Lesson 208 - Junior

Memory Verse

"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

Notes

The Son of Man

Our Christmas lesson is about Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem. We have already studied about Jesus as the divine Son of God. This lesson tells us that Jesus was also the Son of man. He had a natural body of flesh and blood just as you have. He "was made in the likeness of men" (Philippians 2:7). The title of our lesson means that Jesus took a living bodily form of flesh.

God had a great plan for the salvation of mankind. A part of this plan was the birth of Christ in Bethlehem many years ago. His life is an example for us to follow. His teachings were given for us to obey.

The Word of God

It is through the life, the example, and the teachings of Christ that God has spoken to us. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1, 2). God expresses Himself through His Son as the "Word." God instructed us to hear Jesus His Son and His Word ([MAT:17:5]). "His name is called the Word of God" (Revelation 19:13). John the Baptist said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (John 1:23). John the Baptist was the voice. His message was Jesus, the Word of God.

Three in One

From the very beginning of time, even before the world was made ([JHN:17:5]), Christ existed as a spiritual being. Christ was with God, the Father ([JN:1:2]). Christ is a part of the Godhead, or the Holy Trinity -" the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The three are united into ONE. "There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one" (I John 5:7).

Because Jesus was one of the three, united in the Godhead, the Bible tells us in our lesson that "the Word was God." Jesus was the Word of God. The Prophet Isaiah said that Jesus would be called "The mighty God" (Isaiah 9:6).

In the Beginning

At the time of the creation, in the beginning (Genesis 1:1), Jesus was with God. The Psalmist aid, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made" (Psalm 33:6). We read in [HEB:1:2] about God's Son, "by whom also he made the worlds." He made or brought into being the heavens and the worlds -" yes, and everything in them. "All things were created by him, and for him" (Colossians 1:16). God created all things by His Word -" God created all things by Jesus (Ephesians 3:9).

Life and Light

It is only in Jesus that there is life. He gave life to everyone and everything in the beginning, at the time of creation. "For with thee is the fountain of life" (Psalm 36:9). "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things" (Acts 17:25).

Let us consider the natural life, which Jesus gives. God has permitted men to accomplish great things, but no man has ever been able to create life. Man must always have the seed -" the kernel of life, given by God -" before he can cause life to begin growth. Perhaps you have planted seeds, which grew into plants and fruit. You did not create them; you had the seed of life with which to begin. Even after you planted the seeds, God sent the rain and sunshine, the warmth and light, which helped the seeds to sprout and the plants to grow.

In school you have learned that all things need light and warmth in order to grow properly and to continue to live. Sometimes plants are grown with artificial light and heat -" the light and heat of electricity or a stove -" yet God is responsible for the materials that cause the growth and He has enabled man to do such things.

In the Lord, we have the natural life and light, without which we would die. In Him, also, we have spiritual life and light, without which we are dead spiritually. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus meant spiritual life, which tends to development and progress the same as natural life. Jesus said: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). Jesus said, "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:46.

Without Jesus, no man can find spiritual life. Man, in himself, lives in darkness with no ability to find the way of truth and holiness. Jesus reveals Himself to every person. Jesus is "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). The Word of God -" Jesus -" became flesh and dwelt among us that we might have the spiritual light by His life and His teachings. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). Every one of Jesus' teachings and every example of His life is a ray of light for our spiritual life. The people of the world did not understand and comprehend the light of spiritual life. Jesus came to live in this world to show us the way of eternal life that through Him we might be saved.

A Messenger

The Lord had promised to send a messenger to prepare the way for Christ ([MAL:3:1]). The time came when God sent that man. He was born a short time before Christ was born. That messenger was John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of Jesus. John the Baptist said: "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.... Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight" (Matthew 3:2, 3). John witnessed to a darkened world that the people might believe on Christ, and have light.

"John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on

Christ Jesus" (Acts 19:4). John was not the Light, nor did he claim to be. John was not a false light, but a small light, which reflected way for Jesus, and that work John did faithfully. John worked no miracles; he witnessed to the coming of Jesus. John cautioned the people not to mistake him for the Light. "As John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose" (Acts 13:25).

The True Light

Jesus was born as the Babe of Bethlehem. He came to live in the world that He had created. In due time, Jesus was revealed as the true Light, "a light to the Gentiles... salvation unto the end of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Jesus reveals Himself and enlightens people in different ways. The Lord speaks to people through the beauty of His creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy-work" (Psalm 19:1).

The Lord speaks to people through the light of reason. He opens the eyes of their understanding, that they might know "what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:18).

The spreading of the Gospel of Jesus gives all men a chance to receive the true Light. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew 24:14).

When the Apostle Paul was enlightened to the way of eternal life, a bright light actually shone from Heaven ([ACT:9:3]). When Paul answered the call of Jesus, he was told to be a minister and a witness to the people. Jesus said that He was sending Paul to the Gentiles, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me" (Acts 26:16-18).

Shining for Jesus

Jesus said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). The time came when Jesus no longer lived in the world, but He left instructions for His followers. Jesus said: "Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16). As the followers of Christ spread the Gospel and let their light shine, the Lord shows the people of the world that Jesus is the way to eternal life.

The Lord also speaks to people through His Spirit, "It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth" (I John 5:6). "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14). In these ways the Lord enlightens every person in the world. But every one does not walk in the light that is given him.

When Jesus was on the earth, the people did not know Him as their Maker and as the Way to eternal life. Jesus' own people, the Jews, as a nation, did not know or claim Him as their Messiah. The Jews rejected Jesus and said, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14).

Born Again

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." We have the privilege and right to become sons and daughters of God by believing on the name of His Son and all that His name implies, and by receiving the experiences that He has for us. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (I John 3:1). We can be the sons of God, not only in name but also in nature, being like Christ. Jesus did not become the Son of God, for He has always been the Son of God. It has been said that the Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God.

In the natural or physical sense, we are born of flesh and blood. In a spiritual sense, we must be "born again... by the word of God" (I Peter 1:23).

Power to Become a Child of God

It is in our power to become a child of God. We have the ability and the choice of being His child. God has made the way by His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is for us to take that way, to walk in the light that has been given to us.

How can you become a child of God? "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (I John 5:1). You must pray that God will take the sin from your heart and life, for "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (I John 3:9). You must love God and keep His commandments ([1JN:5:2-3]).

If you are a child of God and are obedient to Him, you are entitled to go to Heaven. If you are not His child, you cannot be with His people in Heaven. Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Jesus' Sacrifice

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Jesus took upon Himself body, the material part of a man. God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh ([ROM:8:3]) "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus gave up the splendour of Heaven to live here on earth among sinners, in poverty, for you. What are you giving to Jesus at this Christmastime? Jesus gave His life for you. Are you living your life for Him?

His Glory

Jesus permitted some of the disciples to see the glory due to Him as God's Son. They beheld the splendour and grandeur of His presence as the Son of God at the transfiguration ([MAT:17:2]). We must give Jesus praise, honour, and glory here, if we would be prepared for the time when all shall see His glory ([ISA:40:5]). Let us receive the grace and truth of the Son of God, which will entitle us to join the hallelujah chorus in Heaven ([REV:19:1]).

Questions

1. Who was with God at the time of the creation?

2. Who gives us life?

3. How can we have spiritual life?

4. What was the work of John the Baptist?

5. How does Jesus enlighten every person in the world?

6. What was given to those who received Jesus?

7. How can we become the children of God?

8. Who was the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us?