NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR DECEMBER 13, 2020 : TOPIC – CALLED BEFORE BIRTH
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
DECEMBER 13, 2020
CALLED BEFORE BIRTH
Devotional Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9
Background/Lesson Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25
GOLDEN TEXT
“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what
is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20b-21
Primary Learning Outcome/Indicators
Learners will recognise God’s call and indicate achievement of this by:
• Discussing the benefits of obeying God’s instructions;
• Explaining the meaning and significance of the name Jesus;
• Making a strong commitment to share with others the joy of Christmas as the purpose and promise of God being fulfilled in the history of humankind.
INTRODUCTION
From the Christian point of view, Christmas the celebration of the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ is the greatest event celebrated globally today. As Christians, we should be joyful because of the coming of the Saviour to save humankind. God works in ways that no one can easily understand. At the fullness of time, He decided to carry out His redemptive plan, using Mary as an instrument for the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecy about the coming Messiah. Mary was a virgin who lived in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. She was already betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of David, but were not yet living together as a couple. However, because she was favoured by God, she was found to be pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. According to God’s plan for her, she had a divine assignment to fulfil and she accepted it without hesitation. She displayed a high level of submissiveness and faith under such humanly difficult circumstances and experienced God’s faithfulness. Indeed, the birth of Jesus can be described as ‘Called before Birth’ because of the circumstances that surrounded the event. Before He was born, He had been called to be the Saviour and Messiah of the world, according to the Old Testament prophesies.
Today’s lesson centres on the call of Jesus before He was born. We shall also discuss Joseph’s confusion when he found out that Mary was with child when actually they had not copulated as husband and wife. Being a righteous man, Joseph demonstrated obedience. He took Mary as his wife but they had no union until Mary gave birth to a Child through whom the whole world has been saved and the Child was named Jesus, as the angel had instructed.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. THE ANGELIC VISIT. MATTHEW 1:18-21
In Hebrew custom, marriages were arranged by parents and contracts negotiated on behalf of their children. This was the stage Joseph and Mary were in their relationship when she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph knew he was not responsible for the pregnancy since they had not been living together. Therefore, Mary’s integrity and life were at stake. In verse 19, Joseph decided to divorce her quietly without exposing her to public shame and disgrace. This shows that Joseph was really a righteous man, as described in the passage. Meanwhile as Joseph was contemplating, an angel appeared to him in his dream with a vivid explanation of the source and purpose of the Son conceived by Mary. He said to him, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (vv. 20-21)
Mary’s sudden pregnancy was shocking to Joseph because His love and trust for Mary was betrayed and his uprightness and stance for justice was on the line. God understood Joseph’s struggle with the sudden news of Mary’s pregnancy and the implications; therefore, He sent an angel to calm his fears, and prevent him from acting contrary to God’s will. Having explained the source of Mary’s pregnancy, he was instructed to take Mary home as his wife. God will always reveal the reason for His actions. The name of Mary’s Son was to be Jesus, which when interpreted in Hebrew is Yehoshua (Joshua), meaning “Yahweh saves”. The name was given because of the function He would perform (v. 21), the reason He was called before He was born (Luke 4:18-21). God will not leave any of His children in perpetual confusion and despair. He is always seeking for ways to calm our fears and worries, like the case of Joseph. It is, therefore, important for Christians to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when we are confused and listen to the voice of God through the Holy Spirit for direction.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Discuss the sources of the names people give their children today. Compare it with the angel’s message to Joseph about the name he will give to Mary’s Son.
2. What would have been your reaction if you were Joseph? Give reasons for such.
3. Enumerate ways in which God intervenes in people’s lives, and how Christians should respond to such calls.
B. THE OBEDIENT JOSEPH MATTHEW 1:22-26
The Scripture is full of God’s divine plan for humanity, which are unfolded from time to time; even in the life of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. The angel’s message of the news of the birth of Jesus was a fulfilment of what the Lord had said through the prophet, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14), which is being interpreted as “God with us.” Isaiah’s prophecy is a confirmation that Jesus was called before birth. Joseph did not struggle; rather, Joseph was convinced of the angel’s vivid explanation about the child conceived by Mary. When he woke up, he did everything the angel had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. As a righteous man, he did not have any union with her until she gave birth to her Son and they named Him Jesus, as instructed by the angel (v. 21). There is no doubt that Joseph was obedient, righteous and a man of integrity and probity. Apart from the fact that he did not doubt the angel’s instructions in his dream, he had no sexual intercourse with Mary, even though they were under the same roof until she delivered the miracle baby. He also named the Child “Jesus” as directed by the angel. From all indications, it is obvious that for the work of our redemption, God did not choose men and women of shady characters as instruments. In fact, the benefits of obeying God’s instructions cannot be overemphasised. Both Mary and Joseph were found faithful, righteous and obedient. Thus, they were counted worthy of being the family through which the Saviour of the world was born and nurtured to maturity. When we obey God and His instructions, He will be moved to bless us beyond our imagination. Some Christians, especially the young ones see obedience as a way to curb their freedom unlike Mary and Joseph who totally obeyed God and His plans for their lives was fulfilled.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. How does the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, after many years, assure us of God’s ability to fulfil His words, especially true prophecies that are not yet fulfilled?
2. As Christians, what are some hindrances to hearing from God and obeying Him today?
Commitment Based on Today’s Lesson
My Personal Commitment________________
Commitment to My Church_________
Commitment towards My Relationship with Others________
Prayer Points
• Thank God for the gift of Jesus who was born to save humankind from total destruction.
• Pray for faith to trust God for the fulfilment of every prophecy over your life and destiny.
• Pray for grace to always obey God and His Word.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity
• Let the class members write the various names of Jesus and their meanings. They should close with the song: “Hail, Thou Long-expected Jesus” Baptist Hymnal 70 or any other song that reminds them of the angelic visitation to Mary.
Take Home
• Like Joseph, believers should endeavour to combine justice and mercy in dealing with issues.
• Believers should trust God that He is present, even in their darkest moments.
• Christians should learn to obey God’s instructions at all times.
• God still speaks to us today through dreams and other means.
• Jesus was born for the purpose of the salvation of our souls.
• The word of God concerning us cannot go unfulfilled.
• Integrity and obedience are good Christian virtues that must be upheld by Christians.