Day 1 - Christ Has Arrived On Schedule

1. What is your most exciting memory of Christmas?
2. What is the best gift you have ever received?
3. What are your family traditions?
4. What is the purpose of Christmas?

The need for the Christ child

Everybody talks about the amazing gift that was given at Christmas – the gift of Jesus in the manger. Why is that such an amazing gift?

Gen. 3:15 – And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

1. What is enmity?
2. How did this sin creep into a world that God made perfect?
3. Could we do anything about it?
4. What did God do about it?

The Birth of Christ

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Refer back to the first question, about the most exciting Christmas memory. Discuss the following:

• In this story, who are the main characters?

• Where did they find amazement/excitement in Christmas?

• Why did Jesus come to earth in the form of a baby?

Who is this Christ child?

1. Prophet

A prophet is defined as someone who claims to be able to tell what will happen in the future.

• How do we know that Jesus was a prophet?

Matt. 12:40 - “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Matt. 17:22 - “When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.’”

• Did the things that He predicted come true?
• The people recognized Jesus as a prophet.
Luke 7:16 - “They were filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help His people.’”
2. Priest

A priest is someone who is responsible for administering the sacraments, preaching, and ministering to the needs of a congregation.

• The Great High Priest (Jesus does not have one congregation, but is priest over all people)

Eph. 1:22-23 - “And God placed all things under His feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.”

Heb. 4:14 - “Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”

Matt. 20:28 - Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.”

3. King

A king is defined as someone who rules over a piece of land and it’s inhabitants.

• How do we know that Jesus is a king?

Jer. 23:5 - “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.

Matt. 27:11 - Meanwhile, Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

• Over what does He rule?

2 Chr. 20:6 - “‘O Lord, God of our Fathers, are you not the God who is in Heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and noone can withstand you.