Lesson 6 – The Birth of Jesus

A savior is born to you! He is Christ the Lord.

Opening

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

This lesson will use the Bible. Also paper and pencil will be needed.

Watch the video "Unto Us Mary & Joe".

Prayer:  Jesus, help us see Your birth and Your life with new eyes. Help us know You as the promised Messiah, God's Son, our Savior, and Lord. Amen.

God Speaks

Read Luke 2:1-2

What historical facts do we find here? Caesar Augustus, the Roman ruler, ordered a registration, the first one when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Were these real people? How do we know? Yes they're real people. Scripture is infallible (without error), and it says so. Other ancient sources, such as Roman historians and service records, concur.

What do these verses say about Caesar Augustus's authority? Caesar had great power. His command to register was obeyed. This region, including Judea, Galilee, and Syria were under Roman rule at this time.

What was a registration? Why was it used? Although the King James Version called this a taxing, the Greek word means "register”. Rome used registrations for tax purposes or to settle accounts when jurisdictions or rulers changed.

Why do you think the Bible says this was "the first registration when Quirinius was governor"? Quirinius must have been involved in at least one other registration (census. Luke wrote this Gospel and the Book of Acts. He referenced another (second) census in Acts 5:37 later in time. It makes sense that he would call the census during Jesus birth the first one.

Jesus was born near the end of Herod the Great's reign. Herod died sometime between 6 and 1 BC. Matthew reports that Herod attempted to kill the new King of the Jews, as we see in next week's lesson.

Following the directions on the Student Page at the end of this lesson. Read Luke 2:1-20 and answer the questions.

What facts do these verses give about Mary and Joseph? They obeyed the Roman decree They went to Bethlehem, hometown of David and ancestral home of Joseph Mary gave birth while there wrapped the babe in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

 How old were Mary and Joseph? The Bible doesn’t offer their ages here or elsewhere. Mary was a young woman. Joseph is often pictured as older, sometimes much older.  We assume he died early because he is not mentioned in Scripture after Jesus trip to Jerusalem at age twelve.

It’s about ninety miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, across mountains, creeks, and other barriers.  How did Mary and Joseph travel? How long did it take? Scripture doesn’t answer either question. Walking was the most common way of traveling. It’s possible they used a cart or the popular donkey often shown in art. It probably took four to six days to get to Bethlehem.

How pregnant was Mary when they traveled to Bethlehem? How long were they in Bethlehem before Mary gave birth? Scripture does not give this information. Art often shows an imminent birth and has Mary and Joseph going from place to place looking for lodging at the last minute. This makes us think the birth happened soon after the couple arrived in Bethlehem but Scripture merely says the baby was born while they were there. They could have been in Bethlehem for some time.

Was Jesus bon in a barn? Again, the Bible does not say. We infer that He was born in a stable or barn because verse 7 says Mary laid Him in a manger which is an animal feeding trough. Some scholars suggest they might have lodged in one of the many caves around Jerusalem, which were often used for housing animals.

Historians says large herds of sheep were kept in Bethlehem, available for sacrifice in nearby Jerusalem's temple. What were the shepherds doing? The shepherds were watching their sheep at night.

What lit up the field? The glory of the Lord.

How did the shepherds respond to the angel? They were filled with fear.

What good news did the angel give the shepherds? "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

What sign did the angel tell the shepherds to look for? The sign was a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. It was and still is normal to swaddle a newborn, but it was unusual to find one sleeping in an animal feeding trough. This baby would be the Christ.

How many angels were in the heavenly host? Scripture does not say, but the words indicate a very large group.

What indicates that the shepherds believed the angel's message? They left to find the baby. The Holy Spirit gave them faith to believe.

What did the shepherds do after they saw the baby? How did people respond to them? The shepherds told what they saw and heard. People "wondered” or were amazed.

How did Mary react to everything that happened? Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart. This suggests Mary understood the importance of her Son's birth. To ponder means "to contemplate or wonder about”. Mary may have been in awe, or because she was human, she may have had questions.

Think about Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Write one word or draw one symbol to describe them.

We Live

Continue with the Student Pages. Read Luke 2:21 and answer he question,

Jesus was circumcised, as the law required. Mary and Joseph, faithful Jews, lived according to God's Law and followed its requirements. Circumcision placed Jesus under God's covenant with Abraham and the Jewish people. Through His earthly parents, Jesus honored God's Law. As the perfect Son of God, Christ fulfilled the requirement of the Law on our behalf.

What name was He Given? Why? Mary and Joseph named the baby Jesus, as angels had told them to do in separate visitations.

Read the other prophecies about Jesus on the Student Page.

Micah 5:2 - Luke verses. 4, 6-7 shows that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

Genesis 3:15 is the first prophecy about the Messiah. In the midst of Adam and Eve's sin and sorrow, God promised a Savior who would be born of a woman; at the same time, He cursed the serpent (the devil). God promised that the woman's offspring would bruise the serpent's head, a fatal blow. The serpent (the devil) would only be able to bruise the offspring's heel, a nonfatal blow. This verse and Galatians 4:4-5 shows the Messiah would be born to a woman, as He was.

Closing

Prayer: Lord God, You sent angels to tell Mary and Joseph to name Your only- begotten Son 'Jesus' because He would save His people from their sins.  Help us to trust in Jesus' name for life, salvation, and forgiveness of sins. In His name we pray. Amen.