Good Morning, Class of '64
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| Angels of Christmas - Greg Olsen |
Behold,
the virgin shall be with child,
and shall bear a Son,
and they shall call His name “Immanuel”,
which translated means,
“God with us”.
Matthew 1:23
Christmas with Larry
The Real Story of Christmas
Pretest:
(Don’t look at the end for the answers – you’ll have to read it.)
1. What is historically inaccurate about most nativity scenes displayed at Christmas?
2. What are frankincense and myrrh?
3. How many wise men were there?
4. In what two ways did the gifts of the wise men later figure into the story of Jesus? (HINT: immediately and XXXIII years later)
5. Which person in the Christmas story do we insult by not showing the respect so richly deserved?
6. Were Joseph and Mary actually homeless as some people say?
7. Was the innkeeper being nasty or nice when he sent them to the stable? (Opinion only)
8. What was the stable like?
9. Why were the shepherds the first to be told of the birth of Jesus by the angels? (Opinion only)
10. How did Joseph and Mary put the wise men’s gifts to use?
11. Was Jesus really born on December 25?
The story begins with Mary. She was probably in her early to mid-teens and betrothed to Joseph. A betrothal then was more formal and binding than an engagement today. They were married in every way but cohabitation.
The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she
would conceive and bear a son that she would name Jesus. Mary’s only question
was practical: “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Gabriel clarified that,
and Mary accepted it.
The Angel Speaks To Mary
God made a good choice. Mary’s faith and wisdom were both great. Mary’s Song (Luke 1: 46 – 55) is amazing, almost a prelude to the beatitudes.
Amy Grant
Breath of Heaven
(Mary's Song)
The Nativity Story
Luke 1:46-55
New International Version (NIV)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:46-55
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%201:46-55
Mary’s Song
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he was understandably upset. He believed that Mary, who in his eyes was the most perfect woman God ever created, had betrayed him. He could have brought charges; adultery was a crime punishable by death by stoning. But Joseph was a good man; he decided to privately have the betrothal contract made null and void. But an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told Joseph that Mary had not been unfaithful to him, that she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Joseph believed the angel.
When God chose Mary to raise His Son, it was a double choice. He also chose Joseph to be the foster father of His Son. In most nativity scenes, it’s hard to find Joseph. In most Christmas plays, Joseph is the forgotten man, kind of like new fathers today. There is much oohing and ahing over the baby and mother, but the father is pretty much ignored. Joseph is the Charlie Brown of the Christmas story – he deserves much more respect than we give him.
Joseph and Mary were not homeless. Big government was around then, too. They had to pay their taxes in Joseph’s ancestral city so they had to travel to Bethlehem.
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he was understandably upset. He believed that Mary, who in his eyes was the most perfect woman God ever created, had betrayed him. He could have brought charges; adultery was a crime punishable by death by stoning. But Joseph was a good man; he decided to privately have the betrothal contract made null and void. But an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told Joseph that Mary had not been unfaithful to him, that she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Joseph believed the angel.
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| Gaetano Gandolfi's Joseph's Dream, c. 1790 |
When God chose Mary to raise His Son, it was a double choice. He also chose Joseph to be the foster father of His Son. In most nativity scenes, it’s hard to find Joseph. In most Christmas plays, Joseph is the forgotten man, kind of like new fathers today. There is much oohing and ahing over the baby and mother, but the father is pretty much ignored. Joseph is the Charlie Brown of the Christmas story – he deserves much more respect than we give him.
 |
| Nativity Scene - http://dashinvaine.deviantart.com/#/art/Nativity-Scene-145302453?hf=1 |
Joseph and Mary were not homeless. Big government was around then, too. They had to pay their taxes in Joseph’s ancestral city so they had to travel to Bethlehem.
 |
| Journey to Bethlehem - Unknown |
Bethlehem was as crowded as most post offices on April 15. It was filled with 20 – 30 times its normal population. That’s why there was no room at the inn. When the innkeeper sent them to the stable, I believe he was being nice. There were no Holiday Inn Express rooms at the inn. It probably had a common room for all the guests, sleeping packed together on the floor. Not a good place for a very pregnant woman. The innkeeper gave Joseph and Mary the best he had, his stable.
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| The Innkeeper - Unknown |
And the stable, not much like our barns today. It was probably a shallow cave cut into a hillside that provided minimal shelter from the wind.
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| The Nativity - John McNaughton |
The angels appeared to the shepherds who were in the pasture with their sheep. Shepherds have to practically live with their sheep in lambing season. It was probably late spring, March or April. It may have even been April 15 – after all, they were in Bethlehem to pay their taxes!
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| The Angel Appearing Before the Shepherds - Thomas Buchanan Read |
The shepherds were near the bottom of Jewish society then, so why did God choose to first reveal the birth of His Son to them? Some have suggested that, with the hustle and bustle in Bethlehem, they were the only ones silent enough to hear. A better theory is that this fits with the ministry of Jesus. He liked the poor and the ones society ignored or looked down upon. He partied at Matthew’s house with the outcasts, the other tax collectors. Jesus chose 4 fishermen and one tax collector as disciples. He had nothing good to say about the persons at the top of society, but He liked the ones from the lower classes.
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| Adoration of the Shepherds. By Gerard van Honthorst |
Perhaps the best theory is that this fits the continuity of the Bible. God, the Shepherd, and mankind, the sheep, is an analogy we find all through the Bible. Remember the 23rd Psalm and Jesus saying, “I am the good Shepherd.” The analogy is so very apt. Sheep are stupid, smelly, fragile, and dirty. They cannot live independent of man, kind of like us with God.
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| Unknown |
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Connie Smith
1975
The wise men followed the star from Persia. They were not at the stable. They arrived later and visited the family at a house. Herod ordered all baby boys two years old and younger killed, so it is probable that the wise men arrived somewhat less than two years after the birth of Jesus.
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| Magi - Unknown |
It is tradition that there were three wise men. Tradition even names them. But we simply do not know. I suspect that the three gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, gave rise to the idea of their being three wise men. Frankincense is fragrant resin often used in incense. Myrrh is also a tree sap used in incense and perfume. Both were then very valuable. It is very likely that the women who went to the tomb of Jesus 3 days after the crucifixion had both frankincense and myrrh to anoint the body of Jesus.
Matthew 2: 1-2, 11-15
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense , and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense , and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
The Wise Men Seek Jesus
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| Unknown |
When Herod ordered the murder of infant boys, Joseph was warned in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and to escape to Egypt. As a carpenter, Joseph was a day laborer. He could not have saved enough money for such a trip. But God always provides – the very valuable gifts of wise men were put to good use.
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| Unknown |
From our house to yours,
may you have a very blessed Christmas!
For today in the city of David
there has been born for you a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11
And when we give each other
Christmas gifts in His name,
let us remember that He has given
us the sun and the moon and the stars,
and the earth with its forests and
mountains and oceans--and all that
lives and move upon them.
He has given us all green things and
everything that blossoms and bears
fruit and all that we quarrel about and
all that we have misused--and to save us
from our foolishness,
from all our sins,
He came down to earth
and gave us Himself.
Sigrid Undset
The Nativity Story
Full Movie
One Couple.
One Journey.
One Child…
who would change the world…
forever...
http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2006/thenativitystory2006.html
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
CLASS NEWSLETTER
To read the first
TVHS Class of 1964 Newsletter
click here:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/yqr68z
Luke 2:11
And when we give each other
Christmas gifts in His name,
let us remember that He has given
us the sun and the moon and the stars,
and the earth with its forests and
mountains and oceans--and all that
lives and move upon them.
He has given us all green things and
everything that blossoms and bears
fruit and all that we quarrel about and
all that we have misused--and to save us
from our foolishness,
from all our sins,
He came down to earth
and gave us Himself.
Sigrid Undset
The Nativity Story
Full Movie
One Journey.
One Child…
who would change the world…
forever...
http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/movies/2006/thenativitystory2006.html
And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
the Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
CLASS NEWSLETTER
To read the first
TVHS Class of 1964 Newsletter
click here:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/yqr68z
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