Lesson 43: Luke 1
Introduction
The angel Gabriel appeared to
Zacharias and announced that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth, would have a
son, whom they should name John. Six months later, the same angel appeared to
Mary and announced that she would be the mother of the Son of God. Mary visited
Elisabeth, and they rejoiced in the Savior’s coming. Three months later,
Elisabeth gave birth to John.
I.
Luke 1:1–4
Luke explains the reasons for writing his Gospel
---Display the following pictures,
and ask students to explain what is occurring in each one: Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem (Gospel Art Book [2009],
no. 29; see also LDS.org), The Angel Appears to the Shepherds (no. 31), Simeon Reverencing the Christ Child (no. 32), Boy Jesus in the Temple (no. 34), The Good Samaritan (no. 44), Mary and Martha (no. 45), and The
Ten Lepers (no. 46).
---Point out that these and many
other events and teachings from the Savior’s mortal ministry were recorded by
Luke but are not in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John.
© Providence Collection/Licensed
from GoodSalt.com
---Briefly introduce the Gospel of
Luke by explaining that Luke began his Gospel by addressing someone named
“Theophilus” (verse 3) and explained his reasons for
writing. Theophilus means “friend of God” (Bible
Dictionary, “Theophilus”).
- What are some of Luke’s reasons for writing this account?
- Based on Luke 1:4, what can studying the Gospel of Luke do for us?
---Assure students that as they
study the Gospel of Luke, they can come to “know the certainty” (verse 4) of the truths they have been taught
about Jesus Christ.
II.
Luke 1:5–25
The angel Gabriel announces the forthcoming birth of John to
Zacharias, and Elisabeth conceives
---Ponder a blessing or answer from
God that you are waiting or hoping for. Look for truths as we study Luke 1 that can help you when you are
waiting for a blessing or answer from God.
---Read Luke 1:5–7 and look for who had been waiting for
a specific blessing for much of their lives.
- What details do we learn about Zacharias and Elisabeth from these verses?
---In Luke 1:8–10 Zacharias was appointed to burn incense in the
Jerusalem temple, an honor that came to a priest perhaps only once in his life.
- According to verse 13, what prayer would be answered for Zacharias and Elisabeth? (Point out that Zacharias and Elisabeth had likely prayed for many years to have a child. You may want to suggest that students mark the phrase “thy prayer is heard” in this verse.)
- How might Zacharias have felt when he heard that he and Elisabeth would have a son even though they were “well stricken in years”? (verse 7).
---In Luke 1:14–17 the angel Gabriel told Zacharias that he and
Elisabeth would “have joy and gladness” (verse 14) and that their son would prepare
many people for the Lord.
---Read Luke 1:18–20
and look for how Zacharias responded to the angel. Invite students to report
what they find.
- What happened to Zacharias because he doubted the angel’s words?
- According to verse 20, what did the angel say would happen to the words he spoke to Zacharias? (Students may use different words, but make sure they identify the following truth: The Lord’s words spoken through His servants will be fulfilled in their season. Write this truth on the board.)
- What does the phrase “in their season” mean? (According to the Lord’s timing.)
---Refer to the statement on the
board, and ask:
- How can knowing this truth affect how we respond to the Lord’s promises? (After students respond, revise the truth on the board to create the following statement: We can trust the Lord’s promises because His words will be fulfilled in their season.)
- How can this truth help someone who longs for a divine promise to be fulfilled?
---Luke 1:21–24 tells us that when Zacharias left
the temple, he could not speak. Elisabeth later became pregnant, as the angel
had promised.
---Ask a student (preferably a young
woman) to read aloud Elisabeth’s words in Luke 1:25.
Invite the class to consider how Elisabeth may have felt as she prepared to
have a child. You may need to explain that Elisabeth’s statement that the Lord
had “take[n] away [her] reproach among men” may refer to the shame she
experienced because of an incorrect view common in ancient cultures that
childlessness was a punishment from God.
III.
Luke 1:26–38
The angel Gabriel announces the forthcoming birth of Jesus to Mary
The Angel Gabriel appears to Mary
---Show the picture The Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary
(Gospel Art
Book, no 28; see also LDS.org),
and ask students to imagine what it might feel like to have an angel
unexpectedly appear to them.
---Luke 1:26–27 says that in the sixth month of
Elisabeth’s pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, a young woman in
Nazareth.
---Read Luke 1:28–33
and look for phrases that might have helped Mary understand the importance of
the task God was giving her.
- What phrases might have helped Mary understand the importance of the task God was giving her?
- What does the title “Son of the Highest” (verse 32) mean? (Students may use different words but should identify the following doctrine: Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father.)
---Read Luke 1:34
silently, looking for Mary’s question. Invite them to report what they find.
Explain that Mary’s statement “I know not a man” means that she was a virgin.
---We do not know, beyond the
accounts in the scriptures, how the miracle of
Jesus Christ’s conception happened; we are simply told that it was
miraculous and that the child who would be born would be the Son of God.
- As recorded in Luke 1:37, what truth did the angel state that helps explain this miraculous event? (Students should identify the following truth: With God nothing shall be impossible. You may want to suggest that students mark this truth in their scriptures.)
- What do you think Mary or Elisabeth might say to encourage us if we feel that something we hope for is impossible?
- What is an experience that has strengthened your belief that nothing is impossible with God?
- What evidence do you see in this verse that Mary believed the angel’s words?
- How did Mary’s acceptance of the angel’s words differ from Zacharias’s response to the angel’s announcement in the temple?
---Encourage students to follow the
examples of Mary and Elisabeth by believing that in their own lives nothing the
Lord asks of them will be impossible with His help.
IV.
Luke 1:39–56
Mary visits Elisabeth, and both women testify of the Savior
Mary visits Elisabeth
---If possible, display a picture of
Mary visiting Elisabeth during Elisabeth’s pregnancy. Ask students whether they
can identify who is portrayed and what is happening in the picture.
- Mary and Elisabeth may seem like ordinary women, but in what ways were they filling important roles that would change the world?
- What did Elisabeth already understand about Mary?
---Invite a student (preferably a
young woman) to read Luke 1:46–49
aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how Mary praised the Lord.
- What phrase recorded in verse 49 did Mary use to describe what the Lord had done for her? (“Great things.”)
---Reread Luke 1:38, 45–46
silently, looking for what Mary had done that allowed the Lord to do “great
things” for her.
- What had Mary done that allowed the Lord to do “great things” for her?
---Point out that just as Zacharias,
Elisabeth, and Mary had their own roles to play in the divine plan, we too have
important roles designated by the Lord.
- Based on Mary’s example, what will happen in our lives if we faithfully try to fulfill the roles the Lord has for us? (Help students identify the following principle: If we faithfully try to fulfill the roles the Lord has for us, He can do great things in our lives.)
- What are some roles that the Lord wants you to fulfill in His plan?
- What might happen in your life if you respond to the Lord as Mary did?
V.
Luke 1:57–80
John the Baptist is born
---Luke 1:57–80 tells us that after Elisabeth gave
birth, Zacharias affirmed that the child should be named John. When he did so,
he immediately regained his ability to speak and he prophesied about the
missions of Jesus Christ and John.
---Testify that as we faithfully
fulfill our divinely given roles as Zacharias, Elisabeth, and Mary did, the
Lord can do great things for us and through us. Encourage students to fulfill
their own roles in the Lord’s plan.
Commentary
and Background Information
Luke
1:34–35. The conception of Jesus Christ
As you teach Luke 1:34–35, questions may arise concerning the
conception of Jesus Christ. If questions do arise, keep in mind this caution
from President Lee:
“If teachers were wise in speaking
of [the conception of Jesus Christ] about which the Lord has said but very
little, they would rest their discussion on this subject with merely the words
which are recorded on this subject in Luke 1:34–35. …
“Let the Lord rest His case with
this declaration and wait until He sees fit to tell us more” (The Teachings of
Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1996], 14).
Luke
1:38. “Be it unto me according to thy word”
Luke’s Greek rendering of Mary’s
words reflects the strength of her decision. She did not reluctantly submit but
resolutely accepted her role in the plan of salvation, as if to say,
“Absolutely yes. I will be the Lord’s servant as you have said.” (For
additional insight into Mary’s response, see the section for Luke 1:38 in the New Testament Student Manual
[Church Educational System manual, 2014], 142.)
Luke
1:76. “The prophet of the Highest”
Zacharias and Elisabeth were both
descendants of Aaron, from whose lineage came all priests and high priests of Israel.
John was therefore a natural heir of the Aaronic Priesthood and its leadership.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “John was a priest after his
father, and held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood” (in History of the Church, 5:257).
Supplemental
Teaching Ideas
Luke
1:26–56. Mary was called to be the mother of the Son of God
Invite students to read Luke 1:28 silently, looking for what the angel
said about Mary.
- What do you think the phrase “highly favoured” means?
Invite half of the class to search verses 29–38 and the other half to search verses 39–49, looking for actions and attitudes
of Mary that show why she was highly favored of the Lord.
Ask students to report what they
learned. You may want to testify that as the mortal mother of Jesus, Mary was
highly favored and provided a wonderful example of righteous motherhood. To
help students ponder what they can learn from Mary’s example, you might ask:
- How did Mary show her faith and willingness to sacrifice when she was asked to become the mortal mother of Jesus Christ?
- In what ways do faithful mothers and fathers today show their faith and willingness to sacrifice as they fulfill their divine roles?
- In what ways can individuals prepare to fulfill the divine missions of motherhood and fatherhood regardless of their current stage in life?
Encourage the young men and women in
your class to follow Mary’s example as they prepare to fulfill their divine
roles and missions and to support one another’s efforts to be righteous.
Luke
1:31–35. “Son of the Highest”
Draw the accompanying diagram on the
board:
Ask a student:
- What is one physical trait you inherited from your father? What is one physical trait you inherited from your mother?
Label the diagram with the traits
the student identified (see the next diagram for an example):
Invite a few students to take turns
reading aloud from Luke 1:31–35. Ask the class to follow along and
identify phrases that describe Jesus Christ’s parentage. (These phrases include
“thou shalt conceive in thy womb” [verse 31], “shall be called the Son of the
Highest” [verse 32], and “that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” [verse 35].) Discuss what students found and
which phrases are significant to them in describing the Savior’s birth.
Erase the previous diagram and draw
the accompanying diagram on the board:
Invite a student to read aloud the
following statement by Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles:
“That Child to be born of Mary … was
of right to be called the ‘Son of the Highest.’ In His nature would be combined
the powers of Godhood with the capacity and possibilities of mortality; and
this through the ordinary operation of the fundamental law of heredity,
declared of God, demonstrated by science, and admitted by philosophy, that
living beings shall propagate—after their kind. The Child Jesus was to inherit
the physical, mental, and spiritual traits, tendencies, and powers that
characterized His parents—one immortal and glorified—God, the other
human—woman” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 81).
Read aloud the following statement
and ask students to listen for important traits the Savior inherited from each
of His parents:
“Elder Talmage also taught that
through Jesus’s mortal mother, Mary, He inherited the ability to ‘lay down His
life voluntarily.’ But from His Heavenly Father, Jesus inherited the ability to
endure suffering during His atoning sacrifice ‘such as no other being who has
lived on earth might even conceive as possible’ (Jesus the Christ, 613).
Since this suffering would be ‘more than man can suffer, except it be unto
death’ (Mosiah 3:7), only a Being with power over death
could endure it” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System
manual, 2014], 141).
- What traits did the Savior inherit from His mother? What did he inherit from His Father?
As students respond, on the diagram
on the board, list under Mary the traits Jesus Christ inherited from His mother
(such as mortality—the ability to suffer pain and to die physically), and list
under Heavenly Father the traits inherited from His Father (such as the powers
of Godhood—immortality or the power to live forever).
To help students further understand
that Jesus inherited power over death from His Father, invite students to read John 5:26 silently, looking for what the Father
gave to His Son.
- Why did Jesus’s parentage make Him uniquely able to become our Savior? (Help students identify the following truth: Because of Jesus’s parentage, He had both immortal and mortal qualities, which He needed to perform the Atonement. Make sure students understand that if Jesus Christ had been born of two mortal parents, He could not have endured the infinite pain and suffering of the Atonement or overcome death. If He had been born of two immortal parents, He would not have been subject to physical suffering and death. Because Jesus was born of one divine parent and one mortal parent, He had the ability to suffer infinitely, to allow Himself to die, and then to overcome death through His Resurrection.)
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All rights reserved.
Right margin
extras:
The
author’s intent
As you teach from the scriptures,
try to determine what the prophetic writer wanted to communicate. To learn more
about Luke’s intentions for writing his Gospel, read “Introduction to the
Gospel According to St. Luke,” which precedes this lesson.
Avoid
speculation
Do not speculate on the sacred topic
of how the Savior was conceived. Instead, focus on the teachings in the
scriptures, bearing in mind the testimony in them that Christ’s birth was a
miracle and that Mary “was called a virgin, both before and after she gave
birth” (Ezra Taft Benson, “Joy in Christ,” Ensign, Mar. 1986, 4; see
also 1 Nephi 11:13–20; Alma 7:10).
Lesson 44: Luke 2
Introduction
Joseph and Mary traveled to
Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. Shepherds obeyed an angel’s instruction to
seek out the newborn Jesus, and then they proclaimed Jesus’s birth to others.
Simeon blessed Jesus at the temple, and Anna shared her witness that the Redeemer had been
born. Jesus grew “in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52).
I.
Luke 2:1–20 Jesus is born in Bethlehem
---Consider having the class sing “Joy
to the World” (Hymns, no. 201) or another Christmas hymn as part of the
devotional.
---Display the picture Joseph and Mary Travel to Bethlehem (Gospel Art Book [2009], no. 29;
see also LDS.org). Ask students to consider how much
they know about the events surrounding the Savior’s birth.
---To prepare students to study Luke 2:1–20, invite them to take the following
true-or-false quiz. (Before class, prepare a copy of the quiz for each
student.)
True–False
Quiz (Luke 2:1–20)
- ____ Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to pay taxes.
- ____ Mary and Joseph had to travel 27 miles (44 kilometers) from Nazareth to Bethlehem.
- ____ Mary laid the infant Jesus in a manger because the inn was full.
- ____ The shepherds followed the star to the manger where Jesus lay.
- ____ Besides Mary and Joseph, the first people on record to have seen Jesus were the shepherds.
- ____ The angel told the shepherds not to tell anyone what they had seen.
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All rights reserved.
---Invite students to look for the
answers to the quiz as they study Luke 2.
- Why did Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem? (Point out that Luke 2:1, footnote b clarifies that Caesar wanted to register, or count, the people. This was done for taxation purposes.)
---Invite students to turn to Bible
Maps, no. 11, “The Holy Land in New Testament Times,” located
in the Bible appendix. Ask students to find Nazareth and Bethlehem on the map
and, using the key, calculate approximately how far Joseph and Mary traveled.
After students respond, explain that the distance of 85–90 miles (137–145
kilometers) between Nazareth and Bethlehem would have taken at least four to
five days to walk, and perhaps longer for Joseph and Mary given Mary’s
condition.
---Ask students to ponder what they
think would be the appropriate circumstances for the birth of the Creator and
Savior of the world.
- Despite Jesus’s uniquely important status as the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh, what were the circumstances of His birth?
---Take turns reading aloud from Luke 2:8–14.
Ask the class to follow along, looking for how the Savior’s birth was
announced. Invite students to report what they find.
---Display the picture The Angel Appears to the Shepherds (Gospel Art Book, no. 31; see
also LDS.org).
- According to verse 10, what can we experience because the Savior was born? (After students respond, write the following truth on the board: Because the Savior was born on the earth, we can experience great joy.)
---As we continue to study Luke 2, look for examples of how knowledge
of the Savior’s birth brought joy to others.
- What phrases indicate how the shepherds responded to the angel’s message? (You may want to suggest that students mark the phrases “let us now go” in verse 15 and “they came with haste” in verse 16.)
- What did the shepherds receive a witness, or testimony, of because they heeded this message?
- What did the shepherds do after they received their witness of Jesus Christ?
- Why do you think the shepherds shared with others what they had experienced?
- What principle can we learn from this account about what happens when we receive our own testimony of Jesus Christ? (Using their own words, students should identify a principle similar to the following: When we receive our own testimony of Jesus Christ, we desire to share our testimony with others.)
---Invite students to think about a
time when they felt a desire to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ and His
gospel with others. Encourage them to ponder what motivated that desire. Invite
a few students to share with the class their experiences.
II.
Luke 2:21–39
Simeon and Anna declare Jesus to be the Savior of the world
---Luke 2:21–24 says that after Jesus’s birth, Mary
and Joseph presented Him at the temple in accordance with Jewish law (see Exodus 13:2). Two individuals at the temple that
day recognized the infant Jesus as the Messiah.
---Invite the young men in the class
to silently read the account of Simeon in Luke 2:25–32.
(You may need to explain that the phrase “waiting for the consolation of
Israel” in verse 25 refers to waiting for the Messiah
to come.)
---Invite the young women to
silently read the account of Anna in Luke 2:36–38
(and if necessary, explain that “fourscore” in verse 37 means 80). As students read
their assigned verses, invite them to look for answers to the following
questions:
- How did knowledge of the Savior’s birth bring joy to this person?
- In what way did he or she testify of Jesus Christ?
---After sufficient time, invite a
young man to stand, summarize the account he read, and report his answers to
the preceding questions. Display the picture Simeon Reverencing the Christ Child (Gospel Art
Book, no. 32; see also LDS.org).
---Luke 2:33–35 says that Simeon also blessed Mary
and Joseph.
---Invite a young woman to stand,
summarize the account she read, and report her answers to the preceding
questions.
---Invite students to explain how
knowing that the Savior was born can bring us joy. Invite those who feel
comfortable doing so to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ with the class.
---Luke 2:39 says that following these events, Mary,
Joseph, and Jesus returned to Nazareth.
III.
Luke 2:40–52
Young Jesus teaches in the temple
---Write down in your class
notebooks one area you would like to improve in.
---Invite a few students who feel
comfortable doing so to share with the class what they wrote. (Remind students
not to share anything too personal or private.)
- How could knowing what Jesus was like when He was young help you as a youth?
---We have few details about Jesus’s
youth, but those that are recorded can be a great blessing and guide to us as
we seek to improve ourselves. As we study the remainder of Luke 2, look for truths that can help us know what
areas we should focus on as we to try to improve ourselves.
---Read Luke 2:40
looking for how Luke described Jesus’s
childhood. Explain that waxed means grew or increased. Invite students to
report what they find.
- Why had Jesus stayed behind at the temple? (Invite students to read the excerpt of Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 2:46 that is found in Luke 2:46, footnote c, looking for how the Joseph Smith Translation clarifies what Jesus was doing at the temple and how this clarification better fits the description of the event in Luke 2:47.)
Instead of asking a student to read Luke 2:48–50, you may want to show “Young Jesus Teaches in the Temple” (2:30) from The
Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos, which is available on LDS.org.
- What did Jesus say to Mary and Joseph when they found Him?
- What does this account reveal about Jesus’s knowledge of His true identity and about His character in His youth?
- What does it mean to “[increase] in wisdom”? (Develop wisdom.) To increase in “stature”? (Develop physically.) To increase in “favour with God”? (Develop spiritually.) To increase in “favour with … man”? (Develop socially.)
- Based on verse 52, how would you state a principle that can guide us in following Jesus’s example? (Students should identify a principle similar to the following: We can follow Jesus’s example by gaining wisdom and by growing physically, spiritually, and socially.)
- Why is it important for us to develop in each of these four areas? (So that we become well-balanced people.)
- How have you been blessed as you have tried to follow Jesus’s example by developing yourself in these areas?
---Write the following headings on
the board and invite students to copy them in their class notebooks:
Intellectually, Physically,
Spiritually, and Socially.
---Ask students to write under each
of these categories a goal for their personal development. Encourage students
to act on these goals.
---Conclude by sharing your
testimony of the principles identified in today’s lesson.
(The answers to the quiz are as
follows: 1. True; 2. False; 3. True; 4. False; 5. True; 6. False.)
Scripture Mastery Review
Repetition helps students remember
the location of scripture mastery passages. Use the scripture mastery cards, or
have students create their own cards by writing key words or meanings on one
side of blank notecards or pieces of paper and the references on the other
side. Divide students into pairs. Ask them to quiz each other using the cards.
Invite students to use these cards often to quiz themselves and each other. You
might use the clues on the cards to do the scripture chase activity with the
class (see “scripture chase” in the appendix of this manual).
Commentary
and Background Information
Luke
2:7. “She brought forth her firstborn son”
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about the circumstances
of the Savior’s birth:
“We find it remarkable that the very
Son of God, the great Jehovah of old, should be born into this mortal world in
the humblest of circumstances. An inn would have been lowly enough, but it was
not even an inn. Rather it was a stable, and the babe was laid on the hay of a
manger where common animals fed. Even so, the greater condescension is that
Jesus should have submitted to mortality at all, even if He were to be born in
the best and most elegant of circumstances. With Paul, we marvel at ‘God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh’ [Romans 8:3]—that He should have become a baby;
that He should have been a child and then a man, suffering ‘temptations, and
pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue’ [Mosiah 3:7] and even death.
“How is it that He who ruled on high
in the heavens, the very Creator of the earth, should consent to be born ‘after
the manner of the flesh’ (1 Nephi 11:18) and walk upon His footstool
(see 1 Nephi 17:39) in poverty, despised and
abused and, in the end, be crucified?” (“The Condescension of God and of Man” [First
Presidency’s Christmas devotional, Dec. 7, 2014], lds.org/broadcasts).
Luke
2:19. “Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart”
While it is vital that we share our
testimonies with others, President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles taught that we should share our sacred experiences only when we
are prompted to do so:
“It is not wise to continually talk
of unusual spiritual experiences. They are to be guarded with care and shared
only when the Spirit itself prompts you to use them to the blessing of
others. …
“I heard President Marion G.
Romney once counsel mission presidents and their wives … , ‘I found
out that if I talked too lightly of sacred things, thereafter the Lord would
not trust me.’
“We are, I believe, to keep these
things and ponder them in our hearts, as Luke said Mary did of the supernal
events that surrounded the birth of Jesus” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan.
1983, 53).
Luke
2:47. “All that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers”
The Prophet Joseph
Smith taught the following about Jesus
Christ’s youth:
“When still a boy He had all the
intelligence necessary to enable Him to rule and govern the kingdom of the
Jews, and could reason with the wisest and most profound doctors of law and
divinity, and make their theories and practice to appear like folly compared
with the wisdom He possessed; but He was a boy only, and lacked physical
strength even to defend His own person; and was subject to cold, to hunger and
to death” (History of the Church, 6:608).
© 2016 by
Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Right margin
extras:
Use
scripture study aids
The Church has prepared a number of
scripture study aids and included them in the standard works for some
languages. These include reference materials such as footnotes, indexes,
pictures, and maps. They are some of the most valuable resources teachers and
students can use as they study the scriptures. Encourage students to use
available study aids in their personal scripture study.
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