B12 Christmas Joy

Lesson 1: God’s Promises

Readings: Isaiah 9: 1-7, Micah 5: 2

If you knew that a famous person was coming to your area, but you didn’t know exactly when, you would want to find out as much as possible, in order to be ready for his visit. The Jews knew that a very important person was coming – the Messiah or Christ – but they didn’t know when. Their prophets, who lived centuries before, had written about Him, and the Jews could read about His coming, just as you have done in the Bible Reading.

Lesson 2: Mary’s Surprise

Readings: Luke 1: 26-38

If you suddenly saw an angel you would be very surprised! When God chose a young Jewish woman to give birth to His Son, He sent an angel to tell her about the Baby who would be born.

Lesson 3: Jesus’ Birth

Readings: Luke 2: 1-7

God had said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth, 70 miles away. When the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, decided to take a census and count how many were in the empire, he was fulfilling God’s plan, without knowing it! Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem to register for the census. While they were there, the Baby was born in the very city where God had promised, about 700 years before, that it would take place.

Lesson 4: The Angel’s Message

Readings: Luke 2: 8-20

Some shepherds were in the fields on the night when the Lord Jesus was born. They were guarding their flock. They did not know that they would become famous in the centuries to follow. The reason for this, of course, was that they were the first people to hear about the birth of the special Baby!