“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

LOC – 007JESUS IS BORN!
How to Reap the Benefits of Obedience

Almost all of us like to hear stories about babies being born. Let’s go to Luke 2:1-20 and learn about the most significant birth in the history of the world. (This lesson takes the form of a conversation between two shepherds.)

Ephraim, how is that ewe coming with giving birth to that lamb? That is the third one in the past 12 hours! Every one of them is looking healthier than normal, too! Aren’t these little lambs cute? All babies are cute, aren’t they? Do you remember when your first child was born? Yes, I’ll come help just as soon as I check the headlines in the newspaper!

Look at this, Ephraim! They actually published our story in the Bethlehem Shepherd’s Gazette! Shepherds Proclaim the Messiah Born in Bethlehem!

Caesar Augustus, the emperor in Rome, has required that another census be taken. It has been 14 years since the last census. Caesar reigns from Britain to Parthia, which is considered to be the entire world. (Marco Polo hasn’t discovered China yet!) He has promoted peace and prosperity. ----

It says here that Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem from Nazareth, for the census that has been instituted by Caesar because Joseph is of the tribe of David. (Why couldn’t they just count him in Nazareth?) Bethlehem is located six miles south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem means “House of Bread”. (Baby Jesus will later be called the “Bread of Life”!)

Obedience Surrenders Control! - Luke 2:1-4

Joseph and Mary are newlyweds who have had their wedding ceremony, but haven’t had sexual relations yet. God would not have chosen them if He knew that they would have violated His Laws. Mary is 9 months pregnant by the Holy Spirit and they had to travel about 60 miles south from Nazareth to Bethlehem. If she rode a donkey, no wonder she delivered last night. If she walked, that would wear her out also. That road from Jericho to Jerusalem is straight up hill! Joseph’s ancestors originally came from Bethlehem, so it is logical that the census would bring him back there.

It is more important to be obedient to God than to satisfy personal drives or wants. Is God in control of your life? If you are truly walking with God in control of your life, He will guide you to where He wants to use you and bless what you do.

Obedience is Not Always a Pretty Picture!- Luke 2:5-7

Isn’t it sad that there are so many people in town that Joseph and Mary couldn’t find a place to stay in the Bethlehem Inn 6.They say that they always leave the light on, but this time, they were completely full!

Can you imagine a baby being born in a stable with all of those dirty, smelly animals around? Nothing is said about a doctor or nurse being present for the birth! Did Joseph help deliver God’s Son? No doctor or mid-wife, just Joseph and Mary who had to figure out what to do all on their own! Sanitary?!?

Either way, the Messiah, who they named Jesus, was born last night and laid in a manger after being wrapped in a seamless piece of cloth. Babies are often wrapped because they thought it was important to make their limbs straight.

When God is in control and we are in obedience, great things happen.

Obedience is Always Associated With a Promise!- Luke 2:8-15

ANGEL SIGHTING! – The reason we know is because an angel from God appeared in the sky and told us! We were just watching the sheep so that no lion or wolf would drop in for a late night snack. Then all of a sudden, Gabriel Calling! That scared me and made me jump like the lion had snuck up on me! I thought for sure that we were in big danger!

The angel told us not to be afraid! That was a little late. My heart is still pounding in my chest. I had never seen an angel before. The angel said the Messiah, had been born in manger in Bethlehem! Then a whole bunch of angels appeared in the sky. They were singing praises to God and blessing us with a lot of warm air. It was so beautiful.

After the angels disappeared back into Heaven, we decided we should go and see this baby. Left the sheep, but took a baby lamb with us as a gift. Joseph and Mary told us how Gabriel appeared to Zechariah; one of the priests that were serving in the Temple about a year and a half ago and six months later appeared to Mary telling each that they would have a baby.

We obeyed God and believed the angel and were blessed by seeing the Christ child on the night he was born. If you obey God, you are going to experience similar blessings in your life.

The Object of Obedience Determines its Rewards!- Luke 2:16-20

Imagine, we shepherds are considered to be undesirable by most people are the first to hear about the Messiah being born! Yet we are the first to learn of the birth of the Messiah! The angels don’t appear to the priests in the Temple or the government leaders in Jerusalem, but to a scraggly band of insignificant shepherds on the hillside outside of Bethlehem.

God has done a great thing, Ephraim! And it’s all in the Shepherd’s Gazette, just like it happened. Someone ought to write a story about this baby some day so others could read it and learn what God has done among us! I hope they mention that we were the first to see the baby Jesus!

Hey, there are some people over there. Let’s go and tell them what we saw last night! I’ve just got to tell someone else about this baby being born and the angels and so on. Isn’t it wonderful to be rewarded for being obedient? Why aren’t more people choosing to be obedient to God?

CONCLUSION

God keeps His promises! Obedience is KEY to getting God’s blessing.

NEXT WEEK: Jesus is circumcised and named in obedience to the Mosaical Law.