“Mary & Joseph – The Messiah’s Parents”

​YEAH! Church - Sunday, December 12, 2021

"Heroes of the Bible” – If God had a really important…I mean super important…job for someone to do, like raising the Messiah—God’s Son—what kind of people would He choose? The answer might just surprise you!

Today’s Lesson - “Mary & Joseph – The Messiah’s Parents”

Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duq2LFiTpic (Saddleback Kids)

Today’s Heroes – Mary & Joseph (Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25)

Joseph and Mary came from the little town of Nazareth in Galilee. It wasn’t a very important place or wealthy…nothing special really. But it was here that a man, Joseph, and his fiancée, Mary, lived. God was about to send the Messiah, His promised Rescuer, and He wanted Jesus to have good parents.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that God had chosen her to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary didn’t understand how this could be possible because a baby needs a mother and a father, but she was still unmarried. Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit, who was there when the world was created, was going to create a baby inside her—God’s Son. As impossible as it may have seemed, Mary never doubted and agreed. But she didn’t tell Joseph right away…but he did eventually found out.

Joseph was devastated! He thought that Mary had been unfaithful to him and had become pregnant by another man. He could have made her life very difficult, but instead, because he cared for her and he was a good man, he decided to have her moved somewhere that she and the baby would be safe. He had decided, however, that he wouldn’t marry her. But as he was thinking about these things, he had a vision from an angel telling him that, as impossible as it seemed, Mary wasn’t lying…she was pregnant with God’s Son, the promised Messiah. The angel told him not to be afraid, but that he should still marry Mary. After the vision, the Bible tells us that Joseph married Mary right away. He didn’t hesitate and think things over; he simply obeyed.

Though Mary and Joseph appeared to be pretty ordinary, there was something very special about these two people that caused God to choose them to raise Jesus—their faith in God and their willingness to obey, no matter what.

Engage:
• God chose Mary and Joseph to be the Messiah’s parents. Why did He choose them?
• The words of the angel could have seemed crazy. Why do you think Mary believed?
• People were not kind to women who became pregnant before they got married. How could Mary agree knowing that it could be a big problem for her?
• Joseph was also chosen by God to be Jesus’ ‘dad.’ What kinds of qualities do you think God thinks are most important for a father to have?

Theme verses:
Luke 1:46-48, NLT – “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.”

Prayer – Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to earth as a baby. Thank you, too, that I don’t have to be rich or popular or anyone special for you to think I am. What is important is my friendship with you and my willingness to trust and obey. Help me to be so!
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~ Pastor Jane