LESSON SIX
BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD OF JESUS

1.	The Annunciation:
a.	God ordained that His Son be born of a human mother in order that He might live a complete human life
b.	Mary, a virgin of Nazareth, was chosen for the honor of becoming the mother of the Son of God
c.	The Holy Ghost would overshadow her and the child to be born would be the Son of God
d.	Mary had been favored of God with the privilege earnestly desired by Jewish mother – the honor of giving birth to the Messiah
e.	Mary was betrothed to a godly man named Joseph.
f.	When Joseph found that Mary was with child, he planned to put her away, but learned from an angel that the child was begotten of the Holy Ghost, and was to be virgin born.

2.	The Birth of the Savior: 
a.	God apparently planned that the exact day should not be known because of the tendency to worship holy days and places 
b.	We do not know the day and the month of His birth, it took place while the flocks were still in open pasture
c.	Therefore it had to be in late summer or early fall, not later than October

3.	December 25th
a.	The 25th of December was the date of the Roman pagan feast of Saturnalia. 
b.	It was a time of great revelry and debauchery but also a time of good will when no criminal was executed, friends gave gifts to each other, and slaves were free to enjoy their freedom
c.	The Christians took advantage of this holiday to spend the day celebrating the birth of our Lord.

4.	Place:
a.	In taking the census it was commanded that the Jews should enroll in their native towns. 
b.	Joseph and Mary were both of Davidic descent, whose native city was Bethlehem.
c.	Bethlehem is located six miles south of Jerusalem
d.	When they reached Bethlehem, they found the town crowded with the many that had come for the enrollment
e.	There were no accommodations
f.	They were forced to spend the night in the open courtyard where the animals were housed

5.	The Praise of Angels:
a.	On the plains east of Bethlehem there were humble Judean shepherds who were watching their flocks. 
b.	It was to these most humble men that God revealed His best and highest.
c.	An angel stood before them proclaiming the birth of Christ and sending them to Bethlehem 

6.	Temple - Circumcision & Presentation:
a.	When eight days passed Jesus was circumcised according to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12:3)
b.	At that time He was named
c.	The parents usually selected the names of their children but God through Gabriel named Jesus (Jehovah-Saviour)
d.	The purification of the parents and redemption of the first born son took place according to the law forty-one days after the birth (Leviticus 12:6)
e.	In the presentation in the Temple the rich were to bring a lamb, the poor were to bring two young pigeons
f.	Mary's gift would indicate their humble circumstances

7.	Coming of the Wise Men:
a.	There came to Jerusalem Gentile scholars who enquired where they might find the King of the Jews, whose birth had been announced to them by a strange star. 
b.	They came from the East, very likely from Persia, Arabia and Babylon.
c.	When the Wise Men enquired concerning the place of Messiah's birth
d.	Herod immediately planned to destroy Him and instructed the Wise Men to bring word when they had found him. 
e.	However, they were warned in a dream and returned to their own country by another way. 
f.	The parents of Jesus were warned by an angel and fled to Egypt where they remained until the death of Herod

8.	The Visit to Jerusalem:
a.	The Jewish child's education began in the home with his mother teaching the SHEMA (Deuteronomy 6:4, 9; Numbers 11:13-21; Numbers 15:37-41
b.	The father was responsible to teach his son the Torah.
c.	The formal education began at the age of six in the local synagogue. 

LESSON SIX
SELF HELP TEST

A.	Explain clearly the difference between the meaning of "virgin birth" and "immaculate conception."
B.	When was Jesus born?
C.	Explain how December 25th came to be the day that the birth of Jesus was celebrated.
D.	Describe the boyhood and growth of Jesus.