The Hope lesson 7 The Promised One

Today we move our focus from the Old Testament to the New Testament Do you remember some of the stories described in the Old Testament that point to Jesus? The first promise of a Deliverer to Adam and Eve: your descendant will defeat Satan, the devil, and sin (Genesis 3:15) God’s promise to Abraham: I will bless you, and in your seed (descendants) I will bless all nations (Genesis 12:3)

God’s promise through Joseph humble beginnings, high expectations was hated, “killed” by his brothers, sold as a slave was falsely accused (Potiphar’s wife), sent to prison, forgotten: his character was severely tested everywhere he became number one (Potiphar, prison, Egypt) He forgave those who wronged him, as it was part of God’s plan God’s promise to king David: your son will be My son, He will be king forever! (II Samuel 7, II Chronicles 17 – this was not in our program)

Substitute sacrifices Remember the substitute sacrifices throughout the Old Testament: the animal for Adam and Eve (covering of sins), the ram for Isaac, the Passover lamb, which blood smeared on the doorposts of the Jews, saved them, as we discussed last week. God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled In the time of Joseph, the Hebrew people, who came to Egypt for food during the famine in Canaan, were only 70 people. But during the exodus from Egypt under Moses the Hebrew people had become more than one million, a great nation.

The New Testament: 27 “books” four Gospels, descriptions of the life of Jesus Acts, what happened after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the start of the church 14 letters of Paul Other letters by Peter, James, John, Judas Revelation, a vision that God gave to the apostle John about what is to come in future

The Gospels (gospel means ‘good news’) three ‘synoptic’ gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) synoptic means that all writings share the same content gospel of John only Matthew and Luke describe Jesus’ birth Matthew writes from Joseph’s perspective and Luke from Mary’s perspective

the Promised One Watch The Hope video, chapter 8 online in English or in Chinese or in Chinese with English subtitles on DVD

The birth of the promised deliverer At the time of Jesus’ birth, Israel was controlled by the Roman empire under Caesar Augustus. Q1 Read Matthew 1:1-25, silently in Chinese, then answer the following three questions: What is the meaning of Jesus’ name? Does Jesus’ birth fit in with the Old Testament? How does the story testify about Mary being a virgin? Is it important?

Q2 Read Matthew 2:1-12 It is very special that scientists know of the birth of the King of the Jews In what way does this make sense? Why was Jesus hated?

Luke 1 an angel tells about the birth of John (5-25) an angel tells about the birth of Jesus (26-38) Mary visits (her aunt) Elizabeth (39-45) Mary’s song of praise (46-56) the birth of John the Baptist (57-66) Zechariah praises the Lord (67-80)

Luke 2 the birth of Jesus; Let’s read verses 1-7 the shepherds (8-21) Simeon praises the Lord (22-35) Anna speaks about the child Jesus (36-38) Jesus as a child Q3 Satan tried to destroy God’s plan by killing the Bethlehem babies What did God do to protect Jesus? (Matthew 2:13-15) return to Nazareth (39-40) Jesus in Temple as a boy (41-52)

Luke 3 the preaching of John the Baptist; read silently verses 1-20) in Chinese Q4 Read verses 21-22, the baptism of Jesus What is God saying to us through this event? Q5 John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus Why did John baptize? (Mark 1:1-5) What happened to Jesus at his baptism? (Mark 1:9-11)

Q6 ancestors of Jesus; geneology verses 23-38; read this silently in Chinese. What age has Jesus when He began His ministry (verse 23)? What did people say about His father? (verse 23) Who was the first person in Jesus’ geneology? See at the bottom of the chapter in verse 37

Luke 4 and Matthew 4 Q7 Jesus tempted by the Devil Luke 4:1-13 and Matthew 4: 1-11 How was Jesus tempted? Just as we are – but without sin? How did Satan try to destroy God’s plan? Discuss the spiritual warfare that is going between the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Satan Do you personally experience temptations? Discuss in smaller groups and finish in prayer