Bible Study “Fourth Sunday of Advent – Who is this Child?”
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
Advent extends an invitation. The invitation: don't just do something – stand, watch, prepare. Stand. Choose to believe that ours is a safe universe – a universe God chose to enter as an infant. Watch. Look for a coming that has already come and will come again. Prepare. Snatch moments from our busyness. Watching for wisps of awe and wonder to show up. Rediscover that God has chosen to dwell in us and we are invited to dwell in God.
What if – just what if – Jesus is already right here, standing silently with us, walking ahead of us, showing us we don't have to do it all? Could it be that we are called to be still, notice, listen – and then follow?
Advent Theme: Christ will come again: We watch, we prepare, we get ready.
Mary has simply accepted the message the angel gave her. Now she goes to the one other woman on the planet with whom she can talk: her elderly cousin, Elizabeth, who is expecting a baby whose name will be John. Blessed is she who believes. But what does Mary make of the baby in Elizabeth’s womb “leaping” at the sound of Mary’s voice? Who is the baby John? Who is this baby Mary carries?
Opening Prayer: Dear God, help us to "wonder" today – at the people you choose to do your work, including us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 1: 26-45 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 1: 26-45
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Reflection Questions:
- What is the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth. (They are probably cousins.)
- Who is the baby that Elizabeth will give birth to? (John the Baptist.)
- Why do you think Mary decided to go visit Elizabeth? (The angel had told her that Elizabeth was going to have a baby and that might have been the first Mary heard that news. Perhaps she realized that Elizabeth could give her some good advice about taking care of babies.)
- What do you think is the significance of the baby in Elizabeth "leaping" when Mary spoke? (It was understood as a sign by the writer of this Gospel that Mary had a special job to do for God.)
- What is the first thing the angel says? (Do not be afraid. Angels always seem to have to say that.)
- What do we think this angel looked like? A soft pretty girl with golden curls? A huge, kind a scary guy who looks like he could play football? (We don't know, but probably more like the second.)
- What are the words the angel uses to describe this baby to be born? (Verses 32 and 33.)
- What is this baby Jesus to be called? (Verse 35b: Son of God.)
Mary Visits Elizabeth – Fill in the blank
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on the words or url)
Was Jesus actually Human? LUMO Luke 1:26-45 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdru-vdSRCs
Luke 1:26-45 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgfsGjAsF-4
Activities:
Christmas Calendar: Click on Christmas Calendar to find out what activities are happening each day.
Advent Wreath - Light the fourth candle which is Peace or Angel. It reminds us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men. It announces Jesus’ mission on earth to love and unite all people, bringing them closer to God. May we prepare for the coming of Christ into our lives and our world with hope, peace, joy, and love.
Angel Project - You will need large construction paper, butcher paper, crayons, markers, and the readings for today.
Option 1: Take a large a sheet of paper and draw what you think the angel looks like.
Option 2: Roll out some butcher paper/roll paper and create the scene of the Angel and Mary meeting and/or Mary/Jesus and Elizabeth/John meeting.
Angel Visit Mary Craft: several ideas for creating an angel - https://www.google.com/search?q=angel+visits+mary+craft&tbm=isch&hl=en&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS869US869&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiWqvOnp-z0AhUDNa0KHSz5AgUQrNwCKAB6BQgBEN8B&biw=1201&bih=633
Decoder – The Gift of Love - https://sermons4kids.com/gift_of_love_decoder.htm?fromSermonId=175
Word Search: https://thewordsearch.com/puzzle/3138256/fourth-sunday-advent-who-is-this-child/
Prayer: Thank you, God, for always finding ordinary people to do your work. Help us to see the important work you have for each of us. Amen
