Lesson 470 - Junior

Memory Verse

"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8).

Notes

God's Love

In [JHN:3:16] we are told: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

It is impossible for us to understand the fullness of God's love. To think that He would send Jesus, His only Son, into this sinful world as the Babe in Bethlehem! He was born of the Virgin Mary to be brought up in humble surroundings, later to give His life on the Cross, because God, His Father, loved us with divine love.

God's Promise

God first told man of the coming "Redeemer" in the Garden of Eden. Though Adam and Eve had sinned, God would not let them go into eternity without a remedy for their sins. Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" [REV:13:8]).

Through the centuries of the Old Testament, God renewed the promise of the coming Redeemer many times. The Law given by Moses, and its ordinances, pointed to the Saviour of men who would one day shed His Blood for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world.

God's Patience to Slothful Men

God knew that man was slow to learn, and prone to disobey His commands. In his patience and love He took many years and various means in which to prepare His people for the coming of His Son into this world.

Through the prophets, they were told that the Son of God would be born of a virgin. They were even told the name of the place in which He would be born. It was revealed that the Spirit of God would be upon Him. He would be called Wonderful, Counseller, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

The Prophets, too, foretold of His sufferings, His death, burial and resurrection. They told of His atoning Blood and His stripes for our healing. Never has another been born of whom so much was foretold.

The Birth of the Redeemer

One night, more than two thousand years ago, an angel appeared to a few shepherds on Bethlehem's hillside to proclaim Jesus' birth. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" [LUK:2:13-14]).

The shepherds made haste to go to the stable and see the Christ Child. With great rejoicing they returned to their flocks, telling others of the wonderful event.

When forty days old Jesus was taken to the Temple according to the Law [LEV:12:3-4]). While there, He was seen by two faithful children of God, Simeon and Anna. The Spirit of God revealed to them that this was the Redeemer. Their lifelong desire to see the Messiah had been fulfilled. They, too, prophesied of His future [LUK:2:25-38]).

Mingled Joy and Sorrow

With the hopeful promises of the coming Redeemer were the sorrowful prophecies of His rejection, suffering, and death. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" [PS:2:2-3]). "Reproach hath broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink,' [PS:69:20-21]).

We should be filled with gratitude to the Saviour who came so willingly, though He well knew that the rugged path that He would walk would lead to Calvary's hill.

Victory Through Death

Herod sought to slay Jesus in infancy; others tried to cast Him over the brow of the hill to slay Him as His teachings convicted them. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" [JHN:1:11]). The rulers of the Jews finally succeeded in having Him condemned to die. They cried, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" saying, "His blood be on us, and on our children" [MAT:27:25]). It was on the Cross that He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" [PS:22:1]).

The death of Jesus was not His defeat, as the world would have liked to believe and teach. In His death, He was the Lamb without blemish and without spot! He fulfilled all the Old Testament types of the lambs, which had under the Law, been sacrificed to make atonement for sin. His Blood was shed for the remission of our sins.

But death could not claim our Saviour for long. On the third day He arose triumphant over death, hell and the grave. Once more an angelic proclamation was given: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen" [LUK:24:5-6]).

A humble birth, a disgraceful death, a glorious resurrection! All He had done was in obedience to the will of the Father. God said of Him: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" [MAT:3:17]).

Coming Again

With the prophecies of Jesus' birth, life, death and resurrection, which is often referred to as His first advent or coming, we find marvellous promises of Jesus' second coming to earth. There are the promises of a time when all enemies shall be put under His feet.

The promises of Jesus' second coming and the day when all is to be in subjection to Him hold no joy or hope for the sinner and the ungodly.

Satan and all who have served him will have had their day. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. . . . Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel" [PS:2:4-9]).

Just as surely as the prophecies of Christ's first coming to earth were so wonderfully fulfilled, so shall those of His coming back to establish His everlasting Kingdom come to pass. "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" [PS:45:6-7]). "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" [REV:11:15]).

God's Gift

God gave us His only begotten Son because of His great divine love. The Son of God, God's Gift, but so little appreciated. A gift must be received with thanksgiving to bring the intended joy to the receiver as well as to the giver.

You perhaps marvel and wonder at God's great sacrifice in sending His Son. In what attitude do you perceive the gift of God? Do you feel that Jesus was a gift for you personally, or do you just give the gift a glance of unconcern, and fail to see the untold value? The things of the world are not to be compared with the "pearl of greatest price." "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" [ROM:6:23]).

Questions

1. When was the first promise of the Saviour given?

2. When did God institute His plan of salvation?

3. How did the Law point to Jesus?

4. Tell two Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus' birth.

5. What words do we find in the Psalm uttered by Christ on the cross?

6. What was prophesied concerning Christ's garments?

7. Why was not Christ's death a defeat?

8. Why was Christ referred to as a lamb?

9. Who were the first to receive the message of Jesus' birth?