7.9 Questionsfor Reflection from The Nativity Story
1. Which aspect ofJewish culture was depicted in the scenes about Elijah and the still smallvoice (1Kings 19:9-13)? Why do you think that particular story was included andrepeated?
This story shows theJews were and oral tradition culture.
2. How difficult wouldit have been to be a friend to Mary as she was pregnant with a child that sheclaimed was the promised Messiah? It will be difficult to believe Mary’s babyis a God. Maybe I will be afraid.
3. How difficult wouldit have been to be Joseph and discover Mary was pregnant with a child that sheclaimed was the promised Messiah? Because Joseph doesn’t believe God is thebaby’s father, maybe he thinks Mary go with another man. Joseph will be verysad and very embarrassed.
4. The film placessignificant emphasis on the roles of Herod and the wise men in the birth ofJesus. What insights did you gain into their significance through this movie?
Herod is very bad, he killed many children,and he tried to kill Jesus.
5. What did you findinteresting, inspiring, or disturbing about any three of these characters inthe movie: Mary, Joseph, Mary’s parents, the magi, Herod, the shepherds, orGabriel? Mary: When she saw the Angel she felt very scared, and she went behindthe tree. Joseph: When he walked with Mary, He Put her on the horse and pushed the horse, after they walked along time, his feet were bleeding, but he still pushed the horse to help Marygo faster. He is very good tomarried. Gabriel: He is an angel, it’s amazing. Ithink angels are all beautiful girls. That man doesn’t look like angel.
6. What was in themovie that you did not remember reading in the Biblical nativity passages (inMatthew 1& 2 and in Luke 2)? From where do you think these detailsoriginated?
In the movie, Josephput Mary on the horse and pushed the horse, but in the Bible doesn’t have this.This make Joseph looks kind and very nice to his wife. In the movie when Maryis pregnant, a little child came to touch her stomach, but in the Bible doesn’thave this. This make the story more real.
7. What did you thinkabout the depiction of the Magi in the movie? According to Matthew 2:1-12, dowe know their names? Do we know how many there were?
They are kind andgood kings, they give Jesus gifts. No, Matthew 2:1-12 doesn’t say their namesand doesn’t say the number of them.
8. The movie presents 1) contrasting pictures of those who trustin God and those who don’t, 2) various images of the journey of faith, and 3)reveals God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises to his people, even inhighly unexpected ways.
a. In which charactersor scenes do we see examples of belief and unbelief (Luke 1:5–22, 26–45)?
Mary believes God,Joseph believes God, the three wise men believe God.
b. Where and how in the movie is the journey offaith depicted (Psalm56:3–4; 121:1–8; Proverbs 14:12, 31; 19:21; Hebrews 11:1)?
Joseph didn’tbelieve God when Mary told him she is pregnant. When angel told Joseph thatbaby is Holy in dream, that it’s a very important baby, he believes God
c. Where and how in themovie is God’s faithfulness depicted (1Kings 19:1–13; Luke 1:46–55)?
When Mary ispregnant, it’s very hard, so God always went with Mary.
9. Which scene in the story speaks to you themost?
Joseph put Mary on thehorse and pushed the horse, they have a very long journey, and Joseph hurt hisfeet, Mary help him clean his feet. That’s so sweet.
10. Does this film change or reshape your appreciation of theChristmas story? If so, in what way?
I learned a lot. Jesus is God’s son and Maryis Jesus’s mother. Joseph is Mary’s husband but not Jesus’s father. The first time I watched the movie, I think Joseph is Jesus’s father.

7.9 Questions for Reflection from The Nativity Story
Which aspect of Jewish culture was depicted in the scenesabout Elijah and the still small 1.voice (1Kings 19:9-13)? Why do you thinkthat particular story was included and repeated?
The aspect is God gives his words to Elijah by sonicwhisper. This aspect is important that God is watching us and he always helpsthe person believes him when they’re in danger.
2.How difficult would it have been to be a friend to Mary asshe was pregnant with a child that she claimed was the promised Messiah?
Everyone was abusing you, no one could help or understandyou. Huge pressure.
3.How difficult would it have been to be Joseph and discoverMary was pregnant with a child that she claimed was the promised Messiah?
A big trust when he didn’t get God’s words and didn’t knowanything, if what he did was good (for everyone).
4.The film places significant emphasis on the roles of Herodand the wise men in the birth of Jesus. What insights did you gain into theirsignificance through this movie?
Herod is a very bad person he killed many children, tried tokill Jesus and didn’t do anything work for the people. The wise men werewitness for Jesus’ born.
5.What did you find interesting, inspiring, or disturbingabout any three of these characters in the movie: Mary, Joseph, Mary’s parents,the magi, Herod, the shepherds, or Gabriel?
Gabriel: many people believe Gabriel is a woman angelcause Gabriel sit at right of the God but in the movie not.
Mary: she hide herself behind the tree when she first sawthe angel.
The magi: they bought snakes while the trail
6.What was in the movie that you did not remember reading inthe Biblical nativity passages (in Matthew 1& 2 and in Luke 2)? From wheredo you think these details originated?
Many details like Joseph barbecue the fish for Mary, letMary sit on the horse and get it move, the snake’s bit. There isn’t that inBible, but we can believe that it’s like true.
7.What did you think about the depiction of the Magi in themovie? According to Matthew 2:1-12, do we know their names? Do we know how manythere were?
8.The movie presents 1) contrasting pictures of those whotrust in God and those who don’t, 2) various images of the journey of faith,and 3) reveals God’s faithfulness in keeping his promises to his people, evenin highly unexpected ways.
a. In which characters or scenes do we see examplesof belief and unbelief (Luke 1:5–22, 26–45)?
b. Where andhow in the movie is the journey of faith depicted (Psalm 56:3–4; 121:1–8;Proverbs 14:12, 31; 19:21; Hebrews 11:1)?
c. Where and how in the movie is God’s faithfulnessdepicted (1 Kings 19:1–13; Luke 1:46–55)?
9. Whichscene in the story speaks to you the most?
10. Does this film change or reshape yourappreciation of the Christmas story? If so, in what way?

Jewish people controltheir daily food, there is a law called Kashrut.Among these laws were such things as keeping milk and dairy products separatedfrom meat products and of eating only animals that had been killed in humaneways, which was the responsibility of trained butchers approved by rabbis. Inaddition, Jews were instructed by their religious laws to avoid eatingso-called "unclean foods" such as shellfish and pork. However, forJews these rules weren't merely sensible; they were acts of faith. Actually, Jewish people’s daily living was an Act ofFaith. Their livings were arranged for the temple.

thanks

7.10 Jesus’ Childhood
The Bible tells us very little about Jesus’ childhood
and youth, in fact, we know nothing about him
from birth to age 12. But from what it does tell us
we learn important things.
Luke tells us two important things in 2.52: and Jesus
grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and man.
Luke tells us Jesus grew. He wasn’t born knowing
everything because he was God. Yes, he was God,
but he was also fully human, just like us. And like us
he had to grow in his knowledge and size.
A human brain needs time to grow and develop,
and now we know it doesn’t stop growing until we are about 25-26 years old. Just like we
need time to grow, so did Jesus.

The idea that Jesus was born knowing everything is just not true. Luke tells us this and so
does Paul in Philippians 2.6-7 where he says that even though Jesus was God, he emptied
himself, he made himself nothing. Scholars debate the details of what this means, but this is
clear: Jesus had to grow in both wisdom (knowledge, understanding, wisdom) and stature
(size), just like us!
Luke also tells us that Jesus gained favor with God and people. Again, this was a process for
him just as it is for us. So as we live and grow, so did he.
In chapter 2, Luke does tell us of a specic incident at the Temple after Passover when
Jesus was 12. But this is the only information we have on his youth.

Into his mouth went the lizard, and before I could accuse, out it came again, squirming and
alive and ready to bite once again. He handed it back to his younger brother, who smote it
mightily with the rock, starting or ending the whole process again.
I watched the lizard die three more times before I said, "I want to do that too."
The Savior removed the lizard from his mouth and said, "Which part?"