Come, Follow Me - Jan 7th to Jan 13th - outline

“Come, Follow Me” weekly outline: Jan 7^th to Jan 13^th

Monday: Genealogy of Christ through Joseph

The gospel was taught to Adam and passed down throughout all generations of human history, though most people did not accept it.

God made covenants with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob thus establishing the Kingdom of Israel.

When they were righteous, the people of Israel prospered, but when they were wicked, they were not protected and were scattered and enslaved.

Because of the wickedness of the people, when Christ was born, Israel was a slave-state of Rome, therefore there was no place for the true king of Israel.

If the people had been righteous and had an autonomous theocracy, Jesus Christ would have been the rightful king of Israel through the lineage of both Joseph and Mary.

Even though Joseph was not Christ’s biological father, Joseph had legally claimed paternity of Jesus which entitled him to full inheritance as his son.

 

* Why was it important that Christ be the rightful heir of the throne?

* Why didn’t Jesus take over as the political king of Israel?

 

Tuesday: Zacharias’ vision at the temple

Elisabeth and Zacharias were an old couple who were unable to have children.

Zacharias was a priest who was called to serve at the temple periodically.

He was chosen by lots to burn incense at the altar in the Holy place of the temple. There were so many priests that being chosen was a very special privilege, almost once in a lifetime.

While burning incense in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him, and told him that his wife Elisabeth was going to have a son who is to be named John. There hadn’t been an angelic visitation in the temple for over 500 years.

This child is going to “be great before the Lord.” He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb,” and will not drink alcohol or strong drink, thus being consecrated like Samson and Samuel of old.

Zacharias doesn’t believe what Gabriel is saying because he believes that they are too old to have children, so Gabriel makes Zacharias unable to talk, as a sign.

Zacharias finishes his work in the temple and returns home and Elisabath becomes pregnant in her very old age. 

 

Why did Gabriel appear to Zacharias instead of letting him be surprised?

Why did Gabriel appear to Zacharias in the temple instead of at home?

 

Wednesday: Gabriel appears to Mary

The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she “shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus” who “shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever.”

Mary asks how that will be possible as she is obeying the law of chastity and is not yet married. Unlike Zacharias, I think that Mary asked this question to ensure that she would be able to remain righteous.

Gabriel assures her that she won’t have to break any commandments and “the Holy Ghost shall come over thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.”

Gabriel also informs Mary that her cousin Elisabeth “hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”

Mary agreed to be the mother of the Son of God.

 

What did Mary risk by agreeing to be Jesus’ mother?

Why was it important that Jesus was born to a mortal mother and an immortal Father?

 

Thursday: Mary visits Elisabeth, and angel visits Joseph

Mary goes to visit her cousin Elisabeth for three months.

When Mary “saluted” Elisabeth, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Elisabeth and Mary both testify of the Savior’s mission.

Mary was engaged to a kind man named Joseph.

When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he decided that he could not marry her, but didn’t want to hurt her, so decided to separate from her quietly.

While he was deciding what to do, an angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Joseph immediately obeyed the angel and “took unto him his wife” and married Mary.

 

Why did Gabriel mention Elisabeth’s pregnancy to Mary?

How do you think Heavenly Father feels about Joseph?

 

Friday: Elisabeth gives birth

After the right amount of time, Elisabeth had her baby.

On the eighth day, Elisabeth and Zacharias took the baby to be circumcised.

The people wanted to name the baby Zacharias, after his father, but Elisabeth said “Not so; but he shall be called John.”

Zacharias wrote that the baby was to be named John and was immediately able to talk again.

All the people in the community were surprised by all that had happened and asked, “what manner of child shall this be!”

Zacharias testifies of his son’s mission to all the people. 

 

What were some of the miraculous events surrounding John’s birth?

What did Zacharias say John’s mission would be?