Lesson 312 - Senior
Memory Verse
"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Genesis 49:10).
Cross References
I Prophecy Fulfilled
1. Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, and was the Christ of God, as had been prophesied of Him, [MAT:1:18-25]; [ISA:7:14]; [ISA:8:8]; [ISA:9:6-7]; [ISA:11:1].
2. Christ was born at Bethlehem, the city of David, [MAT:2:1], [MAT:2:5-6]; [LUK:2:1-7]; [JHN:7:42]; [MIC:5:2].
3. Wise men came from afar to find the Christ, [MAT:2:1-7]; [LUK:2:1-7], [LUK:2:11]; [NUM:24:17-19].
4. Joseph and Mary fled with Jesus into Egypt to escape the hatred of Herod, [MAT:2:8-15]; [HOS:11:1].
5. Herod slew all the children under two years of age in an effort to destroy Christ, [MAT:2:16-18]; [JER:31:15-17].
6. Joseph and Mary returned from Egypt to dwell in Nazareth of Galilee, [MAT:2:19-23].
II Birth of Our Saviour
1. Angels announced to shepherds the glad news of the birth of Christ, and declared His deity, [LUK:2:8-14]; [ACT:2:36].
2. The shepherds went to see Jesus, and glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen, [LUK:2:15-20].
3. Jesus was recognized and acknowledged to be the Christ of God, by the saints of God, [LUK:2:21-40]; [ISA:52:10]; [PS:98:2-3].
Notes
Until Shiloh Come
Man had hoped for a Redeemer from sin since the time of the first sin. The first promise of a Redeemer was given to Adam and Eve, who were the first transgressors against God, and so were the first in the need of redemption. The promise given them was part of the denunciation given the serpent. It stated: "I will put enmity between thee [the serpent] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” [GEN:3:15]). The gist of this promise was that through the seed of the woman Christ would come, and that He would destroy Satan and all his works. Though Satan was destine to bruise the seed of the woman -– that is, Christ -– nevertheless, that same Christ would be the eventual destroyer of all evil. Christ was indeed born into the world and crucified by wicked men; but He rose triumphant over death, hell, and the grave, and now reigns on High.
From the time of the first promise of a Redeemer, God has renewed that promise many times. From the time of the first family upon earth, there have been those who have believed such promises; and they have been accepted by God because of their belief. (Read [ROM:4:3]). Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Jacob and Isaac were among the first who believed God's promise of a Redeemer. These, and many more, all longed for the day of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The records of secular and sacred history teach us that throughout the civilized world there was considerable knowledge and belief of Israel's coming Messiah and King. Quite likely much of this knowledge was acquired through Daniel. To him was given the revelation of the times of the Messiah. (Read [DAN:9:20-27].) Daniel was chief of the governors of all the wise men in Babylon and was widely known and respected. His understanding of the prophecies concerning the Messiah and His people must have been discussed and known. And Daniel's revelation put an actual time for the coming of the Messiah.
Earlier than Daniel's was Balaam's prophecy concerning Christ. Although Balaam was a Gentile he spoke in some detail of the "Star out of Jacob,” and the Sceptre that should rise out of Israel [NUM:24:17]). Although the promise of a Redeemer and Messiah was particularly given to Israel by God, there seemed to be many also outside the nation of Israel who, for various reasons and with varying degrees of enthusiasm, hoped for Christ. Through the centuries before Christ's birth, God had striven with Israel that He might use them to introduce the worship of God to heathen nations. But, more often than not, Israel was worshiping idols rather than the true and living God. Nevertheless, God did use individuals from among them to proclaim and publish the hope and promise of the Messiah. While most men's understanding of the true significance of Christ's coming was very much limited, His birth as a Babe in the city of Bethlehem was not without its proper effect.
The immortal soul of man has felt the need of redemption since sin first worked its havoc in the human heart. Colour of skin has no bearing on the need of salvation; and, while many of the Israelites became bitter enemies of Christ, there were also many hungry hearts who welcomed Him. What a lesson we see there for us to learn, for our own benefit, as we read of some who, by believing on the Christ, received great things from God. Jewish tradition states that it was the hope of every woman that she would be the mother of the Messiah. We read of two, outside of Israel, who were brought into the very lineage of Christ. These two were Ruth, a Moabitish woman, who accepted the worship of God as it was taught to her by her mother-in-law; and Rahab, who performed a valuable service for the two spies when they came to Jericho.
Glad Tidings
Near the town of Bethlehem were certain shepherds in the fields with their flocks. To these shepherds appeared the angel of the Lord, announcing the birth of Christ. He declared to them, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” [LUK:2:11]).
The birth of Christ was not without marvellous signs and manifestations of heavenly pleasure. The proclamation of the angel of God to the shepherds was one of the signs. Though simple in their way of life, perhaps, yet they must have been wise in the things of God to have been granted such an announcement of Christ's birth. Going immediately to see, they found the child Jesus, as the angel of God had informed them. Then returning to their flocks, they glorified God for the great things, which they had heard and seen, and made known abroad the sayings which were told them concerning the Child.
Some forty days later, after the days of Mary's purification according to the Law of Moses, Jesus was brought to the Temple by His parents, that He might be presented to the Lord. (See [LEV:12:2-4]). Here in the Temple was a man named Simeon, just and devout, who waited for the consolation of Israel. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ. The Spirit of the Lord had moved him to go into the Temple when Joseph and Mary brought Jesus there. Seeing Jesus, Simeon took the Child up in his arms and prophesied of Him, saying, "Mine eyes have seen thy salvation” [LUK:2:30]). This was a remarkable thing, and Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which Simeon spoke of Jesus. No sooner had he finished than Anna, a prophetess, came in, and likewise gave thanks unto the Lord; and "spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Wise Men from Afar
Some time after the birth of Jesus, a group of wise men came from the East, inquiring of the rulers at Jerusalem, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews”? Their inquiry caused great consternation throughout Jerusalem, and troubled King Herod greatly. Herod ruled the land by fear and force, and was not ignorant of the implications in the coming of a Messiah. Herod, as many others, looked for Christ to establish a political and earthly kingdom, which would destroy the established civil powers. Herod was fearful and jealous of anyone who showed any promise of being able to overthrow his reign, so he hastily called the chief priest and scribes and inquired of them where Christ was to be born. When he was told that Bethlehem was the prophesied place he sent the wise men to find the Christ Child. Herod's motives soon became apparent. Failing in his first attempt to find Christ, he ordered his soldiers to slay every child in the land under two years of age, thereby hoping to destroy any threat that Christ would upset Herod's reign.
Although Herod's interest in Christ was born of envy and he was filled with unreasonable hatred toward Him, it does prove that Herod believed Christ would be a man of great influence and power. How remarkable was the unbelief of the priests and scribes! They knew the prophecies of Christ, were able to tell Herod where He would be born, saw the men who came a great distance to see Him, and yet were not concerned enough about the matter to go and see for themselves. The same unbelief is in men's hearts today. Many have the Gospel at their finger tips and yet will do nothing to obtain it; while oftentimes a hardened sinner, far from the Kingdom of God, catches a glimpse of the glory of God and turns to God with all his heart and finds Christ for himself.
God's Witnesses
We learn from this series of events that God performed some marvellous things to bring to everyone's attention the fact that a Saviour had been born. This knowledge was noised abroad by three different classes of people.
The shepherds spread among their acquaintances and friends the good tidings the angelic hosts had brought concerning the birth of Christ, which meant that the common, working people had heard the good news. The brethren who looked for redemption in Israel were told about Christ by two of their own number: Simeon, the just and devout, and Anna, the prophetess. Lastly, there were the wise men who came from afar to seek the Christ. These wise men spoke about Christ to the highest and mightiest men of the land. Herod, the scribes, the priests, and all their companions heard about this great event from these men who came so far to see Him. How wonderful is God's faithfulness to the human heart that men might know there is a Saviour who can deliver fallen man from sin!
Paul the Apostle, in later years, when giving his testimony before the Roman rulers said this: "The king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner” [ACT:26:26]).
God has fulfilled His promise to the world. Isaiah prophesied many, many hundreds of years ago, and hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, of Him who would come. His message was: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” [ISA:60:1-2]).
May the reader of this lesson be sure that he desires the Saviour of the world to be King in his own heart. "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” [HEB:9:28]). There was no room for Him in the inn when He was born. Let us make room for Him in our hearts, and thus glorify God for His great salvation.
Questions
1. Relate the first promise of a Redeemer.
2. Name several prophecies which were fulfilled by the birth of Christ.
3. Name three ways by which the news of Christ's birth was known.
4. Why did the wise men come from the East to visit Christ?
5. How do we know there was a general knowledge and hope of a Messiah?
6. Why did Herod have all the children under two years of age killed?
7. Of what significance is the birth of Christ to us today?