The Proclamations
What is the name of the angel who visited Zacharias, Mary, and Joseph?
Gabriel
In what town was Jesus born?
Bethlehem
Who was the prophetess who recognized Jesus at the temple?
Anna
What country did the family flee to?
Egypt
What sign did God give Zacharias because he doubted, and how long did it last?
He was made unable to speak until John was born.
Why did Joseph have to travel to Bethlehem?
A Roman census required it, and he was a descendant of King David.
What had God promised Simeon?
That he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
Who warned Joseph to flee, and how?
An angel, through a dream.
Name two of the four people or groups visited by an angel in this lesson.
Any two of: Zacharias, Joseph, Mary, the shepherds.
What Old Testament prophet predicted the Messiah's birthplace, and about how many years in advance?
Micah, about 700 years in advance.
Where did the wise men come from, and what did they follow to find Jesus?
The East; they followed a star.
What Old Testament figure does Jesus' escape from Herod parallel, and why?
Moses, who also survived a ruler's decree to kill baby boys.
Contrast Zacharias's response to the angel with Mary's response. What's the key difference?
Zacharias doubted and was made unable to speak. Mary submitted in faith even without understanding, saying, “be it unto me according to thy word.”
Explain how a decision made by a pagan Roman emperor ended up fulfilling Old Testament prophecy.
Caesar Augustus's census, ordered for tax purposes, moved Joseph to Bethlehem, unknowingly fulfilling Micah 5:2
Why did Herod lie to the wise men about wanting to worship Jesus?
He actually wanted to find and kill Jesus, since he saw the newborn King as a threat to his own throne.
According to Galatians 4:4, why did Jesus come at exactly that point in history?
Because it was “the fullness of time,” the exact moment God had planned from the start.
Put these five events in the order they actually happened, then explain how the flight into Egypt connects back to a story from Exodus covered in this lesson: the wise men's visit, the birth in Bethlehem, Simeon and Anna at the temple, the angel visits announcing the coming births, the flight into Egypt.