Read Luke 1:26 to 38 1. Who is Mary? What do we learn about her from this passage?
2. Who comes to visit her? Why?
3. Why does Gabriel say “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”?
4. Why does he tell her not to be afraid?
5. What is the prophecy that Gabriel tells Mary?
6. What does Mary ask Gabriel in Luke 1:34? What proof does he offer to her that the words that he says are true?
7. Copy Luke 1:37 here. Meditate on this and record your thoughts and impressions. As you meditate on Luke 1:37, consider the proof you have seen that this is true in your own life or the lives of those around you? Explain.
8. What is Mary’s response to the news in verse 1:38?
9. What do we learn in James 4:7? 1 Peter 5:5? How does Mary demonstrate these concepts?
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Christmas is about love. Ultimately, God so LOVED the world that He sent His only Son that whosoever believed in Him would be saved. In order to really understand Christmas as God intended it, we need to consider the love of God.
1. What do the following verses teach you about the love of God?
□ Jeremiah 31:3
□ Proverbs 8:17
□ Zephaniah 3:17
□ John 14:21
□ Romans 5:5
□ Romans 8:38-39
□ Titus 3:3-7
□ 1 John 4:9
2. As you meditate and read over the above verses, how do they speak to your celebration of Christmas?
Of all the Biblical places, I think Bethlehem was the image that I had most clear in my mind before visiting the Holy Land. After all, every Christmas, we would sing, “O Little Town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie . . . Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light . . .” that wonderful hymn written by Phillip Brooks. In my mind’s eye, it was always dark with the moon shining down on it, buildings grey shadows against a blue-black sky. I would imagine that scene or similar ones as I practiced the song on the piano in the second grade and later as I listened to Christmas albums on the record player at home before Christmas. If there was a biblical place I thought I understood, it was Bethlehem.
But Bethlehem is so much more than that Christmas hymn. It is not Phillip’s fault that we are stuck with that imagery. Rather, we are woefully uninformed about the land of the Bible. I am including some photos of Bethlehem and surrounding regions, so you can get the feel for the geography there. It is a land of rolling rocky hills and ancient caves, of shepherds still today minding their sheep, alone out in fields and pastures largely untouched by time, weather and war. The hills of Bethlehem today are not that different from what they would have been in the days of Mary and Joseph–and Messiah Yeshua.
Bethlehem regionBethlehem regionBethlehem region – view from HerodianBethlehem regionBethlehem field
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The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity–hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory–because at the Father’s will, Jesus Christ became poor and was born in a stable so that thirty years later, He might hang on a cross. –J. I. Packer
Some faith traditions begin the Christmas season with Advent. Look up the meaning of this term in a Bible Dictionary or other dictionary and record what you find. noun
2. Read the following scriptures and record how they bring hope: □ Psalm 72:10-14
□ Isaiah 11:1-11
□ Isaiah 42:1-5
□ Isaiah 60:1-3
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
We catch sight of a new key principle–the power of the Higher, just in so far as it is truly Higher, to come down, the power of the greater to include the less . . . Everywhere the great enters the little–its power to do so is almost the test of its greatness. In the Christian story God . . . comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity; . . . down to the very roots and seabed of the Nature He has created. But he goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him . . . [O]ne may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the death-like region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover.”
C.S. Lewis, Miracles
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I am reminded today–the first Sunday of Advent–of those advent wreaths of childhood. We would light them and say the prayers in lieu of our regular pre-meal prayer. The wreath, made of evergreens had four candles, and we were four children. Each week of Advent, we would take turns lighting the candle(s) for the week. The first week would be our youngest brother. He would have only one candle to light. It was a special time. The candle was allowed to burn during the entirety of the meal, and with each bite of dinner, we looked forward, anticipating. Christmas was the time of year when the difficulties we faced would dissipate for awhile, and we would embrace the glory and magic of Christmas. The baby was coming, and He would be the Savior of the whole world. Glory to God!
I was excited when Mother said I could put help her unpack the manger scene figurines and them into the creche. Mother says creche is just a different way of saying manger scene–the place where Baby Jesus was born.
Before Christmas, when the time comes for the Christmas decorations, the box for the creche is carefully brought down from the attic with the others. The smell of the Christmas decorations is wonderfully full of pine and promise. The box for the creche is marked–I recognize my mother’s handwriting–so beautiful and curvy.
I mustn’t pull things out of the box too quickly. I have to wait as Mother checks each little bundle wrapped in tissue paper. Not everything in the creche box are put in the manger scene at the same time. The baby Jesus figurine doesn’t go in until Christmas and the three kings come even later.
Christmas music plays softly in the background as it always does at this time of year. Music is just finding its way back after being gone for so many months. Mother hands me a small bundle wrapped in tissue paper–I can open this one. As I gently pull back the tissue, I find it is a sheep. It goes in the barn with the other animals who are watching Mary and Joseph as they wait for Baby Jesus. I gently place it in the back of the stable so Mother will give me another one to open. This time, she gives me a larger bundle–a cow. I wonder when we’ll see Mary or Joseph.
Mother pulls back the tissue on a bundle and then re-wraps it–it is a Magi–she explains that they were the kings from the east who came to see Baby Jesus but they don’t arrive until the Feast of the Three Kings on January 6th.
I watch with anticipation the next little bundle that she pulls from the box filled with tissue paper–this time, she pulls back the edge of the tissue and hands the bundle to me. Gently, I hold the bundle in my hand and pull back the tissue to reveal Joseph. His face is gentle–like my daddy’s. My daddy’s gone to heaven but he had a kind face like Joseph. The figurine is hard and smooth in my small fingers. I have to be careful not to drop any or Mother will be angry. I want to hold Joseph and look at his face. I still miss my daddy. Mother presses me to put Joseph into the stable.
One by one, we unwrapped the figures. I gently place Mary across from Joseph. He loves her even though she isn’t perfect. The shepherds–one standing with a lamb over his shoulders and the other down on one knee–I place towards the back of the stable–all eyes are on the manger where Baby Jesus will be. The angel which hangs from the front of the manger scene is the final piece–for now.
Mother hurries off with the half-empty box–on to the next task. I stared at the scene–Mary kneeling next to the manger with straw and across from Joseph. They were a mom and dad–it was perfect. My mom didn’t have my dad anymore. We weren’t like Jesus’ family anymore. As I pondered these things, a familiar Christmas carol came on, its words floated over: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where He law, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
I listened as the words became pictures in my head. Those in heaven were looking down–like my daddy. He was in heaven–he would be looking down. I wonder if he was looking down at me.
The cattle are lowing, the poor baby wakes, but little Lord Jesus no crying He makes. Love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky, and stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
I saw the image of Baby Jesus–so gentle, so good. I wish I could be good like Him. I cry at night even though I shouldn’t. After Mother has come in to our room and said prayers with us, I cry. The empty space in my belly hurts from missing my Daddy. I should be better–like Baby Jesus–no crying He makes.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, and take us to heaven to live with Thee there.
Those were words from my own heart. Please stay close Lord Jesus–I need someone to love me. It would be better if you could take me to heaven to live with You and Daddy there.
In those moments, the magic of the creche wrapped around me. I felt safe. I’m not sure how long I stood staring into the manger scene. The song ended and another Christmas carol washed over me. I knew Daddy was near–he was watching over me–he and the Lord Jesus. One day I would go to heaven to be with them there.
MEMullin Copyright 2016
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Rooted and Grounded 