Jesus+-+Early+Years

Summary: Where is he who has been born King: It begins with an angel Gabriel coming to a virgin named Marry who is engaged to a man named Joseph. The angel says to Mary that she will conceive a son that shall be named Jesus and that he will rule over an entire kingdom. King Ceaser orders a census to be taken but to do this everyone must return to their homeland to register. Therefor Mary and Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Once they arrived in Bethlehem Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger because there were no rooms in the inns available. An angel came to some shepherds and told them that the Lord has been born and where to find them. Later on when King Herod was in power there were three wisemen who new Jesus had been born from seeing the star in the east. When they went to tell King Herod to tell him about Jesus being born they were sent out to find the baby and when he was found to tell the King where he was. When they found the baby Jesus they each gave him a gift. However the wisemen where warned in a dream not to return to King Herod so they went back to their country a different way. The lord appeared to Joseph one night and told him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt until King Herod was dead because he was going to destroy their son. When King Herod found out that Jesus was not where the wise men told him he was he was so mad that he had all the boys age 2 and under to be killed in Bethlehem and the other districts. An angel appeared to Joseph once more and told him to take his family to Israel but because of a dream where god warned him he went to another place called galilee in the city of Nazareth. Supplementary: Journey of Magi: In this poem it’s a more realistic grungier version of the story where Mary is much more negative about this experience. To Jesus on His Birthday: This poem talks about not only his birth and also shows many contrasts. Some say that ever ‘gainst that seasons comes: In this poem Shakespeare relates Jesus birth to nature.

Discussion Questions:
 * 1) Why do you think whenever an angel appears in this story it says, “do not be afraid?”
 * 2) Why do you think the King wanted the location of Jesus? Why did the Kings not return?
 * 3) Why do you think the narrator links birth and death in the poem?
 * 4) In the Poem To Jesus on His Birth what are some strange contrasts that you feel are well represented?

Quiz questions:
 * 1) Why do Mary and joseph travel to Bethlehem?
 * 2) What where the three gifts given to Jesus by the three wisemen?
 * 3) How does God communicate with people in this story?
 * 4) How do the visitors know that Jesus had been Born?
 * 5) How does the King react when He hears “the King of the Jews” was born?

Outside Material: