In just a few weeks, on December 25th, Christians from all over the world will be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior. If you are not already familiar with this amazing Christmas story, we will be reading about it in the next couple of classes. This wonderful story is found in the Holy Bible.

A Promise Made Long Ago

The LORD said to Abraham ... you will be a blessing: … in you will all families of the earth be blessed. ~ Genesis 12: 1 – 3 (paraphrased from KJV)

A Savior Foretold Over 700 Years Before His Birth

The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ~ Isaiah 7: 14 (KJV)

The Angel Visits Mary

. . . the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. … he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. ~ Luke 1:26 – 38 (ESV)

The Angel Visits Joseph

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. ~ Matthew 1:18 – 25 (ESV)

Definitions:

conceive (v) to become pregnant; to form (an idea, opinion, purpose, etc.)

discern (v) to distinguish mentally, to see, recognize, or apprehend, to perceiver by the sight or some other sense

Son of the Most High (n) Son of God; Most High = God

Holy Spirit (n) Spirit of God

barren (adj) not capable of producing offsprings; unproductive, not producing results

Discussion Questions:

1. 1. How do you think Abraham will be a blessing to all people?

   2. Why did God give the people a sign – telling them of an event over 700 years before it happened?

   3. If you were Mary, how would you respond to the angel of the Lord?

   4. What impressed you about Mary's response?

   5. What kind of person was Joseph?

   6. What does the name "Emmanuel" mean? How would that make you feel if "God is with you"?

   7. Who is Jesus? Why is He special?