The Arrival of Jesus Lesson Two – Tell Me the Story of Jesus

In the birth of Jesus, heaven met earth and deity become clothed with humanity (Phil. 2:5-11; John 1:14. The combined births of all the earth’s kings, queens, governors, prime ministers, philosophers and scientists do not begin to compare in importance with the birth of Jesus. His birth permeates the Old Testament (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14) and the New Testament (Matt. 1:2:23; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-39; John 1:1-14; Galatians 4:4.

Questions

1.. Why were Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem when Jesus was born?

2. What took place when Jesus was eight days old? Why on the eighth day?

3. What was Mary’s sacrifice?

4. Who were the two people Jesus and his family met in the temple?

5.. What prophecy was given?

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship

him.” ~ Matthew 2:2

The Arrival In Luke 2:1-7 we find the time of his birth (1-2), the place of his birth (3-4), and the circumstances of his birth (5-7). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, a little town six miles south of Jerusalem in fulfillment with Micah 5:2. Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem to be taxed. But, could not Joseph have gone alone, Mary being so far along with child? Too, observe that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, cloth still on the bolt, there being no apparent garments made for the child. The point? God had given prophecy. His integrity was at stake. And, providentially, he saw to it that Mary was at the right place at the right time! How faith strengthening! But, how heart rendering to read

The Circumcision In Luke 2:21-23 we have Jesus’ circumcision and naming in keeping with the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:9-14) and the Old Testament Law (Leviticus 12:3; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 5:18).

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The Presentation in the Temple

Luke 2:22-39 consists of the purification of Mary and the redeeming of the firstborn (Exodus 13:2-15; Leviticus 12:2-6; Numbers 8:18, 18:15-16) wherein Jesus’ parents offered a pair of turtle doves (Luke 2:24), and indication of their poverty (Leviticus 12:1-8).

Simeon is described as:

• Being under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:25-27).

• Just and devout (2:25)

• Thankful (Luke 2:28)

• Having the right concept of death (Luke 2:29-30)

• Acquainted with the Scriptures (Luke 2:32; Psalm 98:2; Isaiah 42:6; 49:5-6).

Simeon’s three-fold prophesy.

1. Jesus was to be “destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel (Many rejected John 1:11-12; 8:12; Acts 7:1) (Many obeyed Acts 2).

2. Jesus was to be “for a sign which shall be spoken against” (Mark 3:22; Matthew 27:63).

3. Mary was told, “a sword will pierce through your own soul (Calvary John 19:26).

Anna, the elderly widow of 84 years. • She had not ceased serving

God, though elderly (Luke 2:37).

• She was pure in youth (Luke 2:36).

• She was prayerful (Luke 2:37) • She loved the temple, the

Lord’s meetinghouse (Luke 2:37)

• She had not turned bitter amidst life’s reverses (Luke 2:36-37).

• She had a grateful heart (Luke 2:38).

• She was a spokesman for God (Luke 2:36, 38).

Questions

1. What characteristics describe Simeon?

2. What is Simeon’s three-fold prophecy concerning Jesus?

3. What observations can be made in regards to the type of person Anna was?

4. Who are the Magi and why did they choose to look for Jesus?

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The Wise Men

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As verse 1 indicates, Jesus was born during King Herod’s reign. Herod the Great ruled from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C., but Jesus’ birth certainly occurred in the last few years – perhaps even the last few months of Herod’s reign.

At about the time of Jesus’ birth, an unusual bright light appeared in the sky. This light was witnessed by some Magi living east of Judea. The exact identity of the Magi remains unknown, though it seems probable that they were astrologers from Persia or Arabia.

What exactly did the Magi see in the sky? No one knows for sure. Whatever the “star” was, the Magi recognized its importance. For some reason, they associated it with the Jewish expectation of a king, the Messiah. So they traveled to the Jewish capital to begin to search for this person.

In Jerusalem the Magi began asking for directions to the person who had recently been born King of the Jews? They explained that they had seen this King’s star and had journeyed to Palestine in order to pay homage to him.

When King Herod heard what the foreign visitors were saying, he became “disturbed” (vs. 3). He recognized that the Magi were talking about the Messiah. Herod was paranoid about someone taking his power from him and had even killed some of his own sons when he thought they presented a threat to him.

If Herod was going to destroy his rival, he needed more information. So he assembled a team of religious experts – chief priests and teachers of the law – to find out where “the Christ” was to be born (vs. 4).

After meeting together, these Jewish scholars named Bethlehem in Judea as the birthplace of the Messiah (vs. 5; Micah 5:2).

Herod now knew where the Messiah was, but needed to know when the child had been born. Do doubt he has already determined to slaughter every boy of appropriate age in Bethlehem. So his next move was to summon the Magi for a private discussion to find out when the star

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had appeared (vs. 7). They evidently named a date within the past two years (vs. 16).

Herod them sent the Magi on the Bethlehem with his encouragement to search diligently for the Christ child. He told them that when they had found this newborn King of the Jews, they were to let him know so he could pay homage to Him (vs. 8). The king’s desire was to murder Jesus, not worship Him.

When the Magi left Herod, the “star” went ahead of them on the short journey to Bethlehem until it stopped about Jesus’ location (vs. 9). The Magi were overjoyed at what they saw (vs. 10); their search was over, they had found the King.

The Magi entered the house and saw Jesus. They prostrated themselves in worship (vs. 11) and gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These gifts may have been used in years to come to help them take care of Jesus.

God warned the Magi in a dream not to return to Herod. So they returned to their home country by a different way, not going through Jerusalem (vs. 12).

Observations:

1. Jesus is the Messiah.

2. Jesus welcomes Gentiles as well as Jews.

3. We should seek the Lord, bow down to Him, and give Him everything we have.

For Next Week….

? Please read Luke 2:40-52.

? Why did Jesus accompany His parents to Jerusalem?

? How did Joseph and Mary misplace Jesus?