About These Lessons
"What Was the Reason?"
by Mark S. Krause
Does everything happen for a reason? This is actually a deep
doctrinal question. Any thoughtful person must wrestle with
whether there is an all-powerful God who controls things, or
if our universe is a place where things happen purely by
mechanical cause-and-effect procedures. In each scenario, a
reason may be given for things happening, but those reasons
will be very different.
Why did the life of Jesus play out the way it did? Was there
a reason? The Bible’s answer to this question is Yes.
The reason is that the birth, ministry, death, resurrection,
and ascension of Jesus were according to God’s plan. This
was not a make-it-up-as-we-go plan, however. It was a plan
in the wisdom of God that had been foreordained long before
Jesus was born.
Unit 1: December
The Promised Birth Fulfilled
The lessons for the month of December look at the birth of
Jesus from the perspective of the books of Matthew and Luke.
Matthew is the Gospel author most concerned with showing
ways in which Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. Our
four lessons also will examine Old Testament passages that
give important historical context in understanding the
Messiah.
Lesson 1
(December 6
The Lineage
of David-Ruth
4:13–17; Matthew 1:1–6)
takes us to what may seem an unlikely source: the book of
Ruth. This little book is known for its story of courage and
faithfulness, but it has a larger role in the biblical story
line. Ruth’s marriage to Boaz is a heartwarming tale, but
its lasting significance is in the great-grandson of this
couple: King David. The lesson explores the ways in which
the lineage of Jesus (a descendant of David) is a vital part
of His identity as the promised Messiah.
In Lesson 2 (December 13
The Foreshadowing of Messiah’s Birth-Isa. 7:13–17;
Luke 1:30–38) we will look at the interplay
between a dramatic prophecy in Isaiah and its fulfillment in
the life of a young Jewish girl over 700 years later. Some
may ask, “Can we still believe in the virgin birth in our
world of technology and science?” At the core of this lesson
is the statement from the angel, “With God nothing shall be
impossible.” The truth of the virgin birth is a fundamental
part of a Christian understanding of the Christmas story,
and it will be presented using Luke’s account of Mary’s
visit by the angel. This lesson is valuable in understanding
how Mary felt at the center of these dramatic events.
On the other hand, Lesson 3 (December
20
Emmanuel’s Birth (Christmas) - Matthew
1:18–25)
examines the story of the birth of Jesus from the
perspective of the man who became Jesus’ earthly father in a
legal sense: Joseph. The miraculous pregnancy of a virgin
was not immediately explained to him. At first he saw her
pregnancy as evidence of the defilement of his fiancée and
was determined to release her from their engagement. Then
he, like Mary, received an angelic message that told him to
stand firm in his commitment to the woman. The lesson
portrays Joseph’s obedient faithfulness.
How did others respond to the birth of the Messiah?
Lesson 4 (December 27
Confirming Messiah’s Birth - Matthew 2:7–10,
16–23) looks at two diametrically opposed reactions.
On the side of faith and wonder are the wise men, mysterious
scholars from the East who learn of Jesus’ birth through
their interpretation of a new star. On the side of jealousy
and violence is bitter old King Herod, who seeks to have the
baby killed. The lesson will explore why these different
reactions arose and why we still see them today in people
who are confronted by the message of Jesus.
Unit 2: January
Evidences of Jesus as Messiah
Jesus’ claim to be the Jewish Messiah is not built on only a
single piece of evidence. While the resurrection of Jesus
from the dead may be His ultimate, unquestionable stamp of
approval by God, His life and ministry offer many earlier
proofs of His true identity as the Son of God.
