THE INFANCY AND EARLY LIFE OF JESUS – LUKE 1:26 – 38 - CRE FORM 2 Notes

Events Leading to the Birth of Jesus

Angel Gabriel said that Mary would conceive and bear a child.
Angel Gabriel called Mary ‘ the highly favoured one’.
Mary was an ordinary virgin girl in Galilee engaged to marry Joseph, a descendant of David.
The Angel said that Mary will bear
1. A Son
2. called Jesus (which means God serves.)
3. The child shall be great
4. He shall be called the son of the highest.
5. He shall be given the throne of his father David
6. He shall reign forever
7. His kingdom will never end.

Angel Gabriel had told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was also going to have a child.
Mary went to visit her.
The child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped when Mary greeted Elizabeth.
The Holy Spirit revealed to Elizabeth that Mary is the mother of her Lord, the Messiah.
Mary answered Elizabeth by singing the hymn “The Protector” in Psalm 121:3, The Love of God. Psalm 103:17, 98:3.
The Magnificent.
In this hymn Mary says:
- Her soul magnifies the Lord.
- The Lord has regarded the poor and those of low estate.
- God’s mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
- God humbles the proud and mighty, and exalts those of low estate (the lowly)
- God has filled the hungry and sent the rich away empty
Through the magnificent, Mary, expresses her joy, gratitude and favour given to her and the world.

The birth of Jesus took place in Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of Augustus Caesar, a Roman Emperor.
During that time, Rome was conducting a census of the people / citizens for the purpose of collecting taxes.
The census was ordered by the emperor to determine payment of taxes.
The method that Rome was using was counting.
Joseph, of the house of David went to his hometown, called Bethlehem; for the census.
Jesus was born during this time.
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger because there was no accommodation in Bethlehem.
The first people to receive the news that a Savior was born were the shepherds.
An angel announced the birth of the Savior, Christ the lord, to the shepherds.
The shepherds went to Bethlehem and saw the child Jesus.
They spread the word concerning what had been told them about the child.

Like John the Baptist, Jesus was circumcised, and named on the 8th day.
He was named Jesus which means ‘the savior’ or Yahweh or save’s.
Mary and Joseph observed the Jewish customs according to the Law of Moses.
For her purification and dedication of the child Jesus, Mary brought a pair of turtledoves as an offering.
The fist born males were dedicated to God as Holy.
Simeon took the child up in his arms for dedication and said that:
“The child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel. A Sword will pierce Mary’s soul on account of the child.”
Prophet Anna also came to the temple and prophesied that the child shall bring deliverance.

The parents of Jesus Mary and Joseph, went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.
When Jesus was 12, he accompanied them to Jerusalem.
After the feast the parents went home without realizing that their child, Jesus was not with them. But while on the way, they realized he was not amongst them.
They returned to Jerusalem, and looked for him for 3 days. They found him sitting in the temple; listening and asking teachers questions.
All those who were in the temple were astonished by his wisdom and intelligence.
It is in the temple that Jesus is revealed, first as a true son of his people and also as light and salvation for all people.
On being questioned by Mary and Joseph, Jesus answered thus:
”Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house, about my Father’s business?” This was an echo of Malachi 3:1 “the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple”.

Occasions when angels appeared to people in the New Testament
1. Angel appeared to Zechariah to announce birth of John the Baptist
2. Angel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus Christ
3. Angels appeared to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born
4. Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream warning him to flee to Egypt with the child and Mary
How Jesus followed the customs and traditions of the Jewish people
1. He was named on the 8th day
2. He was circumcised on the 8th day
3. His parents took him to the temple for the annual cerebrations of the Passover
4. He went to the synagogue
5. In his dedication as a first male, his parents offered the sacrifices expected from them.