OR long press + ‘save image’ (mobile).
These images are NOT copyright free.
These resources are provided for personal/classroom use only. Use can use them for teaching, games, publicity, decorations, big screen presentations, flannel graphs, stickers, or any other non-commercial activity in your church, school, home, or organised group. You may not use them in products you are going to sell (both printed and digital). Nor may you upload the original images online, on websites, social media or in YouTube videos. Any questions, please reach out to me using the contact page link at the end of the page.
This is a dark story. It is probably not the first choice for many. However, if your group is looking for something different and has already covered the Christmas story multiple times, this is an important element that is often overlooked. That Mary would not have exchanged all the gifts for one less mother’s grief is unquestionable, the price of bringing Jesus into the world was felt by everyone he encountered in his early days. There is a short and long version of the story written below, use the one best suited to your group.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
Herod’s palace was huge, between its two wings in the enormous courtyard stood a few travellers. Soon they met the King.
One of the men stepped forward, looking excited. “Great King Herod” he proclaimed in a loud voice, “We are Magi, we study the skies for signs. When we saw a huge star rising in the west, we knew it must mean a powerful new ruler had been born. We have bought gifts for the child and wish to worship this powerful new king.”
King Herod looked like someone had punched him.
“What child?” roared the King, his face starting to turn purple. “I am the only king.” Then he stormed out of the room.
Fear and jealousy mixed in king Herod’s mind. The annoying religious priests and the Roman Empire were bad enough, now came a king so great his arrival was written in the stars. Quickly, he sent all his officials into a panic. He needed to know every detail and prophecy.
Herod discovered the promised Messiah’s would be born in Bethlehem and his kingdom would be so great it would have no end. More fear and more jealousy filled Herod, until his thoughts turned dark with a terrible idea. A really evil thought. “Babies can’t lead armies or steal crowns.” A smooth voice whispered in his head, “If you could find the baby, you could have him killed.”
Herod called the Magi. He asked them to come back when they found the child. Then Herod waited. Days and weeks passed by as Herod’s anger and jealousy grew. Finally, he realised the travellers would not return. He didn’t know they had been warned in a dream to take a different road home. He also didn’t know that Joseph had also had a dream telling him to run to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
What would Herod do now? Risk losing his crown to a new king?
Nope!
Herod would choose to kill instead. The problem was: Herod didn’t know which child to kill. The solution: he killed them all. Every baby boy under the age of 2 born in Bethlehem.
If only Herod had looked a bit closer, he might have noticed that Jesus would be a different kind of king, not interested in Herod’s crown.
Jesus became a refugee and when Herod died and the family returned, they chose Nazareth, not Bethlehem, to call home.
LONGER VERSION
Herod’s palace was huge, between its two wings in the enormous courtyard stood a few travellers looking totally impressed. “This must be the place” they whispered among themselves. Eventually, they were shown into a very grand room and met the great King Herod. They weren’t the only one looking pleased, the palace officials had told King Herod that the travellers had brought gifts and King Herod loved getting gifts.
Silence fell and one of the men stepped forward-looking excited “Great King Herod” he proclaimed in a loud voice. “We are Magi, we study the heavens for signs. When we saw a huge star rising in the west, we knew it must mean a powerful new ruler had been born. So we have travelled many days and nights to find the land under which it rose. We have bought gifts for the child and wish to worship this powerful new king.”
The room froze. The smiles dropped from the faces of those who had crowded to hear, King Herod looked like someone had punched him. The Magi saw the change, and they started to look worried too. “What child?” roared the King, his face starting to turn purple. “I am the only king.” — he turned his back on the men and, calling his advisers, stormed out of the room. The Magi looked puzzled, obviously they had said the wrong thing.
Herod was furious. Not only did he have to deal with the religious priests who controlled the masses, and the Roman Empire breathing down his back, now he had a king he would have to battle, a king so great his arrival was written in the stars. Herod didn’t stand a chance against someone so great. Fear and jealousy mixed in his mind. Quickly, he sent all his officials into a panic. He needed to know everything. The Magi were quizzed about the star, while scribes were called to tell Herod of any prophecies regarding kings.
Herod discovered the Jewish messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem, to a descendant of the great King David. It was said the Messiah’s kingdom would be so great it would have no end. More fear, more jealousy, Herod’s thoughts turned dark, he had a terrible idea. A really evil thought. The child was just a baby, and babies can’t lead armies or steal crowns. A smooth voice whispered in his head “If you could find the baby you could have him killed.” “Wait Herod” – came another voice in his head, “he’s only a baby!” Sometimes ideas tempt you to do something, other times they tell you what you should do. Herod had a choice – which voice would he listen to?
Herod called the Magi. He told them all he knew and asked them to come back when they found the child because he too wanted to worship him. Herod was lying. He wanted to know if the stars were true, if there really was a king. The magi left to find the child, and Herod waited. He waited days, and weeks, and every day his anger and jealousy grew. Finally, he realised the travellers would not return. Herod didn’t know they had been warned in a dream to take a different road home. He didn’t know that Joseph had also had a dream telling him to run to Egypt with Mary and Jesus.
Again he had to choose what to do. He could walk away, risk losing his crown to a new king when the child grew up, if the child even existed. But Herod didn’t choose that. Herod chose to kill instead. Because Herod didn’t know which child to kill, he killed them all, every baby boy under the age of 2 born in Bethlehem. If only Herod had looked a bit closer, he might have noticed that Jesus would be a different kind of king, not interested in Herod’s crown.
Jesus, that small child laying in a manger, had come at a great cost. Mary had been at risk of being stoned for carrying a child before her wedding. Joseph had needed to abandon his home and work. Magi had risked dangerous journeys to reach him. And now, the town that heard his first cry was full of mothers crying for their lost children. Jesus was a refugee until a few years later, the great king Herod died, and they returned, not to Bethlehem but Nazareth. Everyone has made choices, some good, some bad, but the best choice of all was made by God, to send his son to Earth.
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