55 Lesson 1 The King Is Born! Bible Reference: Luke 1:26–56, 2 Augustus, the first and perhaps the greatest emperor of Rome. Augustus ushered in the Pax Romana, a golden age of peace and achievement in Rome. Yet the humble King Jesus would bring a peace far greater than Lesson Objective any Roman emperor could provide. The objective in studying Jesus’ birth is to see that he was born a king, albeit an upside-down king. Students The census ordered by Augustus was significant in that will discover evidence of his royalty in the many refer- it forced Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem, Da- ences to his lineage from David, the town of Bethle- vid’s birthplace. First Samuel 16–17 speaks of Samuel’s hem, and the glorious events surrounding his birth. journey to Bethlehem to anoint David, son of Jesse. They will also consider the many humble circumstances Now, from that same small town about six miles south surrounding Jesus’ birth, which show the unusual sort of Jerusalem, a far greater king was to be born. of kingship he had in mind—that of a suffering servant. Keeping Jesus’ lineage in mind is important because the promised messiah, or anointed king, had to be a Lesson Highlights descendant of David. Students will examine the many times that Luke reminds us of Jesus’ royal lineage, but * The day of the Lord spoken of in the Old Testament, they will also see how Jesus came to be an upside- a time of redemption for God’s people, would come down sort of king. He was born in the humblest of through a messiah. conditions, in a stable or cave, to parents so poor that * Messiah, meaning “anointed one,” primarily meant they could present only a poor family’s offering when an anointed king. Jesus was dedicated at the temple. Jesus truly lowered * The Messiah was to come from David’s royal line. himself by taking on all the limitations of humanity—not just middle-class humanity but the down-and-out. The * Jesus, as David’s heir, made his entry in David’s greatest of kings lived a life far more humble than the birthplace: Bethlehem. Yet the conditions of Jesus' lives we live today. birth were anything but royal. * His birth shows the unusual sort of kingship he had in mind—an upside-down, humble kingship. Lesson Steps * For Jesus to leave his Father’s side in heaven and Bridge take on human nature was itself an act of great humility. 1. Explain that as we enter the story of Jesus’ life, we will keep at the forefront the idea that Jesus came to bring God’s kingdom to Earth. He was Preparation/Materials the long-awaited Messiah, the King from David’s ü Video clip of Sleeping Beauty, opening scene (clip line. We begin the story of Jesus with his birth. can be found on YouTube 2. Ask students if they can recall any movies in ü Visuals from Sleeping Beauty (optional) which a new prince or princess is born. Then ask, ü “Why was the birth of a future king or queen such Born to Be King handout, one per student a big deal?” (The fate of the kingdom and of the people rested in their hands! Keeping the dynasty going was very important.) Background 3. Explain that the movie Sleeping Beauty opens Jesus’ birth is one of the greatest events in Christian by showing how a long-awaited royal birth was remembrance. He was born during the rule of Caesar celebrated. 56 24 25 Lesson 1 Lesson 1 redemption for Israel and judgment on God’s Nevertheless, Jesus’ birth was miraculous enemies. All things would finally be put right and glorious enough to show that he was The King Is Born! The King Is Born! on the day of the Lord! And this redemp- no ordinary peasant. From the angel’s an- tion would come through a messiah, or an nouncements to Mary and Joseph, to the anointed one. The Old Testament had differ- host of angels who appeared to shepherds, Unit 2 Luke 1:26–56, 2 ent anointed offices, such as prophets and God was beginning to reveal his Son’s glory. priests, but by the time of Jesus, messiah The angels spoke in no uncertain terms, The Gospel of Luke offers the most detailed primarily meant “anointed king.” It was clear saying: “The Lord God will give [Jesus] the account of the beginning of Jesus’ story. from the prophets that, first and foremost, throne of his father David, and he will reign Luke explains the miraculous events of the messiah would be a king from the line of over Jacob’s descendants forever; his king- Jesus’ birth, first setting the historical David. dom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33). This context. Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Jesus was the promised King, the Messiah Empire; Herod acted as Judah’s local ruler. Unfortunately, Zechariah initially doubted (Luke 2:11). Since the close of the Old Testament, the the angel’s message. But later, when people Jews had been living in a period of silence— asked, “What is this child going to be?” How amazing that the King of all kings God had not spoken through prophets or Zechariah was able to explain that this child would humble himself—not only by giving up angels for hundreds of years. would be a prophet preparing the way for the glories of heaven, but even by renounc- the Lord (Luke 1:76). He prophesied that ing the comforts of this world. Rather than Yet something was stirring! Mysterious God was finally coming to redeem Israel by enjoying kingly riches and power, Jesus angelic visitors began to visit ordinary Jews raising up “a horn of salvation for us in the identified with the vulnerable and down-and- and tell them of momentous events on house of his servant David” (v. 68–69). The out of this world. What a different sort of king the horizon. The elderly priest Zechariah promised king would soon appear. he is—a king so humble he would take on all received a glimpse of coming glory when the world’s suffering and woe, yet so power- the angel Gabriel gave him the news that Immediately following this prophecy, Luke ful that he would defeat it once and for all. he and his barren wife would have a special tells us about an unexpected twist that son. forced Joseph and Mary to travel to Beth- lehem just before Jesus’ birth. The Roman Reflection Questions Gabriel quoted from the closing verses of census required Joseph to travel to the the Old Testament to explain the role John town of his ancestry, which happened to 1. Both Mary’s and Zechariah’s songs of would play: be Bethlehem, the town where King David praise (Luke 1) speak of God helping he would be had been born. It is only fitting that Jesus, Israel and remembering his promises to the promised King David’s long-expected heir, should also them through this coming baby, Jesus. In prophet like make his entry in Israel’s royal birthplace. what way does Jesus relate to Abraham’s Elijah whom God was making the message clear: Jesus descendants, the people of Israel? How God would is the anointed King of Israel, come to save was he going to help them? send to pre- his people. pare people’s 2. Simeon’s song of praise (Luke 2:29–32) hearts “before Yet . how could this poor baby be the quotes from Isaiah 49:6. What did Isaiah that great and long-awaited king? The conditions of his promise? How does Jesus relate to this dreadful day of birth were anything but royal. He was not promise? the Lord comes” born in Herod’s palace, or announced by 3. Instead of beginning with Jesus’ birth, (Malachi 4:5–6). heralds, or attended by servants. Instead, the Book of Matthew begins with Jesus’ When the Old he was born in the worst of conditions to genealogy. To which two special people Testament parents who were temporarily homeless. does Matthew link Jesus, and why do prophets spoke Mary and Joseph had to use an animal’s you think that is? Why was Jesus’ lineage of the “day feeding trough as his cradle. They could from these two individuals important? of the Lord,” present only a poor family’s offering when (See Matthew 1:17 for help.) they meant a they brought Jesus to the temple for his future time of dedication. Seeing Shepherds by Daniel Bonnell. Lesson 1 | The King Is Born! 4. Distribute the Born to Be King handout. 5. Direct students to list the characteristics of a traditional royal birth in column 1 as you consider the birth of Princess Aurora. 6. Watch a video clip of the first few minutes of the movie Sleeping Beauty depicting how Princess Aurora’s birth was celebrated (clip can be found on YouTube). 7. Ask students to list all the special forms of honor that a royal baby receives in column 1. (See answers on teacher key.) 8. Now ask students to fill in column 2 by considering the ways that Jesus’ birth was far more humble than that of a traditional royal birth. (See answers on teacher key.) Scripture Link 1. Move on to question 3 of the handout. Read aloud the directions to question 3a. 2. Either work as a class, or allow students to work in pairs, to read and record verses in response to question 3a.