Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

The teens got a kick out of the skit that we did.  Both of our volunteers got really into it, which helped make the lesson fun.  It's difficult to make a somewhat dry creed come alive.  So if you have some ideas, feel free to share in the comments below!  Thanks for reading.

Apostles’ Creed Week 5:

"I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended to the dead.  On the Third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting."

Review of previous weeks

Conceived By the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

Matthew 1:18-25

What does it mean to be a virgin?

What do you think this would mean for Mary’s reputation?

What about Joseph’s reputation?

Luke 1:26-38

What does this passage say about Jesus (other than the virgin birth)?

Considering what this would do to Mary’s recommendation, what is significant about Mary’s response?

First, it is important to point out that this isn’t about biology.  The writers of scripture were largely unconcerned with science - that’s something from Modernity.

Ancient biology believed that the man provided all the important stuff and the woman only provided a safe place for the baby to develop (the womb).  

In other words, this is not saying that Jesus was half God, half human.

This is about the uniqueness and special circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth.  This is one of a kind and unrepeatable.  Only this child, this one “will be called Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32).

This is about Phil 2:5-8, God became a human.

So we can say, along with Christian doctrine, that Jesus Christ is fully God, 100% God.

Matthew 4:2 (Jesus Hungered)

Luke 22:44 (Jesus suffered, physically and emotionally)

Luke 11:33-35 (Jesus mourned/wept)

John 19:28 (Jesus got thirsty)

John 19:34 (Jesus bled real blood)

In our day, we argue that Jesus is divine against society that believes he was just a fine human being.  But in the first couple of centuries, there were many people who believed Jesus was not human, but only appeared to be human.  He was God and walked around in a spirit body.

But Jesus felt all the things we felt - hunger, thirst, pain, compassion, suffering.  

So we can say, along with Christian doctrine, that Jesus Christ is fully human, 100% human.

So how does this work, how is Jesus 100% God, 100% human?

It’s not about biology (or math)! It’s about who Jesus is - He is God walking amongst us humans.  He is God emptying himself and becoming a human for a purpose (phil 2).

So why do you think it is important for Jesus to be fully God and fully human?

I know that to our modern minds, it sounds preposterous to say that God became a human being.  For those of us who have spent a lot of time in the church, we really don’t stop to pause about how strange this is.  But why is it necessary for Jesus to be fully God and fully  human?  Why is it necessary for God and God alone to do God did in Jesus? (Here, I’m hoping they can recall some information from last week about how God came to do what no human could do).

Hebrews 4:14-16

*Call up 2 volunteers for a demonstration*

Have the teens act out the following situation.

The two teens are best friends and have been for years.  One friend betrays the trust of the other.  (S)he stabbed the other in the back and blabbed all of the other’s secrets to anybody who would listen.  Then (s)he cheated with the other person’s boy/girlfriend.  Then, (s)he kept all that the other had ever let him/her borrow over the past few years, refusing to give anything back.  

What would it take for these two to have reconciliation?  One is clearly in the right.  The other is clearly in the wrong.  So what would it take for these two to be best friends again?

What is the difference between Jesus and humanity? (Jesus is without sin)

So to go back to our illustration, which one was “without sin” (at least in this situation, who was in the right)?  

But that person experienced similar temptations and similar opportunities to be sinful as the other, right?

So the teen who was in the right could empathize with the backstabbing, cheating, stealing friend regarding the temptation to sin.

So what would it take for him/her to forgive this other person?

What does Hebrews 4 have to say about this?

The teen who was in the right would have to give up herself, give up her pride, give up her right-ness.  She would have to give up everything that made herself respectable and righteous to bring about reconciliation.  Everybody would wonder why they became friends again, why there was reconciliation.  Everybody would wonder how and why she could ever trust the friend again.  And there is nothing that the friend could do to bring about forgiveness unless the one who was in the right was ready to empty herself of all that made her, “her.”

What does verse 16 say again?

“Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

So it’s vital that God came down to become a human and walk amongst us, and its vital that Jesus was fully divine and fully human.  Only if this is true do we have hope of a relationship with God.  Only if Jesus is “conceived by the Holy Spirit” and “born of the virgin Mary,” can we truly have reconciliation with God.  

Time of Questions