God the Father Prepares
The coming of Jesus into our world is so important that all throughout the Old Testament we find the wonderful story of God's preparation for the coming of His Son...(Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 2 Samuel 7:8-16)
God prepares a world; Adam and Eve's disobedience to God separated them from Him, just as our sin also separates us from Him. God made a promise, "I will send a Saviour who will someday destroy Satan and save you from his power."
God prepares a nation; God chose Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham, you are to be the father of a special group of people. They are to be My people. Through you and My people the Saviour will come, and He will bring blessing to the whole world."
God prepares a family line; God's people, the Jews, grew into a great nation. God sent a message to King David through a prophet. God's message was something like this: "David, you will not always be a king, but the Saviour whom I shall send into the world will be a king. He will come through your family. He will be called the Son of David, and He will be a king forever."
God prepares a mother; One day when Mary was alone, the angel Gabriel had been sent from heaven with a message from God for her. The angel said, "The Lord is with you. You are to be blessed more than any other woman. Don't be afraid, Mary. God is going to send His Son into the world as a baby, and He has chosen you out of all the women in the world to be His mother. You are to name the baby Jesus, and He will be king over Israel forever." Although Mary didn't understand all that was happening, she trusted and obeyed God. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:26-38)
God prepares an earthly father; Joseph was a good man and a Jew from King David's family. One night after Joseph had gone to sleep an angel appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, don't be afraid to marry Mary, for the baby that will be born is the Son of God. God is His Father, but He wants you to take care of Mary and the baby." Jesus was going to save His people from being punished for their sin. Joseph did just what the angel told him. (Matthew 1:18-25)
Just For You:
God planned and prepared for Jesus' coming to earth to save people from their sins (disobedience against God). All those who believe that Jesus died to save them from their sins and receive Him as their Saviour (asking God to forgive you) are "His People". God wants you to be one of His People. When you come to Jesus, believing that He took the punishment for your sins and asking Him for His forgiveness, He accepts you as one of "His People".
Memory Verse:
"You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
Do You Know?
1. What was the promise made to Adam and Eve? Why?
2. What did God say to Abraham?
3. What did God say to King David?
4. What did the angel say to Mary?
5. What did the angel say to Joseph?
6. What did Mary and Joseph do after the angel visited them?
7. Why did Jesus come to the earth?
Do You Know? (Answers)
1. That God would send a Saviour (Jesus), to pay for our sins.
2. Abraham would be the father of a special nation of God's people and through them the Saviour would come.
3. The Saviour would come through David's family and He would be king forever.
4. That God would send His son into the world as a baby and Mary would be His mother.
5. Don't be afraid to marry Mary. Joseph was to take care of her and the baby (God's son Jesus).
6. They trusted and obeyed what God told them.
7. Jesus came to the earth to die and pay for all of our sins so that we could be part of God's special people.