#401: Not Everyone Wants to Follow Jesus

Kids Bible Stories

Jessica White

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, Stories For Kids, Kids & Family

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 January 2026

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

📖 Scripture Matthew 2 & John 10:10 In today’s episode of Kids Bible Stories, we continue the Christmas story and discover that not everyone was happy about Jesus’ birth. While the Magi followed the star and worshiped Him, King Herod felt threatened and refused to bow down to the true King. When Herod realized that he had been outsmarted by the Magi, he was furious and gave orders to destroy all the boys in Bethlehem and the surrounding towns—hoping this terrible plan would get rid of Jesus. Through the story of the Magi, King Herod, and God’s unstoppable plan, kids will learn one important truth: not everyone wants to follow Jesus—some want to be their own king. Of course, there are many reasons people resist God, and it would take far more than one episode to explore them all. In this story, we focus on just one: the human desire to be our own god- thinking we know best. Jesus reminds us that He came to give us life to the full (John 10:10). Following Him isn’t about losing freedom—it’s about being rescued into a life filled with forgiveness, love, and joy. This episode invites kids to reflect on everyday choices—like patience, honesty, and humility—and to consider what it means to let Jesus be King of their hearts. ****PARENTS: I also want you to know that I believe Scripture clearly teaches that only God can change a heart. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. ‘“The biblical picture is that God does the decisive work of heart transplant and heart circumcision and heart unhardening, and we are immediately participants in this miracle as conscious, intentional, willing actors renouncing the old heart, cutting away with all of the opposition we can muster the old life, and embracing the new and feeding the new tenderness of heart on God’s word and by God’s Spirit.”-John Piper. **** This is a great article you can read on this topic!***** with scripture cited so you can reference it. 🎁 This podcast is free because of the generosity of families like yours. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kbspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and click Support & Bonus Content to: 💛 Give a one-time gift of any amount 🙌 Join Patreon for just $5/month and enjoy weekly bonus episodes and AD FREE! 📅 Or choose a discounted annual plan 📣 Interested in partnering with us? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about advertising here.⁠⁠⁠ ---------------------SPECIAL THANKS and LINKS:----------------------- Please donate today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MercyShips.org/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit OmahaSteaks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello again and welcome back to Kids' Bible Stories. Today's story is called
0:07.6	Not Everyone wants to follow Jesus. This comes from Matthew chapter 2 and John
0:13.9	10 verse 10. I'm so glad that you were joining me on today's episode. Before we begin, let me ask you something.
0:23.5	If you're listening to this episode when it just came out, you'll know this.
0:29.8	What holiday did we just celebrate?
0:34.9	Christmas.
0:36.4	That's right, Christmas.
0:38.6	And what does Christmas celebrate?
0:42.9	Jesus's birth.
0:45.2	Yes.
0:46.6	Today, we are going to keep going after Jesus was born, because the story didn't end there.
0:58.2	Something important happened shortly after Jesus was born.
1:03.1	Let's go ahead and begin today's story.
1:16.8	Far away, Magi noticed something unusual in the sky.
1:21.2	A bright star shone differently than all the others.
1:24.5	Steady, beautiful.
1:30.3	Their eyes widened as they studied it, their hearts filling with wonder.
1:37.3	This means a king has been born. They whispered to one another. So they packed their bags, wrapped their cloaks tightly around their shoulders, and began
1:46.1	a long journey through cool desert nights and warm sunny days.
1:55.8	When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked,
1:59.0	Where is the child who has been born King of the Jews?
2:03.6	We have come to worship him.
	...

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