Session 1: The Annunciation

Luke 1:26-36, Matthew 1:18-23

For hundreds of years, prophets had foretold that God would send a Messiah. Even as early as in Genesis 3, when God sent Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden due to their disobedience, he had a plan to bring mankind back together with him. The Old Testament described how God continued to care for the descendants of Adam and Eve, and chose Israel to be his people, through which mankind would be saved. You can refer to this post for a quick walk through the Old Testament.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and we enter the New Testament, which follows the life of Jesus Christ and his followers. Before Jesus was born, God sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary to announce his impending incarnation.

Read 1:18-23 and Luke 1:26-36 or watch the following video:

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkEypzmHwCI

Discuss:

Who are Joseph and Mary?

Joseph is a carpenter. Mary is a young virgin betrothed to him. She is often thought to be between around 12-16 years old when the Angel came to her. They lived in a town called Nazareth in Galilee.

Joseph was also a direct descendant of King David and Abraham. Matthew 1:1-17 outlines his genealogy to Abraham, and Luke 3:23-38 traces it all the way to Adam. Remember what God had promised Abraham and King David? Jesus is a fulfillment of these promises.

(For a quick reminder of the promises made to Abraham and King David - check out Sessions 5 and 20 of the Old Testament)

How do you think Mary felt when Angel Gabriel told her what would happen? How did she respond?

Scared? Awed? Confused?

She must have known that she would be ostracized for being an unwed mum, and that her fiance might leave her. Yet, she did not hesitate to trust in God and was obedient.

She had complete willingness to do His will – She told Gabriel “I am a handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word".

How did Joseph react?

Joseph initially wanted to divorce her quietly when he found out she was pregnant. He was considerate and did not want to cause her any embarrassment. However, after the Angel Gabriel spoke to him in a dream and told him the truth, he immediately took Mary into his home. He also trusted God and was obedient to him.

What did the angel tell Mary and Joseph about the son who would be conceived?

The angel told them that the son would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. His name would be Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins.

The angel also told them that he would be great, and would be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord would give to him the throne of his father David, and he would reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and his kingdom would have no end.

The angel said that all this was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken through the prophet - "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God is with us).

Who is Jesus?

Jesus is the son of God. He is the Messiah (or Savior) which God had promised to send. He is the direct descendant of Abraham and David - his genealogy is outlined in Matthew 1. His birth is a fulfilment of the promises which God made to Abraham and David - through Jesus, the whole world would be blessed. (Refer here and here for a recap on the promises made to Abraham and David).

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Did you know?

Mary is often referred to as the new Ark of the Covenant.

Do you remember the Ark of Covenant from the Old Testament? It is where God lived among his people, since the time of Moses (read Session 14 for a quick refresher on how God taught them to build the Ark).

Inside Mary dwelled Jesus Christ - the word of God in the flesh - she is the new Ark of Covenant.

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The Birth of John the Baptist

At the annunciation, Gabriel had told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who was old and barren, had gotten pregnant. Zechariah and Elizabeth were to have a child, John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus' coming when they were adults. Read the story of the birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1:5-24, 2:57-80, or watch the following video:

Source: Sharefaith kids on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=490SDWdIG3U

Who were Elizabeth and Zechariah?

Elizabeth and Zechariah were both Aaron's descendants. From the Old Testament - we recall that Aaron and his male descendants were priests. Zechariah was therefore also a priest. He was a holy man, in charge of managing the services of the temple.

Elizabeth was barren and old, and through a miracle was able to get pregnant. Can you name other characters in the bible who were also barren, but gave birth to great men?

Sarah (Abraham's wife) - who gave birth to Isaac

Rebekkah (Isaac's wife) - who gave birth to twins Esau and Jacob (later called Israel)

Manoah's wife - who gave birth to Samson the judge

Hannah, who gave birth to Samuel the judge

Elizabeth, who gave birth to John the Baptist

Who would Elizabeth give birth to? What did the angel say he would be?

John the Baptist. He would prepare the people of Israel for Jesus' arrival.

Read Luke 14-18:

He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before them in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared."