December 19, 2021 – Luke 1 – 2

Lesson Date: December 19, 2021

Focal Scripture Passage: Luke 1:12-17, 26-33, 39-43, 67-77; 2:1-11, 25-33, 36-38, 41-49

AIM: To lead students to discover eight facts that prove Jesus’ identity, and to take a specific action in response to those facts.

Before class: Write the following heading on the marker board or chalkboard: “Jesus’ Pieces of Identification.”  Number from 1 through 8 down the left side of the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask the following questions:

“When you go to cast your vote at your polling place on Election Day or at the Board of Elections for early voting, how many pieces of identification do you need to show?” (one).

“What identification is required?” (your driver’s license).

“If you were sixteen years old and trying to get your first driver’s license, what identification would you need?” (your birth certificate and Social Security card).

“What are some other times and situations when you must show identification?” (when writing a check, when applying for a job, when boarding a commercial airplane).

“How many different pieces of identification do you possess?” (driver’s license, birth certificate, Social Security card, passport, ID card or badge for your work).

Tell the students this morning we will depart from our study of the Gospel of Matthew to focus on the Christmas story.  Explain that we are going to study Luke 1 and 2, which are often read at Christmas.  In these familiar chapters we will discover eight pieces of identification that prove Jesus is the Messiah.  The title of this lesson is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Identification Number 1.
   • Explain the following:
     • Zacharias was a priest, married to a woman named Elisabeth.
     • They were both righteous and obedient toward God.
     • They were old and had no children.
     • One day as Zacharias was serving in the Temple in Jerusalem (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee), an angel appeared to him.
   • Read Luke 1:12-17.
   • Ask the class what the angel said to Zacharias.
   • Explain the following:
     • Verse 17 is quoted from Malachi 4:5-6 (see also 3:1).
     • In those verses the Lord promised to send Elijah to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
     • The angel told Zacharias that his son would be the fulfillment of that prophecy.
   • Tell the class the first piece of Jesus’ identification is that Zacharias’ son John was to be the forerunner of the Messiah.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Tell the students that Zacharias wanted a sign to prove what the angel said was true (v. 18); the sign he was given was that he would be unable to speak until the baby was born (v. 20).
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because God sent John the Baptist before Him as the promised forerunner.
2. Identification Number 2.
   • Explain the following:
     • Zacharias’ wife Elisabeth conceived a child, just as the angel promised.
     • In the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy the angel Gabriel appeared to her cousin Mary.
   • Read Luke 1:26-33.
   • Ask the students what the angel said to Mary.
   • Tell the class the second piece of Jesus’ identification is that the angel Gabriel announced Jesus’ birth and identity to Mary.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because the angel Gabriel clearly said He was.
3. Identification Number 3.
   • Tell the students that the angel Gabriel told Mary about Elisabeth’s pregnancy, so Mary went to visit her cousin.
   • Read Luke 1:39-43.
   • Ask the students what happened when Mary arrived at Elisabeth’s house.
   • Tell the class the third piece of Jesus’ identification is that Elisabeth called Mary’s baby “my Lord.”
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because Elisabeth referred to Mary’s unborn baby as her Lord.
4. Identification Number 4.
   • Explain the following:
     • Elisabeth’s baby was born and named John, just as the angel Gabriel had instructed (Luke 1:13).
     • When John was born, his father Zacharias was given the ability to speak again.
     • Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (preached).
   • Read Luke 1:67-77.
   • Ask the students what Zacharias said about his baby and about Mary’s baby.
   • Tell the class the fourth piece of Jesus’ identification is that Zacharias said Mary’s baby was the Messiah and John would prepare the way for Him.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because the Holy Spirit revealed that fact to Zacharias, who publicly proclaimed it.
5. Identification Number 5.
   • Explain the following:
     • Caesar was taxing and taking a census of the entire Roman world.
     • Mary and her husband Joseph went from Nazareth to Bethlehem (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee) to be taxed.
   • Read Luke 2:1-11.
   • Ask the students what the angels told the shepherds.
   • Tell the class the fifth piece of Jesus’ identification is that the angels told the shepherds that Jesus was the Savior, Christ the Lord.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because the angels who appeared to the shepherds clearly said so.
6. Identification Number 6.
   • Explain the following:
     • Jewish Law required new parents to dedicate their first-born child to the Lord.
     • Mary and Joseph did this at the Temple in Jerusalem (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee).
     • While they were there, a man named Simeon came up to them.
     • God had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah, the “consolation of Israel.”
     • The Holy Spirit revealed Jesus’ identity to Simeon.
   • Read Luke 2:25-33.
   • Ask the students what happened when Simeon saw baby Jesus.
   • Tell the class the sixth piece of Jesus’ identification is that Simeon announced that Jesus is the Savior.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because Simeon clearly announced that fact.
7. Identification Number 7.
   • Explain the following:
     • Anna was an 84-year-old widow who was also a prophetess.
     • God revealed baby Jesus’ true identity to her.
   • Read Luke 2:36-38.
   • Ask the students what happened when Anna saw baby Jesus.
   • Tell the class the seventh piece of Jesus’ identification is that Anna confirmed Jesus’ identity as the Redeemer.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because God revealed that fact to Anna, who announced it publicly.
8. Identification Number 8.
   • Explain the following:
     • Each year Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.
     • When Jesus was twelve, they inadvertently left Him behind in Jerusalem as they were returning home.
     • They went back to Jerusalem.
     • After a long search, they found Jesus in the Temple.
   • Read Luke 2:41-49.
   • Ask the students what happened when Joseph and Mary found Jesus.
   • Tell the class the eighth piece of Jesus’ identification is that Jesus said that God was His Father.
   • Write this on the board.
   • Summarize: We know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, because Jesus said God was His Father.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Tell the students in today’s lesson we have discovered eight scriptural confirmations of the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who came to pay the penalty for our sin and provide salvation.  Stress the fact that after examining these eight pieces of identification, we must accept one of three conclusions about who Jesus is.  He is either:

1. A liar, or
2. A lunatic, or
3. He is actually the Lord.

Say: “If you don’t believe Jesus is Lord, then you must conclude that He is either insane or a great deceiver.”

Tell the students that this morning we have found eight pieces of identification proving that Jesus is God in flesh and the only Savior or Redeemer ever provided for mankind.

Based on these facts, urge the students to take one of the following specific actions:

1. If they are already saved, they should commit themselves to telling someone else about Jesus.
2. If they have never accepted Jesus, they should do so today.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Encourage any who have never been saved to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ right now.  Encourage those who already know Jesus to commit to tell someone else about Him.

CONCLUSION: Tell the students if any of them have prayed to receive Jesus this morning they should plan to come forward during the hymn of commitment at the end of the service and make that public.  Those who have committed to telling someone else about Jesus should make definite plans to talk to that person this week.

Tell the students next Sunday we will return to our study of the Gospel of Matthew.