Lesson 13 The Birth and Childhood of Jesus

 Lesson 13 

THE BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS 

Reading Portion : Mathew 1,2 ; Luke 1,2

Memory Verse: Isa. 9:6

Objective:  To make students understand that the supernatural birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of God's wish and his promise. 

Introduction: The birth of Jesus is the most important event in world history. The history of the world is separated into AD and BC because of Christ's birth. Remember the story of Jesus's birth, which you learned in the lower classes. Who were the two persons who anticipated Jesus's birth in the temple of Jerusalem? Who announced Jesus's birth to the world? Why did Herod kill all the small babies in and around Bethlehem? Why was baby Jesus taken to Egypt? Why did Jesus settle down in Nazareth?

The birth of Jesus was promised long before.

 When the first parents sinned against God in Eden, He promised that the seed of the woman will bruise the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:5). Later God promised to Abraham that He shall bless the earth because of his seed (Gal.3:8; Gen.22:18). That seed is Jesus (Gal. 3:16). In Gen. 49:10 it is said that Jesus will be born in the tribe of Judah as the son of Abraham. It is said in 2 Samul 7: 12-14 that he will be born as David's son and reign on his throne forever ( Isa.11: 1-10). His birthplace will be Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and he will be born of a virgin ( Isa. 7: 14; 9:6). All these promises and many more were fulfilled at the birth of Jesus ( Matt. 1:22; 2:5;  2:17,23)

Jesus was born to a virgin Mary (Luke 1: 26-30)

Mary was a virgin who was betrothed to a man called Joseph. Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth. The angel came to her and said, "You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you. The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God". Mary submitted herself before the Lord. Mary conceived the baby by the power of the Holy Spirit. This proves that Jesus's birth was supernatural. He is the eternal Son of God. 

Elizabeth, wife of Zacharias was Mary's relative. Mary went and saw Elizabeth. She confirmed that the baby inside her womb was the son of God during this visit. 

Joseph decided to break the agreement with her secretly when he learned that Mary was pregnant. But the angel of the Lord appeared he learned that Mary was pregnant. But the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and convinced him that the baby was the Messiah, who will save people from their sins. He obeyed the angel and took Mary as his wife (Mat. 1:17-25)

Because emperor Augustus Ceaser ordered a census of the Roman Empir, Joseph had to take Mary to Bethlehem. She gives birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. She laid him in a manger as there wasn't any room for them in the inn. Thus the prophecy of Micah (5:2) came true.

The importance of the birth of Jesus.

"Jesus was born of a virgin", is the core belief of Christianity. As Adam's descendants were sinners, God himself had to come down to the earth as the son of man. He came to earth as a pure man. He emptied himself and took the nature of human beings. He came to the earth to take away the sins of the human race. Though he was sinless he died for the sins of humankind (Heb. 2:14; Isa. 7:14)

Childhood of Jesus.

Not much is said about the childhood of Jesus in the gospels. The happening at Jerusalem during the Passover festival at the age of twelve is written in the gospels. IT is understood that he stayed with Joseph and Mary and he grew strong in spirit and wisdom.