Thursday, December 12, 2013

Sunday, December 15, 2013: Jesus Was Born




 Luke 2:1-20

This week in The Gospel Project® for Kids, our journey takes us from Nazareth to Bethlehem. God had promised through the prophet Micah that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) Mary and Joseph, however, lived in Nazareth. But God is in control of all things. Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph traveled 80 miles to Bethlehem? God used a pagan emperor to bring about His plan.

Imagine the shepherds’ surprise when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared. The Bible says that they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:10-11). The people of Israel made sacrifices daily to atone for their sin. Finally, a Savior had come who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin, once and for all. Jesus is also Messiah the Lord. The word Messiah means “anointed One,” especially a king. The angel told the shepherds they would find the baby King in a manger.

The birth of Jesus was good news! Jesus was not an ordinary baby. He was God’s Son, sent to earth from heaven in the most humble of circumstances, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.

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