12-24-21
Christ Born of Mary
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
ATTENTION GRABBER!
“Caesar Says” Game Have all the children in class stand up facing you. Explain to them that every time you say “Caesar Says” they need to copy an action you demonstrate for them. If they copy your action without you saying "Caesar Says" they have to sit down until the game is over. Make the actions you model for the children as silly as possible; it will be a reference point for the lesson.
LESSON TIME!
Today we will learn about the most wonderful, glorious, stupendous event of all time! The Messiah, prophesied in the Old Testament, arrived exactly as God promised. The coming of Jesus, who was sent to take away the sins of the world, is the most important event ever, and whether or not we let him come into our hearts is the most important decision we can ever make.
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
What was the world like at the time of Jesus’ birth? Caesar Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome. He might have been called “king,” but the reign of a king is temporary.
Caesar Augustus was the emperor, ruler of the entire known world; he desired all power and wanted people to think of him as a god.
But we know there is only one true God, Jesus Christ, who was about to be born into the world to save man from His sins.
“Caesar Says” Game Ask the children to think about the game played at the beginning of class, “Caesar Says.”
Remind them of the silly things they had to do to stay in the game, all because “Caesar Says.
Explain to them that during the time of Caesar Augustus, people had to do what “Caesar Says”
just to stay alive.
Caesar was master of the world, and it was in those days that Jesus was born. It was one of the darkest hours our world has ever known.
No one could choose or decide things for themselves;
no one could disagree with Caesar.
In order to be counted and taxed, Caesar made everyone in the entire known world travel to the place of his or her family.
Caesar thought that he had the greatest position, the grandest place, and the highest throne, but he was wrong.
Jesus was about to be born; the only one worthy of that place.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, the city his family was from.
Joseph was a descendant of King David.
He had to travel from his home in Nazareth all the way to the little town of Bethlehem.
Today that trip would only take a couple of hours by car. But on that day, it probably took about 5 days because they had to walk.
Where Did You Come From?
Tell the children a little bit about your family heritage and where you are from.
Mary traveled with Joseph to Bethlehem. She was betrothed to him and was considered a part of his family.
She was also a descendant of King David.
It was very close to the time she would give birth to her baby, but she had to obey the Roman Emperor as well.
More than 600 years before the birth of Jesus, God had written that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Caesar Augustus thought he was the supreme ruler of the world, but he was actually being used by God to bring about the fulfillment of prophecy.
God intended all along for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem because God is in control of all things.
So, Mary and Joseph, two unimportant people among the multitude traveling to be registered, were of the greatest importance to God.
Young Mary, carrying in her womb the very Son of God, and Joseph, the man who loved her and assumed the responsibility of caring for her and her unborn baby, together traveled the hard journey to Bethlehem, just as God intended.
They weren’t really marching to the orders of Caesar; they were fulfilling God’s eternal plan.
Who is in control of all things?
6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for baby Jesus to be born, just as God had planned because God is in control.
The Bible tells us that there was no room for them in the inn.
Did God forget about that? Did He forget to provide a place for Jesus to be born?
He knew all along.
It is interesting that when Jesus arrived there was no room for Him.
Is there room for Him in your hearts?
What is an inn? We may think it was like a little hotel, but it was not. It was an enclosure. It was probably four walls with no roof that a traveler could drive his cattle into for the night or rest in himself. It had no food, no innkeeper, and no provisions, just some water.
The Bible tells us that even in this sparse enclosure, there was no room for Jesus to be born.
Mary’s time to deliver her baby had come, and they had to find a place for her. Jesus, the King of kings, was to be born that night in Bethlehem.
There was no place for Him, no hotel, not even room in a lowly enclosure.
But even in the midst of this God was still in control.
Have you ever had things happen that you didn’t understand?
Maybe Joseph and Mary didn’t understand why they couldn’t find a place for Jesus to be born.
But no doubt, they just placed their trust in the Lord to provide.
Jesus was born and laid in a manger. A manger is just a feeding trough; a place where animals ate their food.
This manger was probably in some little outside shelter.
Jesus Christ the Messiah, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, was not born in an emperor’s court or a king’s palace or even a hotel,
but He was born in a stable and laid in a manger.
The King of the entire universe was born in a lowly stable.
Perhaps He knew that a humble birth would not impress or threaten anyone.
He wants us to genuinely believe in Him as Savior.
He came so that the entire world could come to Him, not just those who are wealthy or influential.
He does not try to impress; He is not threatening.
God planned the humility and simplicity of His birth because God is in control of all things.
God wants us to come to Him freely and openly.
The simplicity of His birth helps us come to Him genuinely and honestly.
Who can accept Jesus into their heart?
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
We read that “she” brought forth her baby. No nurse or doctor was there to help Mary.
“She” wrapped him in swaddling cloths; there was no one to do it for her.
Luke lets us know that at a time when Mary should have had the most tender care, she and Joseph were in a dirty stable without friends or family to help them.
With her own hands, she wrapped her baby in strips of cloth and laid him into a feeding trough.
Help and family did not surround Mary, but she knew the glory of that night.
The Messiah had come, and He would make it possible for all to be saved through His free gift.
Mary knew that God is in control of all things and that even this lowly birth was His plan.
Jesus was Mary’s firstborn son.
She had no other son before Him.
Being the first-born son was more significant during Bible times than just being the oldest.
The firstborn was first in place, first in order, and first in importance.
This firstborn would show the whole world how to live and would one day die for the sins of the world.
Jesus is the Son of God.
There in that little town of Bethlehem, the Son of God, in human flesh, entered our world just as God planned.
He came to live a perfect life as an example to us and to die for our sins in order to open the doors of heaven to us.
The town of Bethlehem did not realize what had happened on that dark night, but Mary knew, Joseph knew, and God knew.
It was the most important night in all of history.
Jesus, our Savior, was born!
Mary and Joseph probably planned to have baby Jesus at home with their family, but God had a different and better plan.
Taking them to Bethlehem, God fulfilled the prophecy concerning the Messiah and gave His Son a humble birth that would be celebrated by Christians all over the world for centuries.
The many prophecies in the Bible are physical proof of God’s control in all things.
There are more than 300 prophecies concerning Jesus’ life alone.
God controls everything, and He loves us and wants us to walk with Him through all things.
Let’s give our lives to Him and allow Him to do great things through us.
Glory in the Highest
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
Pray!
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