\\ Study 3       Luke 1:26-2:52; Matthew 2:1-40.

1.5 Annunciation to Mary. Nazareth Mar-Apr 5 BC

Luke 1:26-38.

Where is the obvious place that Luke would obtain such information as recorded here?

What do you think convinced him it was true?

His own personal experience of God like our personal experience of God might be a factor but that inner conviction generated by the Holy Spirit within is more likely the answer. John 14:17, 15:26.

How do we find favour with God?

How did Mary find favour with God?

Is our answer the same if not why not?

Was the Angel sent to both Zechariah and Mary to pressure them into agreement?

If not why was the Angel sent?

We learned from Zechariah that personal revelations are to prepare us for a particular service. What was Mary’s service?

What does the name Jesus mean?

1.6 Visit of Mary to Elizebeth. (Magnificat) Luke 1:39-56.

Do you think Mary’s visit was to verify Gabriel’s message, or because she believed it?

Elizabeth and Mary had much to share about their experiences.

How important have you found it to share special God conscious moments with others?

Do all Christian friends understand about God conscious moments?

Do you perceive when someone has experienced a God conscious moment? 

1.7 Annunciation to Joseph. Judea 5 BC  Matthew 1:18-25.

Do you think she told him about the Angel’s visit?

Should Joseph have trusted Mary?

Like Zechariah and Mary Joseph has a visit from an Angel. What was the purpose of the Angel’s visit?

Do you think Mary and Joseph understood like you and I understand the message of verse 21b?

1.8 Birth of John the Baptist. (Benedictus) Judea June 5 BC        Luke 1:57-80.

What were they going to name him? Why were they going to give him that name?

At what ceremony do we give children a name? Are their any parallels between Child Baptism and circumcision?

What meaning does John have? God’s gift

To whom was he God’s gift? In what way was John to be God’s gift? What was he going to do?

1.9 Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem to be Taxed. Bethlehem Dec 4 BC       Luke 2:1-5.

The Bible never ceases to amaze me with its combination of the miraculous and the plain everyday humdrum. Here we have two folk who have been visited by angels, are to parent the saviour of the human race, God in the flesh. We find them trudging around the country, spending the night in a place built to house animals and all to sign a piece of paper to please a mere man! God has a plan and purpose, the miraculous is no more a part of it than the humdrum, and the humdrum is no less a part of it than the miraculous.

1.10 Birth of Jesus. Bethlehem Dec 4 BC Luke 2:6-7.

1.11 The Angel and the Shepherds. Bethlehem Dec 4 BC    Luke 2:8-20.

1.12 Circumcision of Jesus. Bethlehem 4 BC    Luke 2:21.

What is circumcision and what significance is it! I mean it is not the sort of thing you go around showing people as proof you are a Jew is it! I understand that Arabs also practice circumcision Genesis17:23.

Read Genesis 17:9-14.  What is the significance of being circumcised?

Would you call circumcision an ordinance/ritual or a sacrament?

Ordinances are done because ordered and sacraments done for the blessing they bestow.

Baptism was seen as entry into the Church at Jerusalem. Acts 2:41.

Do you view Baptism as an ordinance or a sacrament?

1.13 Presentation of Jesus. Jerusalem Feb. 4 BC       Luke 2:22-38.

1.14 Visit of the wise men. Bethlehem Feb.-May 4 BC         Matthew 2:1-12.

1.15 Flight into Egypt. Egypt Feb.-May 4BC.    Matthew 2:13-15.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."

1.16 Slaughter of the Innocents. Bethlehem Feb.-May 4BC.         Matthew 2:16-18.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

1:17 Return to Nazareth and Sojourn there. Nazareth May 4 BC

Matthew 2:19-23 Luke 2:39-40.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead." So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."  And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

1.18 Jesus at 12 years of age attends the Passover. Jerusalem April 8AD. Luke 2:41-52.

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."  "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  But they did not understand what he was saying to them.  Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.