God’s Grand Story NT - Lesson 1 Leader Notes

Preparation FOR CHRIST

The most recent prophecies of Hebrew Scripture were 400 years old, yet the predictions of a coming Messiah remained unfulfilled. With such a long wait, how would you have interpreted those prophecies?

To what degree do you think the Jews of that era had lost heart?

To what degree do you think they anticipated a deliverer?

Don’t make too much of God having been “silent” for 400 years.

God surely guided, comforted, encouraged, and inspired many people during those centuries. But it’s true that the last writing prophet of Hebrew Scripture put down his pen four centuries before Jesus came.

In this discussion, help group members sense of an enduring, certain expectation that feels long overdue for fulfillment. Talk about the good that can come from having to wait a while for a dream to come true.

Read Luke 1:18

Luke 1:18 ESV

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

. In light of God’s prophecies and His track record of miracles in the Old Testament, why do you think Zechariah the priest did not at first believe the angel’s message about his wife bearing a child (John the Baptist) in her old age?

How often do you see that dynamic today—a belief in God’s works in the past, a hope for His works in the future, and little expectation of them right now?

Why is this a common human mindset? Do you ever feel this way?

Many believers don’t have a lot of firsthand experience with miracles or angelic encounters, so as in Zechariah’s case, when they do happen, we have a hard time interpreting what we are experiencing, much less trusting in it.

Human nature is fascinating...and fickle.

Sometimes we don’t want to hope for things, because we don’t want to run the risk of our hopes being dashed.

We reason that if we tamp down our desires, we won’t ever have to feel the sharp pain of disappointment.

And, of course, the enemy is always there to cast doubt, to whisper lies, to call into question, to downplay the works of God.

Far better to live attentively, pray specifically, and trust boldly than to limp through life doubting the power and goodness of God.

THE Birth of Christ

What does it tell us about Jesus that He was born of a woman but conceived by the Holy Spirit?

What aspects of humanity and divinity do we see in His ministry?

What did Paul mean later when He wrote that Jesus existed in the form of God but emptied Himself in Philippians 2:6–7 “6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” ?

Apart from the virgin birth, there is no way Jesus Christ could have had both a divine nature and a human nature.

In the incarnation, He added humanity to His eternal divinity.

Theologians speak of the “hypostatic union”—a fancy way of saying that in the person of Jesus two distinct natures—a fully human nature and a fully divine nature—are united forever.

The gospels clearly depict both of these natures.

In His humanity, Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, etc.

In His divinity, Jesus demonstrated the wisdom and power of God as well as the ability to forgive sin.

Paul’s Philippians 2 passage describes Jesus’ ministry as God’s Servant.

In His earthly ministry, He willingly laid aside His divine privileges and power.

Without ceasing to be Lord and God, He humbly refrained from exercising His rights to demand glory from His creatures and subjects.

In His own words, He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NASB).

Read Luke 1:26-38

Luke 1:26–38 ESV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 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. 36 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 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.

. If you were Mary, how would you have felt about your role in God’s plan?

What aspects would you be grateful for?

What hardships would have made life difficult?

We see Mary’s situation as a sweet, beautiful story, but it includes some painful facts:

(1) God put her in the position of appearing immoral to all but a few people close to her;

(2) Most people would assume she was lying and assure her that God would not do what she said

(3) Any dreams of a normal family life were threatened.

How does the virgin birth stretch our understanding of God’s ways with His people?

Read Exodus 1:15-22 and Matthew 2:16-18 .

Pharoh Slaughters the Hebrew boys

Exodus 1:15–22 ESV

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. 18 So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

Herod Slaughters the Hebrew boys

Matthew 2:16–18 ESV

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

What similarities do you see between Pharaoh’s slaughter of Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:15-22) and Herod’s slaughter of Bethlehem’s boys (Matthew 2:16-18)?

Why do you think Jesus’ birth prompted such rage?

It’s interesting that both Moses and Jesus came at the time of a promised deliverer, a fact that only those well-versed in Hebrew prophecy would have known. Pharaoh certainly didn’t, though Herod made an effort by inquiring of sages. The parallels between the stories certainly seem to point to a spiritual battle behind the scenes—God foretells a deliverer, and spiritual opposition desperately tries to thwart the plan.

The Childhood of Christ

Why do you think the Gospels don’t tell us much about Jesus’ childhood?

Read Luke 2:41-52. What is significant about the lone story that we’re given (being found in His “Father’s house”) and the general statement about His growing in wisdom and stature and favor?

The gospels primarily focus on Jesus’ approximate three-year ministry as an adult. But even saying that, we need to remember we only have a partial record of His words and works.

This is why John made the statement at the end of His gospel that “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25, NIV).

While it would be fascinating to know more about Jesus the nine-year old, or Jesus the teenager, or Jesus the young carpenter-in-training (see Mark 6:3), we have to trust that in the biblical record, God has been given us all we need to understand and trust the person and mission of Christ.

The Baptism of Christ

Read Matthew 3:1-6

Matthew 3:1–6 ESV

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Why do you think it was necessary for a messenger to prepare the way for Jesus?

John’s appearance and demeanor would have struck a chord in this nation with such a rich prophetic history.

He would have brought to mind the lives and ministries of spiritual giants like Elijah and Amos and Jeremiah.

Furthermore, in Israel’s past, great acts of God were always preceded by warnings and messengers so that people could prepare their hearts.

In what ways did John the Baptist prepare for His coming?

John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to turn from sin, and by calling attention—not to himself—but to the Messiah whose arrival was imminent. John was all about making much of Jesus: “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30).

In a real sense, we should each have a John the Baptist-type ministry of preparing others for the second coming of Christ.

In Hebrew thought, repentance involves a change in direction, specifically with regard to actions. In Greek thought (the language of the New Testament), it involves a change of mind, a new way of thinking.

Why was repentance—both a change in direction and a new way of thinking—necessary for people to recognize who Jesus was?

Jewish messianic expectation in the first century was for a conquering king, a political deliverer who would overthrow the Romans and restore Israel to the kind of worldly prominence it enjoyed under David and Solomon. Obviously this way of thinking was at odds with Christ’s mission in His first coming.

He came not in glory, but in humility; not to judge but to save; not to establish an external, worldly kingdom, but to rule internally and spiritually in individual hearts.

Why is it necessary today for us to recognize Him and to experience the kingdom of God?

Until people (then and now) understand and embrace this reality, they remain confused and at odds with the mission of Jesus.

Thus the need for repentance: a change in mind that results in a change in how one lives.

Repentance is less an emotional reaction (i.e., blubbering over sin) and more a volitional choice (i.e., choosing to receive God’s forgiveness and go His way).

It is holy insight, not guilty wallowing.

And it’s not only something we do once at the start of the spiritual life. It’s a way of living for the rest of our time on earth.

No wonder Paul urges believers to “renew their minds” (Romans 12:2). We will never outgrow our need to repent.

IF THIS IS ASKED “So why was Jesus need to be Baptized?”

go to sermon titled “Why did Jesus need to be Baptized”

The Temptation of Christ

Read Matthew 4:1

Matthew 4:1 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Why is it significant that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit after His baptism?

Preparation for Ministry: The wilderness experience was a time of testing and preparation for Jesus before beginning His public ministry. It demonstrated His readiness and commitment to His mission.

Identification with Humanity: By facing temptation, Jesus identified with our human struggles and weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 highlights that Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

Victory Over Temptation: Jesus' triumph over temptation in the wilderness showed His sinlessness and moral perfection, affirming His role as the perfect Savior.

Obedience to the Spirit: Being led by the Spirit emphasizes Jesus' obedience to the Father's will, setting an example for believers to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their own lives.

NOTE: Some groups may wander into the question of whether Jesus actually could have sinned during the temptations. As a man, surely He could have; as God, surely He could not. Theologians debate these things ad nauseum, but that isn’t the focus of this group. We aren’t gathering information; we are seeking transformation. Knowledge that doesn’t purify our hearts serves only to puff up our brains! If that question comes up, bring participants back to the point of this discussion and to the Scripture itself: that Jesus did something we could not do on our own in resisting sin, and therefore is qualified to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf.

Why would the Father initiate this experience of testing?

the Father initiated the wilderness testing to confirm Jesus' identity, prepare Him for ministry, demonstrate His sinlessness, identify with humanity, establish victory over Satan, and provide a model of obedience and faithfulness.

Confirmation of Jesus' Sonship and Mission: This testing confirmed Jesus' identity as the Son of God and His mission. At His baptism, God declared Jesus as His beloved Son (Matthew 3:17), and the wilderness testing affirmed this declaration by demonstrating Jesus' faithfulness and obedience.

Preparation for Ministry: The wilderness testing prepared Jesus for His public ministry. It was a time of spiritual strengthening and reliance on God, crucial for the challenges He would face.

Demonstration of Sinlessness: By overcoming temptation, Jesus demonstrated His sinlessness and moral perfection. This was essential for His role as the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Identification with Humanity: Jesus' experience in the wilderness showed that He fully understands human temptation and suffering. As Hebrews 4:15 states, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin."

Victory Over Satan: The testing was a direct confrontation with Satan, showcasing Jesus' authority over the devil and His victory over evil. This victory foreshadowed the ultimate defeat of Satan through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Model of Obedience and Faithfulness: Jesus' reliance on Scripture and His obedience to God during the wilderness testing serve as a model for believers. It teaches us to depend on God and His Word when facing our own trials and temptations.