Birth of Jesus – JSS2 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

The birth of Jesus Christ is the Bible’s account of how Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Caesar Augustus, when Mary and Joseph travelled there for a census. Shepherds and wise men visited the baby, and Joseph later took the family to Egypt to escape King Herod.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Give an account of the birth of Jesus Christ.
2. Explain why Jesus was born in a manger.
3. State the message the angel gave to the shepherds.
4. Name the three gifts the wise men brought and what each one represents.
5. Explain why Joseph took Jesus to Egypt and state the lesson we learn from it.

What does this lesson cover?

• Birth of Jesus, Luke 2:1-20, 30-32
• Visit of the shepherds, Luke 2:8-20
• Visit of the wise men, Matthew 2:1-12
• The significance of the gifts given to baby Jesus by the wise men
• Flight to Egypt, Matthew 2:15

How was Jesus born?

Luke 2:1-20, 30-32; Matthew 2:1-12

In those days, during the reign of Caesar Augustus, there was a decree that people should go to their own city for a census. During this period, Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem of Judea. Mary was pregnant and was due to give birth.

She went to an inn, but there was no space for her. She found a space in the manger, where she gave birth.

Evaluation

1. Give an account of the birth of Jesus Christ.
2. Why did Mary give birth to Jesus in a manger?

Who visited Jesus after his birth? The shepherds

Luke 2:8-20

Shortly after the birth of Jesus, an angel appeared to some shepherds who were taking care of their sheep in the field. The angel told them that a saviour had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David. The baby would be found wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

After the angel had gone, the shepherds went to see the baby. They told the parents what the angel had told them and then left.

Evaluation

• Where were the shepherds when the angel appeared to them?
• What was the message of the angel to the shepherds?

Who were the wise men?

Matthew 2:1-12

Some wise men (magi) from the east went to ask King Herod where the newborn king was, so that they could worship him. Led by a star, they met Jesus and his parents. They worshipped him and gave him three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

What is the significance of the gifts?

When the wise men left, they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, because he wanted to kill the child. They went home by another way. Herod later sought to kill Jesus, but Jesus was taken to Egypt. After Herod died, Jesus was brought back to Nazareth.

Why did Joseph take Jesus to Egypt?

Matthew 2:15

After the wise men left, an angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel told him to flee to Egypt with baby Jesus and his mother and to stay there until further instruction. This was because King Herod was planning to kill Jesus.

After the death of Herod, they returned to Nazareth. These events fulfilled what the prophet Hosea wrote: “Out of Egypt have I called my son”.

We learn from this to be obedient to instruction, as Joseph and Mary were.

Evaluation

1. Explain briefly how Jesus was born.
2. Explain briefly the actions of Herod to kill Jesus.
3. Name the three gifts of the wise men and state what each one represents.
4. Why did Joseph take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?

Assignment

Write a short account of the visit of the wise men to Jesus. Include the gifts they brought and what each gift represents.