Christmas Lesson 2 – Week 2

Memory Verse: For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37

Introduction
This month there is a special holiday we celebrate. Does anyone know what it is?
Christmas! And what is Christmas all about? Why do we celebrate Christmas? Guide
the children to talk about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, God coming
to the earth in the form of a man to save us from our sins, etc.

Who are some people that you can name in the Bible story or Biblical account of
Christ’s birth? Let students name some. They will most likely name Mary, Joseph, the
shepherds, the wise men, etc.

Last week, we learned about Zacharias, the priest, and his wife Elizabeth. They were
old, but God gave them a son named John. This was the first part of the Christmas
story, because John was sent first to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming.

This week, we will look at two other important people that God used as part of
Christmas story and His plan to send His Son, Jesus, to the earth.

Lesson
Since God's plan was for Jesus to climb into human flesh and be born on this earth to
live a human life, He would have to be born as a baby. As you know, babies can’t take
care of themselves. They need parents to feed them and care for them. God knew that
Jesus would have to have special people to care for Him. God also had to fulfill the
prophecies that Jesus would come from the line of King David. Don’t worry, God has
everything under control. Let’s read how God’s great plan unfolds.

Turn in your Bible to Luke 1:26-27.

Last week, we read about Elizabeth being pregnant, so this “6th month” is the 6th month
of Elizabeth's pregnancy (with John).

Mary
The angel Gabriel has been sent by God for another job. He had another message or
news to bring. This time it was for Mary. Mary was betrothed or engaged to a man
named Joseph. She was just engaged, so she was not yet married. Did you see who
the man was that she was engaged to? He was from the house and lineage of King
David. That is super important because the prophecies said the Messiah would come

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from the house of David. God was fulfilling His Word and keeping His promises like He
always does. Mary was also from the line or lineage of David too.

Let’s keep reading about when this angel shows up to Mary. Read Luke 1:28-33.

What was the angel’s greeting to Mary? Rejoice! You are highly favored by God. The
Lord is with you, and you are blessed.

What was Mary’s response to the angel? Troubled and confused.

Talk about what she would be confused about. Would you be confused if this happened
to you?

What are the things the angel told Mary?

- not to be afraid
- She will conceive or become pregnant with a child.
- He (the child) will be a son and called Jesus.

What are the things the angel tells us about Jesus?

- He will be great.
- He will be called the Son of the Highest.
- The Lord will give Him the throne of His father David.
- He will reign forever, and His kingdom has no end.

From the description, Mary knew that this was no ordinary son. This was the promised
Messiah, the Son of God. Who else has a kingdom that lasts forever besides God?

Mary was a little confused. She didn’t understand how this could happen. How could
she get pregnant and have a baby when she has never been with a man or been
married? She is bold to ask the question and the angel tells her how this supernaturally
would happen. Let’s read Luke 1:34-37.

So, how would this happen? The Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of
God.
So, this son was directly God sent into Mary’s womb to be born from her.

What else does the angel tell her? He tells about her cousin, Elizabeth, and the
impossible thing God had done in her life as well (with her being pregnant with John).
Nothing is impossible with God. This is our memory verse too!

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This is a very important lesson for all of us to remember. Many times we look around at
our circumstance and we don’t see how God can help or make things better for us or
help make a situation better. We can have faith and know that God can do the
impossible things. God is all-powerful and omnipotent, which means nothing is
impossible to or for Him.

What is Mary’s response? Does she have faith and believe, or does she not have faith
like Zacharias? Let’s read the rest to find out. Read Luke 1:38.

This is my favorite verse. Mary believes God and has faith, and she submits to what
God wants to do in her life. How about you? When God wants to use you or do
something great in and through your life, do you let him? Will you allow God to use you
like He did Mary?

With this news, Mary had to tell someone. She went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.
Read Luke 1:39-45.

What happened in Elizabeth's womb when Mary arrived? The baby leaped.
The baby in Elizabeth’s womb was John, and the baby in Mary’s womb was Jesus.
When the presence of Jesus in Mary came near to John, the baby leaped for joy.

Mary then sang a song of praise, and it was written for us to read. Let’s read it and see
what we can learn about God in it. Read Luke 1:46-56.

What are some things you learn about God in this song of praise from Mary?
Allow responses. Be sure to include some of the things that are written in the Word.
Share what stands out to you the most.

Joseph
We have looked at Mary, the mother of Jesus, so now let's look at Joseph, the earthly
father of Jesus. Remember, we learned that baby Jesus was to be placed in Mary’s
womb from the Holy Spirit of God. So, God is Jesus’ Father. On earth, Jesus would
need a man to be his father to take care of Him like our earthly fathers do. God chose
Joseph to lead and care for Jesus and his mother, Mary. Let’s turn in our Bibles to
Matthew 1:18-19. Read.

Remember that Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married. Joseph then finds out
that Mary is pregnant with a child, and he decides to not marry her. Describe the kind of
man the Bible says Joseph is. He is a just man, and he doesn’t want to embarrass
Mary, for he is kind.

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Oh no! If he doesn’t marry Mary, who will be the father on earth to take care of Jesus?
What will happen to Mary if she is all alone to take care of a baby? God has a plan, and
we don’t need to worry. He will take care of everything even when things seem
impossible. Let’s continue reading.
Read Matthew 1:20-23.

How did God carry out or accomplish His plan to show Joseph he was chosen to marry
Mary?
He spoke to him in a dream.

What did God tell him to do? Take Mary as his wife.

What does the angel tell us about the child she is carrying?
The baby is from the Holy Spirit, He is a Son and to name Him Jesus, and He will save
people from their sins. A prophecy will be fulfilled through Him. In the next weeks, we
will learn more about the prophecies about Jesus.

What is Joseph going to do? Is he going to listen and obey, or is he going to still do
what he wants to and walk away? Joseph still had a choice to make just like we do. We
can choose to follow and obey God, even when it may seem hard or a lot, or we can
choose to do what we want. There are blessings when we choose to follow and obey
God. Usually when we do what we want, we are not blessed and find ourselves
unhappy and not satisfied, but there are always blessings and joy found in God.

Read Matthew 1:24-25.

Joseph was obedient and did what God commanded him to do.

Application
In our Bible study today, we saw that God had a plan, and He worked His plan out. The
people Mary and Joseph had a part to do too. What was their part? To be obedient to
God’s plan and commandment.

Let’s read another verse about choosing to do what God commands us. Turn again to
the New Testament to the book John. Read John 14:21-24. This is Jesus when He
grows up and teaches about God. What does He say?

If we love Jesus, we will do what He says. If we don’t do what He says, we are showing
that we don’t truly love Him. We show Him our love by obeying Him, and when we do
what He says, it is not a burden, it is a joy. There is joy and blessings in what He tells us
to do. He knows the best way for us, for He is omniscient and knows everything. We

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just need to trust Him and do it. The best part is that He will help us to do it. He not only
tells us what to do, but He is also there to help us be obedient. Walking with Jesus is a
joy and blessing all through our lives. It’s the biggest and best decision that we can
make to follow Jesus. Are you a follower of Jesus?

As we think about Christmas this year, let’s examine our hearts. Are we loving Jesus,
and if so, are we being obedient to Him? Mary and Joseph are examples for us to
follow. Think about their willingness to give up their lives and what they wanted to follow
and do what God asked of them. Think of the blessings they had along the way; the
blessings of living, helping and caring for Jesus the Son of God!

Activity
Have the students act out the Bible story. Choose someone to be Mary, the angel,
Joseph and Elizabeth. You narrate as the children act it out. You can do it a couple of
times, switching actors to be the characters.

Craft
Please see the attachment in the Children’s Ministry serving email for this week.