The Traditional Nativity Scene

For this lesson's follow up post. I thought I would share a video. It never fails to amaze me how much good there is in the digital universe. The internet can be such a great tool for communication and media can sometimes communicate so much more powerfully. I found this video on youtube and after you watch this, go ahead and check out some of the other stuff by IgniterMedia if you have time. They have some very thought provoking and funny videos.

This is a great video comparing the traditional nativity scene and the scene found in the Bible.

Click here to see the video

The Life of Christ - Lesson 2

GENEALOGY AND BIRTH OF JESUS

Application: Humility

Memory verse: Luke 1:31-33

Genealogy

Speaking of Joseph and Mary, let's look at their ancestors.

Matt 1:1-16

-Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - The fathers of the Israelite nation

-Judah, Jesus' tribe. Just as Isaiah said.

-Ruth, there's a whole book of the Bible about her life. She was King David's great-grandmother.

-Jesse. Isaiah spoke of him by name. 800 years before!

-Exile. Ended the period of the kings. 10 of these kings were good kings, 4 of these kings where evil kings.

-Joseph. We end with Joseph. This is his genealogy.

Notice that Matthew's genealogy is different than Luke's. You'll notice how Matthew goes from David to Solomon, but Luke goes from David to another of his sons named Nathan. Luke follows Mary's line while Matthew follows Joseph's.

Birth

Now after everything we've talked about, it's time to look at Jesus' birth.

Luke 2:1-5

The tribes had zones throughout the land. Nazareth is not in Judah's zone. So Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem.

Luke 2:6-7

There were probably lots of people traveling because of the census. Stable = barn. Manger = horse trough.

The celebration of Jesus being born is embodied in the idea of Christmas, but it is more than that. It is the idea that God has lived (and is living) among us!

What Jesus did for us:

John 6:38

He came from heaven. The song Ivory Palaces is about this. Jesus did exist before His birth and before creation. (Gen 1:26, John 1:2-3)

Php 2:3-11

He humbled Himself to live as a man. Not only as a man, but also as a humble man: how can someone's birth be more humble as barn and trough?

Matt 20:28

He came to serve mankind.

In all this, He shows us Humility! How can we be like Jesus and serve others with humility?

Next week memory verse: Luke 2:51-52