Central Thought: God’s favor is upon those whose hearts are stayed on Him.
Hymn: I’ve a message from the Lord.
TEXT: Matthew 1:8-25, Luke 1:26-45
The story of the lives of Joseph and Mary reveals to us that God decides to favor those who are willing to submit fully to His will and ready to obey and carry out divine instruction even when such an instruction would bring pain or dissatisfaction to them. On his part, Joseph was ready to obey and do the will of God even when he knew this would cause him to experience some pain. Mary, a virgin was a humble young lady who kept herself from defilement and became a chosen vessel by God to accomplish His eternal plan of salvation of man. Mary willingly submitted herself to the will of God. We shall be considering the character of this couple who were chosen and favored by God to be the earthly parents of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Lesson Objectives:
- To identify where Joseph was living before the birth of Christ and the circumstances that led to him to move to Bethlehem.
- To identify the qualities in the lives of Joseph and Mary worth emulating.
- To examine the lessons learnt from the encounter of Mary with the angel.
- To explain the angel’s reference to Elizabeth and Mary’s visit to Elizabeth in the city of Judah.
- To comment on the relationship between faith and the fulfilment of God’s promise.
Question 1a.) Where was Joseph living before the birth of Christ?
Luke 2:1-4
Before the birth of Christ, Joseph was living in the city of Nazareth in Galilee. He went from Judea to Bethlehem; the city of David because he was of the house and lineage of David.
Question 1.b) Explain the circumstances that forced Joseph to move to Bethlehem.
Joseph had to move to Bethlehem because there was a decree from Caesar Augustus that all should be taxed. All the people were to be taxed in their own home cities. Therefore, Joseph had to go from Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. The circumstance that made Joseph to move to Bethlehem was also to fulfill the scriptures as prophesied in the Old Testament, Micah 5:2 “But thou, Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be the ruler of Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting”. The fulfilment of this was the birth of Christ.
Question 2a.) Identify some qualities in the life of Joseph that are worth emulating.
Matthew 1:18-25, Deuteronomy 22:22-27, Luke 2:41, 51-52
There were many qualities in the life of Joseph, which we can emulate. He lived by the biblical injunction as recorded in Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled…” He did not have carnal knowledge of Mary before they were formally married. In fact, even after God instructed Joseph to take Mary, he did not have any sexual relationship with her till she had given birth to Christ. He exhibited self-control.He was also a just man. Although he was not willing to accept a woman pregnant with a child he knew he was not responsible for, yet he did not want to subject Mary to a public disgrace, Instead he planned to quietly put her away. However, when the angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream concerning Mary, he (Joseph) did not argue but accepted her as a result of reverential fear for God. Joseph as an earthly father taught the child Jesus the ways of God and to be subject to parental authority. We commend these qualities to be parents at a time like this.
Question 2b.) Read Luke 1:26-38 and point out some qualities in the life of Mary.
Mary was a virgin engaged to Joseph and was living a chaste life. She was humble even when the angel gave her the good news that she was going to be the mother of the Saviour of the world. She was not pretentious. She was very frank in asking how that was going to happen knowing fully well that she had not known any man. Mary believed the word that was spoken to her by the angel. As soon as she got clarification concerning the conception, she said the angel “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word”, Luke 1:38. She had faith in the word that was spoken to her. Pre-marital sex remains ungodly. Mary demonstrated humility in not becoming proud even after the angel gave her the good news.
Question 3a.) What do we learn from the encounter of Mary with the angel?
As earlier stated, Mary’s statement in Luke 1:34 was not an expression of doubt but an honest enquiry. She was reasoning by the natural way things happen. She did not know how this would take place without having to meet a man. When a full explanation was given to her in that regard she believed and quickly exclaimed by saying; “be it unto me according to thy word”. As Christians we learn from this that with God all things are possible. God is able to accomplish in our lives what He has ordained. Therefore, we must not doubt but rather hold on to Him because He cannot fail. We must remain resolute and be “fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was also able to perform” Romans 4:21.
Question 4a.) Why do you think the angel cited the case of Elizabeth to Mary?
Luke 1:36-37
Elizabeth, the wife of Zachariah the priest was the cousin of Mary. Both Elizabeth and her husband were old and well advanced in age. Mary knew them very well and was aware of their situation. The angel might have cited the case of Elizabeth to Mary, in order to let her know that there was nothing that God cannot do. This must have increased her faith in the ability of God. The testimonies of what God has done in the lives of others help us to also trust God for what He has promised.
Question 4b.) What do you think made Mary to visit Elizabeth in haste in the city of Judah?
Luke 1:39
The news from the angel concerning Elizabeth, an older woman who was considered barren but now pregnant was cheering. So Mary out of excitement and joy went to the city of Judah to visit her older cousin, Elizabeth in her new state of pregnancy. As believers, we must learn to rejoice when we hear of or see the goodness of God in the lives of our brethren. We are enjoined to rejoice with those who rejoice.
Question 5a.) Examine what transpired after Mary entered Zachariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
Luke 1:40-44
Mary entered into the house of Zachariah and greeted Elizabeth. On hearing the salutation of Mary, the baby in her womb, leaped for joy, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. She began to speak with a loud voice by the leading of the Holy Spirit about the favor of God upon Mary, that she was blessed among women and that the fruit of her womb was blessed. She continued by saying “And whence is this to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” Luke 1:43-44.
Question 5b.) What does this teach you about the importance of visitation and spiritual fellowship with our fellow believers?
Hebrews 10:25
We see from this, that visitation and spiritual fellowship with our fellow believers is a very important feature in the lives of believers. It is a source of encouragement and assurance that God knows about our various situations and circumstances. We are admonished thus; “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” Hebrews 10:25. In visitation and fellowship, we receive spiritual strength, and encouragement from each other. It is very necessary therefore that we do not neglect this because “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” Proverbs 27:17.
Question 6) Comment on the relationship between faith and fulfillment of God’s promise.
Luke 1:45, John 11:40
There is a very close relationship between faith and the fulfillment of God’s promises. “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” Hebrews 11:1. Our faith in the word and ability of God is the gateway to the fulfillment of the promise. The Lord Jesus expressed this and said to Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had been dead and buried “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe” John 1:40. In the same vein, Mary exercised faith on the word that the Angel spoke concerning her. This was obvious to Elizabeth, her older cousin when she said “Blessed in she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those which were told her from the Lord”. It is evident that without faith we cannot receive anything from God.
Daily Living Application:
Joseph and Mary, a couple that found favor with God lived lives that pleased God. Their lives were worthy of emulation from all points of view. They were willing to obey God’s divine will for their lives even when initially it did seem as if it would cause pain and may affect them adversely. They stood on the word of God and became the earthly parents of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What an honor to be used by God as instruments to bring to pass His divine and eternal purpose for man. God said “for them that honor me I will honor….” 1 Samuel 2:30.
Memory Verse:
Luke 1:38
Then Mary said “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord; Let it be to me according to your word…”