Lesson 51 - Senior

Memory Verse

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10, 11).

Cross References

I The Angelic Announcements/

1. To Zacharias, concerning John the Baptist: "He shall . . . make ready a people," [LUK:1:11-20].

2. To Mary: "Blessed art thou among women," [LUK:1:26-38].

3. To Joseph: "Thou shalt call his name JESUS," [MAT:1:18-25].

4. To the shepherds: "Fear not.... unto you is born... a Saviour," [LUK:2:8-14].

II The Prophetic Announcements/

1. He was to be a Lawgiver of the tribe of Judah, [GEN:49:10]; [LUK:3:33].

2. The Heir to the Throne of David shall reign forever, [ISA:9:6-7]; [MAT:1:1].

3. He was to be born in Bethlehem, [MIC:5:2]; [LUK:2:1-7].

4. A virgin shall "bear a son," [ISA:7:14]; [MAT:1:18-25].

5. The children will be slain, [JER:31:15]; [MAT:2:16].

6. "Out of Egypt have I called my son," [MAT:2:13-15]; [HOS:11:1].

III The Events/

1. Caesar Augustus issues the taxing decree, [LUK:2:1-3].

2. Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem, [LUK:2:4-6].

3. Jesus is born in a manger, [LUK:2:7].

4. The shepherds come to the manger, [LUK:2:8-20].

5. Jesus is brought to the Temple, [LUK:2:21-24].

6. Simeon sees the Saviour, [LUK:2:25-35].

7. Anna recognises the Redeemer, [LUK:2:36-38].

8. They return to Nazareth, [LUK:2:39-40].

IV The Coming of the Wise Men and the Flight into Egypt/

1. "Behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem," [MAT:2:1-4].

2. The star goes before them, [MAT:2:5-10].

3. The wise men worship Jesus, [MAT:2:11], [MAT:2:12]

4. "Arise, . . . and flee into Egypt," [MAT:2:13-15].

5. Herod kills all the young children of Bethlehem, [MAT:2:16-18].

6. "He shall be called a Nazarene," [MAT:2:19-23].

Notes

An angel, who identified himself by saying, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God," came to Zacharias in the Temple. What glory these angels behold who stand in the presence of God! At this time Gabriel announced the birth of the prophet of the Highest. Six months later Gabriel was sent from God to Mary, to announce the coming of "the Son of the Highest" (Luke 1:26-38).

An angel came to Joseph in a dream with the announcement of the coming birth of Jesus. In the message of the angel was an important statement for us today. "He shall save his people from their sins." The story of the birth of Jesus is beautiful, but more wonderful than that beauty is the fact that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and set captive souls at liberty. Many today deny that Christians live above sin, but the message of the angel stands: "He shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).

On the hills of Judæa, in the darkness of night, the angel of the Lord also appeared to the shepherds while they kept their flocks. But this angel was not alone, for soon there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host. Well might they who always behold the face of God come to earth at this time, for on this night Jesus, the Son of God, was born in Bethlehem. All Heaven was astir that night when the Saviour was born. Nor has the celebration yet ceased, for there is great rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God when a sinner is born into His kingdom and Christ's great mission is fulfilled in that individual's life. See [LUK:15:10] and [JHN:3:16]. Angels are attendant spirits to minister to us, the heirs of salvation and therefore are the messengers of God. But we are called to an infinitely higher place, in many ways, since we are made to be joint heirs with Jesus Christ by the Blood that Jesus shed for our redemption when He came to earth and appointed us as Christ's ambassadors. It is very important that we realise these solemn truths and walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called.

Israel was at a low ebb spiritually when Jesus was born, but God had, nevertheless, those to whom He could give the heavenly message. The Shepherds, as they watched their flocks, heard the angelic host praising God and went to see Jesus. After they saw Him they returned, glorifying and praising God. They received the message, not only in their minds but in their hearts as well, and were recipients of the peace that Jesus came to bring.

An edict of Caesar Augustus from Rome to tax the world may seem far removed from the plan of God, but this was the means God used to bring about the fulfilment of prophecy. Obedience to the decree of their ruler brought the parents of Jesus from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).

Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Divine Trinity, Heir of all things and the divinely-ordained future King, became poor for our sakes that we might be made rich through His poverty. It was by Him, and for Him, that all things were created that are in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers. See [CO:1:16] and [2CO:8:9]. This is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that has made us partakers of His heavenly riches. His earthly parents were poor, His birthplace was a manger -- but He was the Son of God! The sacrifice required by the Law, at the consecration of a child after its birth, was a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering. If the mother was poor and unable to bring a lamb, she could bring, instead, two turtledoves or two young pigeons. See Leviticus 12:6, 8. Mary did not bring a lamb; so we infer from that fact that she was poor and unable to do so ([LUK:2:24]).

"No peaceful home upon His cradle smiled,

Guests rudely went and came where slept the royal Child"

Although the parents were poor, and the Child but an infant, nevertheless, when Jesus was brought into the Temple; Simeon took Him "up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation" (Luke 2:28-30). Some people saw Christ raise the dead and still did not believe on Him, but this devout man of faith could see in this tiny Infant more than many others saw during His short life on earth. Simeon saw in this Infant the salvation of God. Many there were and are who believe not; but unto those who did and those who do believe "gave he power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). Jesus said unto Thomas, "Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29). That is the blessing that can be ours today, as those who have not seen Jesus with our natural eyes but who still believe. The shepherds were in the same country; Simeon and Anna were in the Temple; the wise men were in the East; but it matters not where an honest heart may be, God will lead him in contact with His Son, Jesus.

The wise men came from a great distance, no doubt, perhaps from as far away as India. We do not know just who they were, from whence they came, nor how many were in their number; but their coming stirred King Herod and all Jerusalem. It might have been the size of the caravan, the importance of the men, their splendour, or their wealth that moved all Jerusalem, but, then again, it might have been their question, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?" If He is not in your heart this question should stir you to seek Him. The wise men came to worship Him. They who are truly wise today are those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. Many astronomical and scientific explanations concerning the star of Bethlehem have been set forth, but it is a fact that is above the natural and the ordinary. It, like the pillar of fire led Israel through the wilderness, and like the light that shone brighter than the sun at noonday when Paul was brought to Christ, was a miracle; and it was a sign to lead the wise men to Christ.

Questions

1. Find six prophecies that were fulfilled in the birth or early life of Christ.

2. Do we have any information in the Bible as to how many wise men came to Jesus?

3. Trace the activities of angels in the coming and early life of Christ.

4. In what other place in Scripture is Gabriel mentioned?

5. Arrange in chronological order the events connected with Christ's coming.

6. Trace the journeys of the holy family.

7. Find a verse that verifies the necessity of a Christian life above sin.

8. How many times was Joseph instructed of God in dreams?

9. How many persons spoke by inspiration of God, between the time of Gabriel's appearance to Zacharias and the flight of the holy family into Egypt?

10. Of what tribe of Israel were the following people: Elisabeth? Zacharias? Mary? Joseph?