Summary

God's people longed for a Messiah to rescue them from their oppression as God had promised. At the perfect time in history, God sent the long awaited King, His son, into the world - though not like the people expected.

From the birth of John the Baptist, Jesus's forerunner, to His virgin mother, Jesus's birth in Bethlehem fulfilled every single prophecy concerning His birth. An angel told both his mother Mary and John's father Zechariah they would each have a son with special a purpose. Zechariah did not believe the angel at first and therefore could not talk until his son was born. John grew up telling people to repent for the Kingdom was at hand.

Mary did believe the angel, and an angel told Joseph, her fiance, to marry her because her child was from God. When it was almost time for Mary to give birth, Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem, Joseph's home town, to be counted in a census. Jesus was born there in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.

Angels announced His birth to shepherds in the fields nearby. They visited Him that very night, and then told everyone the saw about the new-born Messiah.

Eight days later, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated as commanded. A man and woman at the temple, Simeon and Anna, recognized Jesus as the Messiah and worshiped Him.

At some point, wise men from the East also visited Jesus and gave Him gifts. When Herod found out they were looking for a new born king, he had all boys in Jerusalem under two years old killed to keep the child from taking his throne. An angel had warned Joseph before, and he had taken Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After Herod died, Joseph and his family returned to Israel and lived in Nazareth.

When Jesus was 12 years old, he stayed behind in Jerusalem when His family headed home after Passover. His parents found him three days later talking with the leaders.

The Bible tells us Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.

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The Facts

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Matthew 1-2 - ESV - KJV - NIV
Luke 1 - 2:20- ESV - KJV - NIV
John 1:1-18 - ESV - KJV - NIV

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Important People

Joseph, Mary, Jesus, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John, the angels, the shephers, Simeon, Anna

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Major Events/Accounts

An angel tells Zechariah he and Elizabeth will have a child.
An angel tells Mary she will have God's son.
An angel tells Joseph to marry Mary becasue her child is the child of God.
John the Baptist is born.
Jesus is born.
Shepherds visit baby Jesus.
Joseph and Mary have Jesus circumcised.
Simeon and Anna meet see the Messiah.
Herod try to kill Jesus.
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus flee to Egypt and return two years later.
Joseph, Mary, and Jesus visit the temple when Jesus is 12 years old, and Jesus "gets lost".

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Key Words/Repeated Phrases

Matthew
So all this was done that it might be fullfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet
Gnashing of teeth
Kingdom of Heaven is like
Verily I say unto your
Jesus's disciples came saying

Mark
Verily I say unto you
Charged them
Jesus answering them
They were all amazed

Luke
It came to pass on a certain day
These things came to passed
I say unto you
He spake a parable
The people asked Him
With a loud voice

John
Jesus answered verily
Ye shall ask in my name
Father & me or myself
Belief & everlasting life

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Hide the Word in Your Heart

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Verses from the Account

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

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John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Jesus in the Account

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Jesus is the Messiah!

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Did You Know?

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There are over 300 references to the Messiah in the Old Testament.

Many of those were fulfilled in Jesus's birth: born of a virgin, son of God, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Jesse, David, born in Bethlehem, presented with gifts, children of Bethlehem killed. (See Evidence That Demands a Verdict for more information about such prophesies.)

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According to Jewish tradition in the Talmud, animals around a certain vicinity of Jerusalem - as far as Migdal Eder - could be used for temple sacrifice.

Migdal Eder was a watch tower for flocks near Jerusalem bound for temple sacrifice. Based on Micah 4:8, many Jewish writers said the arrival of the Messiah would be announced from the Migdal Eder. The angel's announcement to shepherds were likely shepherds who would had to have been near Jerusalem and therefore likely watching this flock bound for temple sacrifice - just like Jesus - to be able to visit Him that very night.

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Shepherds who kept flocks potentially bound for temple sacrifice would wrap first-born, male lambs in swaddling cloths and lay them in a manger when they were born so they would not hurt themselves while the shepherd inspected them for blemishes.

Jesus was also wrapped in a swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.

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Discuss It

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1. What is the most interesting thing or something new you learned from reading and studying this account?
2. Summarize the account and its message in your own words.
3. What did you learn about God from reading and studying this account?
4. How does this account point to God's plan to redeem this world through the sacrifice and obedience of Jesus?
5. How can you apply the truth of what you learned from reading and studying this account in your own life?

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Teach It

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Coming in 2021!

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Share It

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Coming in 2021!

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Celebrate It

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Coming in 2021!

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