Religion 10
INFANCY NARRATIVES - Project checklist and study sheet for test
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To what does the term Infancy Narratives refer?
Which two gospels contain them? Which one focuses on Joseph? Which one focuses on Mary?
In what century was Jesus born?
Where was Jesus born?
Why were Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem?
Was the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem an easy one? (see Map #6 in CYB)
Who sent out the decree ordering the census?
What empire was ruling the land at the time of Jesus birth?
How did they treat the Jews?
Where was Mary from?
How did she learn she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus? What does the term theotokos mean?
What was her initial reaction?
What was her ultimate response?
What was her relationship to Joseph?
What is the significance of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth?
Who is the child that Elizabeth will give birth to?
What was Joseph’s initial reaction to Mary’s news?
What was his ultimate decision?
What changed his mind?
In what setting was Jesus born? Why there?
Who came to visit the newborn child? What is the significance of this combination of people?
What were the names of the magi? What guided them to Jesus?
What gifts does tradition say they brought?
Who was threatened that a new “King of the Jews” had been born? What action did he take?
Where did Mary and Joseph take Jesus to protect him from harm?
How did Joseph receive the warning?
Who was the rabbi who prayed he might live to see the Messiah born?
What does the name Jesus mean?
What does the title Christ – or “Messiah” mean?
To what religion did Jesus belong his entire life?
What kind of “messiah” might people have been expecting then? (How about now?)
Also, keep in mind that Christmas is actually the FEAST OF THE INCARNATION. (Incarnation means...?)
It was not an official holiday in the Christian Church until the fourth century. (Easter - the feast of the
Resurrection is the most important celebration in all Christian Churches.) Jesus was NOT actually born on
December 25th…the significance of this time of year draws meaning from being shortly after the winter
solstice – the longest “night” of the year. The celebration of Jesus’ birth represents Him being the “Light
of the World,” illuminating the darkness. Many other religions celebrate feasts and festivals of light at this
time of year also.
When Christians today spiritually prepare for Christmas during the season of Advent, there are many
‘layers’ of understanding. While we reflect upon and remember the historical waiting for the child Jesus to
be born, we also invite Jesus to be “born” in our hearts anew, and consider the coming of kingdom of God
in our midst and our waiting for Christ’s return at the end of time. Christians today are post-resurrectional
Christians – meaning that we live and come to know Jesus AFTER the resurrection. Therefore, we know
the “end of the story” as well as the beginning…Yes, we see the “baby Jesus”…but it is also through the
lens of knowing about his passion, death and resurrection. How does that affect the way we “see” the baby
Jesus represented so beautifully at Christmas? (Spend a little time thinking/praying about this for yourself!)