Lesson 312 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people"  (Luke 1:68).

Notes

The Birthday of a King

Some of the incidents connected with the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, are perhaps difficult for us to understand; but they are supernatural, and we know they are true just as told in the Bible. How thankful we are that we believe the entire story of the life of Jesus, including His entrance into the world!

His birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel, who appeared to Mary. He told her that she had been chosen to become the mother of the Son of God. Mary's reply to Gabriel was: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” [LUK:1:38]). And the angel departed from her.

A star, a supernatural light, marked the exact spot of a wonderful birth. Wise men were guided by its light from a distant land to pay homage and give gifts to Jesus. All these events may seem unreal, but when one stops to think that the Son of God, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world and the eternal King, was to appear, would it not have been stranger still had there been no supernatural signs preceding His coming?

To Bethlehem

The angels announced to the shepherds out on the hillside, "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” [LUK:2:12]). They hurried to Bethlehem to find the baby, and then returned to their flocks, glorifying and praising God. The wise men came from the East into the city of Jerusalem, the religious centre of the world. "Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” They asked. From a faraway place they had come, but little did they realize that they should be the ones to tell of the birth of the Saviour. King Herod and all Jerusalem became troubled. Where would Christ be born? was the question the king asked of the chief priests and scribes. "In Bethlehem of Jud?a,” they said. His next question was "what time” the star had appeared. They did not suspect the wicked king, but told him all. Then Herod said, "Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word gain, that I may come and worship him also” [MAT:2:8]). But the king did not desire to worship the newborn King -– he tried to have Him slain.

What about the people of Jerusalem? We do not see them starting toward Bethlehem. How is it that they are not aware that about six miles away a King had been born? From the East, the strangers came in search of the infant King. They find Him and bring gifts unto Him. It has been said that the gold was given as a token of His royalty, the frankincense in token of His deity, and the myrrh the token of His suffering. However, it was customary to give gifts to sovereigns and rulers in those days, and it is still done today.

"A Man of Sorrows”

The wise men fell down before Jesus and worshiped Him; but before they went home, God warned them that they should not return to Herod, but go to their own country another way.

Before Jesus was born, He was referred to as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” [ISA:53:3]). No sooner had He come to this earth, than he was "despised and rejected of men.” Trouble came to Him at a very young age: no room in the inn, a manger for a bed, and while yet very young He must be taken into Egypt to escape the plans of a jealous king.

King Herod thinks he is mocked by the wise men when he finds that the young Child and His parents are beyond his reach. No, Herod, you are not mocked by the wise men, but God who sitteth on the throne has mocked you. He is watching over His blessed Son, the Baby Jesus, who must some day die, but not by your hands.

The King in his rage sent forth a group of murderers to kill all the children in Bethlehem two years old and under. The son of this wicked king, another Herod, killed John the Baptist, and mocked Christ; his grandson murdered James the Apostle; and it was his great-grandson, Herod Agrippa II, before whom Paul the Apostle was tried. What punishment awaits this family of rulers who were so cruel to Jesus, the Son of God, and His followers!

Through a dream sent by the Lord, Joseph was instructed where to go. He obeyed and took the young Child and His mother into Egypt and remained there until King Herod was dead. While they were in Egypt, the Lord again told Joseph where to go – this time into Nazareth, which is in Galilee. This was known as "their own city” [LUK:2:39]), the place from which Joseph and Mary had started when they went to Bethlehem to be taxed, before Jesus was born. Here in Nazareth Jesus lived with Mary and Joseph, and at the age of twelve He went with them to Jerusalem to the Feast of the Passover [LUK:2:41-42]).

What It Means to Us

In the Bible we read, "He loved us, and sent his Son” ([1JN:4:10]). Although some people say that Jesus was sent to this earth only to show men how to live, we know that His coming to earth means much more to mankind than that. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [JHN:3:16]). And still today, over 2000 years since the birth of Christ the Saviour, all who believe on Him from the heart, repent of their sins and ask Him to come into their heart, may have their sins forgiven through the Blood of Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary. A home in Heaven is prepared for all those whose sins are forgiven and whose names are written in the book of Life.

Does Christmas mean only the exchanging of earthly gifts with loved ones and friends? To every Christian, Christmas means commemorating the birth of the Saviour, Redeemer, and soon-coming King. What does Christmas mean to you?

Questions

1. By what other names is Jesus called?

2. How did Herod respond to the news concerning Jesus' birth?

3. What questions did he ask of the wise men?

4. Tell how the wise men were led to the exact spot of Jesus' birth.

5. How were they warned not to return to Herod?

6. How was Joseph warned of Herod's cruel plan?

7. Tell what King Herod did when he saw that he was mocked.

8. Which city is known as the "own city” of this holy family?

9. Tell of the visit of the shepherds to Bethlehem.