75. THE MESSIAH IS BORN

''Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given!"

Aim

To show how God overshadowed the birth of His son and many re joiced when he was born, though his enemies sought to kill him.

Not long after the angel Gabriel had appeared to Zacharias in the Temple, he was sent by God with another message, this time to a young woman who lived in Nazareth. This message was even more important than the first, for it had to do with the birth of Messiah € the one whom John was later to announce. The time had come for God to fulfil His promise of a "seed". or son. who would be the Saviour of the world. The son of God was about to be born, and for the great privilege of being mother of that precious child. He chose Mary, a young maiden of the line of David.

Luke 1:26-38; 2

AN ANGEL SPEAKS TO MARY: Luke 1:26-38

Mary was startled by the sudden appearance of an angel, who ad dressed her as "thou that art highly favoured" (v28). She was over whelmed by his appearance and gracious words of greeting. As she col lected her thoughts the angel reassured her, saying, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God" (v 30). God had found her so gracious and upright in all her ways, that He had singled her out for this great blessing. "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (vv 31 -33). These wonderful words would have immediately brought to Mary's mind many familiar prophecies about Messiah. All Israel knew that Messiah would come in the line of David and sit on David's throne; that he would be king over Israel, "the house of Jacob ", and his kingdom would be an everlasting kingdom. These were well known prophecies, spoken over and over again by the prophets of old. Though Mary knew these things, how could she have such a son since as yet she was not married.

She was engaged to Joseph, a godly man also of the line of David, and they hoped to marry later and have a family of their own. Yet the angel was announcing to Mary that she should first give birth to a special son.

So the angel explained: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (v35). God would be the father of this child. Therefore God's Spirit would overshadow her before she married Joseph. When the child should be born, he would not be Joseph's son, but God's own Son.

Unlike many to whom God at other times spoke wonderful prom ises, Mary did not hesitate when she heard the angel's message. She accepted his words and God's choice of her in a humble and gracious manner. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; " she said, "be it unto me according to thy word" (v 38).

THE BIRTH OF JESUS: Luke 2:1-7

The prophet Micah wrote that the birthplace of Jesus would be Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), but Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. God's word never fails, however, and this time it was fulfilled in a wonderful way.

The Roman emperor had made a decree that everyone should re turn to their own city to be enrolled for taxing. Mary and Joseph both belonged to the house or family of David. So they had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, to be enrolled there.

The journey was long and hard and it was nearly time for the baby to be born. Since many had travelled to Bethlehem to enrol, the inn was full and no room could be found for Mary and Joseph to stay in. The only shelter they could find was in a stable, and there the baby Jesus was born. € And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swad dling clothes, and laid him in a manger," a feeding stall for the animals (v7).

So in these very humble surroundings, in the very city where David the shepherd boy had been anointed king, David's greater son was born. No one in that city that night was aware that the most wonderful event in history was taking place.

THE GOOD NEWS TOLD TO THE SHEPHERDS: Luke 2:8-20

Yet out on the slopes of Bethlehem that night, the angels of God proclaimed this wonderful news to the shepherds who watched their flocks. In the midst of their night watch they were suddenly surrounded by a dazzling light, which was so unreal that it filled their hearts with fear. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and said, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is horn this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall he a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (vv 10-12), As the angel finished speaking, they saw a multitude of angels with him, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (v 14). The faithful shepherds were greatly excited by all they had seen and heard, and hurried into the city. When they came and found Mary and Joseph and the baby just as they had been told, they told everyone they met the good news that Christ was born in Bethlehem. Everyone was astonished at their story. When Mary heard what they said, she kept her thoughts to herself. The shepherds mean while returned to their flocks, "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them " (v 20).

THE BABY JESUS TAKEN TO THE TEMPLE: Luke 2:21-38

When he was eight days old, the baby was circumcised as every Jewish boy was since God first commanded Abraham (Genesis 17:12). On that day he was named Jesus, just as the angel had told Mary. On the fortieth day Mary went with Joseph to Jerusalem to make her offering according to the Law of Moses and to present her firstborn son to God.

In Jerusalem there was an old man called Simeon. God had prom ised him that he would not die till he had seen the Lord's Christ. That day, God directed him to the Temple, and when he saw the baby Jesus, he took him up in his arms and praised God. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he said, "Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation" (vv 29-30). At the same time a very old prophetess named Anna came into the Temple. When she realised who the baby was, she gave thanks to God, and went and spoke of Jesus to everyone who had been waiting for Messiah to come.

WISE MEN COME FROM THE EAST: Matthew 2:1-12

Mary and Joseph returned to Bethlehem, where they lived for some time. Meanwhile, far away in a land to the east, wise men looked for a sign which would tell of the birth of Messiah, the king of the Jews. When they saw a new star in the heavens, they knew the time had come. They set off immediately on the long journey to Jerusalem, bringing precious gifts. As soon as they arrived they began asking excitedly, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him " (v 2).

When news of this reached wicked king Herod, he first called to him the chief priests and scribes and demanded of them where Christ should be born. They told him that Bethlehem was the place according to the prophet Micah (Micah 5:2). So Herod called the wise men and asked them exactly when they had first seen the star. Then he sent them off to Bethlehem, asking them to find the young child, so that he too could come and worship him. Herod, however, only wanted to find the young child that he might kill him. As the wise men departed, "lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was " (v 9). Now they knew that their searching and their long journey had not been in vain. Full of joy, they went into the house where Joseph and Mary now stayed, and when they saw the little child with Mary, they fell down and worshipped him. They opened up their treasures that they had brought from their far-off land and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

That night, God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod, but to go home a different way.

HEROD'S TERRIBLE DECREE: Matthew 2:16-18

When the wise men had gone, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to flee at once into Egypt with Mary and the baby, and stay there till God sent him word again, 'for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him " (v 13).

Herod soon realized that the wise men had discovered his wicked plan. He became mad with rage and sent out a terrible decree, that all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding districts from two years old and under, must be put to death.

While Jesus was safe in Egypt, the mothers of Bethlehem mourned their little babies as that evil man carried out his horrible decree.

It was not long in fact before Herod died, and the angel of God once more appeared to Joseph in a dream. It was now safe for them to return to Israel. They did not go back to Bethlehem though, but returned to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood. "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke 2:40).

LESSON FOR US

Let us consider the faith of many who lived in Israel at this time. They had studied the prophets carefully and were expecting Mes siah to come. They had waited so eagerly, that when he was born, they were filled with gladness and spread the good news to all their friends. It was a time of great rejoicing.

The second coming of Christ will cause even greater joy, not only to Israel, but to all the world. We can learn of his coming by studying the prophets, just as they did. The more we talk of these things, the more excited we will get. So let us read our Bibles every day to find out all we can about his return, and talk with our parents about what will happen when he comes. Then we will be prepared for him and be very happy to share in his glorious kingdom.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. What was the name of the son promised to Mary?

2. Who would be the father of this child?

3. Where was Jesus born?

4. Why did Mary and Joseph come to Bethlehem?

5. There was no room in the inn; so where was Jesus born?

6. Who was told the wonderful news of Jesus' birth?

7. What had God told Simeon ?

8. What did the prophetess Anna do when she saw the baby Jesus?

9. Why did wise men come from the east to Jerusalem?

10. Why did Herod send the wise men to Bethlehem?

11. What gifts did the wise men bring to Jesus?

12. What terrible decree did Herod make?

13. Where did the angel tell Joseph to flee to?

Detailed Answers

1. Tell what you know of the angel Gabriel's words to Mary.

2. Tell what happened on the slopes of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.

3. Tell of the visit of the wise men to Jerusalem, and how they fol lowed the star to Bethlehem..