Lesson 52. Shepherds Visit Jesus
Bible Story
This Week's Scripture
Story Summary Below is an overview of the Bible story from this week
The shepherds were considered to be among the lowest levels of society, so why did God choose them to be the first to know of the birth of the messiah?
There are approximately 1,500 years between the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and the establishment of the Passover to the time when Jesus Christ was born. So for 1,500 years, shepherds played a key role in God’s plan to provide enough lambs, year-old males, without defect, so that all Israelite families could remember the Passover and worship God according to His will.
There would be no more need to slaughter lambs from the flock year after year to secure God’s favor and forgiveness of sin. The once-for-all Lamb of God has arrived.
The shepherds were visited by an angel of the Lord and were the first to see and worship the Lamb of God. The significance of the Lamb of God being born would not be lost on the shepherds.
Once again, angels are prominent in this story. A single angel appeared to them at first, and once again, they were terrified at first. After the angel calms them down and gives them the message that the savior had been born, a large crowd of angels appeared, praising God. What a sight that must have been!
The story also points out the effect this event had on Mary. The shepherds relayed this whole story to Mary, and after they left, she was greatly effected by it. She "kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over." What must it have been like to be Mary, trying to process through everything that was happening to her?
Videos
Resource Sheets
During the Week
Comprehension Questions you can ask your child these questions to see how much of the story they remember
- When did the angels appear to the shepherds?
- At night
- How did the shepherds respond when the angel appeared?
- They were terrified
- What did the angel say in response to their fears?
- Do not be afraid
- What did the angels tell the shepherds?
- A savior had been born in the town of David
- Where did the shepherds go after the angels went back to heaven?
- Bethlehem
- What did they find when they got to Bethlehem?
- Mary and Joseph with Jesus
- What is a manger?
- Feeding trough for animals
Faith Questions help them apply the story to their lives and open up a conversation about faith and the gospel
- The shepherds were some of the first people to be told that Jesus was the messiah, the Son of God.
- Now, over 2000 years ago, do you know that Jesus is that messiah, the Son of God, the lamb who came to take away our sins?