Lesson 2 – The Birth of Jesus Foretold

Because of Christ, God favored Mary and chose her to be the mother of the Savior.  Because of Christ, God favors us and chooses us to be his children.

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, "Skit Guys-The Skinny on Christmas"  that shows people haring their insights about this lesson and some lessons that follow.

What did the Christmas-sweater guy focus on? Presents, possessions.

What did the drummer focus on? Himself, his skills, being on stage.

Is there anything wrong with the girl wanting to be God's "favored one"?  God did not choose Mary because she showed "godly" characteristics. All people are born in sin and cannot please God. God favored Mary by showing her His grace.

Wanting God's favor in this way is not wrong.

How did the dad describe God's grace? He said he could never love anyone enough to give up his only son for them. God did that for us when He sent His Son, Jesus, as our Savior.

Why is it important for us to hear God's message of grace again and again?  The Gospel goes against our human nature and the way we think the world works. We sin and need God's love and forgiveness every day.

Lutherans believe the Bible is efficacious. What is this? How does it change the way we see the Bible? Efficacious means "having power to produce a desired effect" The Holy Spirit works through the Bible, God's powerful Word, to create living faith. The Holy Spirit always blesses us when we read the Bible.

We receive benefits from the Holy Spirit every time we read the Bible, even familiar sections. God's Word convicts us of our sin and shows us our Savior and His forgiveness. He shows us new insights to build us up and help us live as God's people in an evil world.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds so that Your Word can convict us of our sinfulness, comfort us with Your grace in Christ, and build us up to serve You and Your kingdom. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

God Speaks

 A Message From an Angel with Big Promises

Angels are created beings, messengers of God; wings symbolize this but angels may not necessarily have wings. Angels often take human form. People do not become angels when they die. The devil and demons are fallen angels.

This lesson explores a Bible event that includes the angel Gabriel.

Read Luke 1:26-27

Here are the who? what? where? facts:

• God sent the angel Gabriel to a virgin named Mary in Nazareth, a city in Galilee.
• She was betrothed to Joseph.
• "The sixth month” refers to the pregnancy of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist.

What does "betrothed" mean? A betrothal was more than an engagement. A betrothed person entered into a formal contract for marriage, usually with a spouse selected by parents. The bride and her family received presents, a dowry or bride price. The wife's family gave money or goods to the new household; this money and goods were returned to the bride if the couple divorced.

Betrothed persons were called husband and wife. A woman became a widow if her betrothed died. Divorce was the only way to dissolve betrothals. Betrothed couples did not live together or have sexual intimacy until after the wedding. These facts provide historical and personal context about Jesus. His family came from Nazareth. Mary and Joseph were betrothed, but not yet married.

Follow the directions on Student Page 2 at the end of this lesson. Draw pictures to show what is happening.

Read Luke 1:26-38 and answer the questions.

Gabriel twice called Mary "favored." What does this mean? God showed Mary His favor or grace. God knew Mary well, just as He knows each of us intimately. Mary was a sinner, just as we all are, but God chose her to do this important job and gave her faith and love to do it well. God was with her as she experienced the joys and sorrows of mothering Jesus.

How did Mary react when Gabriel appeared? Mary felt greatly troubled and wondered what his greeting meant. Apparently, she felt afraid, because Gabriel had to tell her not to be. Fear was a common reaction to an angel's appearance.

What message did Gabriel deliver? Mary would conceive and bear a Son, whom she should call Jesus.

What does "to conceive" mean? To conceive means to start life in the womb. This usually takes a female egg and a male sperm, but it was different for Jesus.

How did Gabriel say Mary would conceive? The Holy Spirit would come upon Mary; the power of the Most High would overshadow her.

What words describe the baby? A son; called Jesus; great; Son of the Most High; will be given the throne of His father David by the Lord God; will reign over the house of Jacob forever; will have a kingdom that will not end.

What one concern did Mary express about Gabriel's news?  "How will this be, since l am a virgin?".

What "proof" did Gabriel offer Mary? Why do you think he did that? Mary's relative Elizabeth, barren in her old age, had conceived a son and was already six months pregnant. Elizabeth's pregnancy gave physical, tangible proof that the angel's words were true. If Mary found Elizabeth pregnant, shed know she hadn't dreamed or imagined the encounter.

How did Mary respond? She answered "l am the servant of the Lord” and said yes ("let it be according to your word”).

What did Mary's response show about her? She believed the message.

What do Gabriel's descriptions of Mary's baby mean?

• A son - Without modern medical advances, people did not know the gender of babies before birth. The birth of a son proved God's Word is true.
• Call His name Jesus - Jesus means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Savior”
• Great - Wonderful, amazing, fabulous, astonishing.
• Son of the Most High - Most High is a term for God to praise God as higher than all fake gods, or idols. Mary's Son would be God's real Son.
• The Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

Read 2 Samuel 7:16 (on Student Page)

This points to promises God made to David and Jacob about Christ. David's earthly kingdom did not last, but God's Son, born from David's line, rules forever.

Read Genesis 28:14 (on Student Page).

God promised to bless all the families of the worlid through Jacob's offspring. This was understood as a promise to bring the Messiah from Jacob's family. Jacob was a grandson of Abraham.

• Holy - The Greek word here, hagios, is translated as holy it means “set apart, sacred” Jesus was set apart as God's Son.
• Son of God - Jesus is God, the Second Person of the Trinity.
• Who is Jesus, really?

Read Galatians 4:4-5 (on Student Page). He is God's Son, who came to redeem (buy back) those who were born under the Law (us). In Holy Baptism, God adopts us and gives us His Spirit in our hearts. Because of Jesus, we are children of God and heirs of heaven.

Read John 1:1, 14 (on Student Page).

Jesus is the Word. He existed before His birth; He is God. He took flesh and dwelt among us, showing God's glory as the  Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. He is the Second Person of the Trinity.

Who lived in Mary's body? Jesus, Gods Son, the Christ.

Who lives in you? How did this happen? Read Ephesians 3:16-19 and Acts 2:38 (on Student Page). His Spirit, Christ, the fullness of God, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. We receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism. We receive the Lord's body and blood into our own through the Lord's Supper.

Closing

Prayer: Lord, be with us at all times and in all places so that we may not fear but have joy and hope in Your nearer presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.