ON THE MOVE - Jesus in Bethlehem pt. 2

SCRIPTURES
Luke 2:8-9a & 11-12 |  That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them… The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:1-7 | At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.


DISCUSSION

1. Yesterday we saw that it was prophesied that the promised Savior would be born in Bethlehem, but this isn’t where Mary and Joseph lived. Where did Mary and Joseph actually live?
2. Why was Bethlehem called the city of David?
3. Why were Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth?
4. The angel told the shepherds they would know they found the right baby in Bethlehem because the Promised Savior would be found where?
5. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the one who holds creation together. He is the First and the Last. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Why do you think God didn’t choose to make His birthplace somewhere royal or extraordinary? Do you think more people would have believed Jesus was the promised Messiah if He was born in a palace?