Lesson I. The Angel by the Altar and in Nazareth.
(Tell Story 1 of Part VI, in "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible.")
To the Teacher:
In beginning the lesson the teacher should state the subject of the lesson for the day, and ask one or two questions about it, to get the children interested at the outset. Then, the teacher should tell the story from "Hurlbut's Story of the Bible," explaining how God sent his Angel Gā´brĭ-el to Zăch-a-rī´as, the old priest in the temple, to tell him that his wife E̍̄-lĭs̝´a-bĕth should have a son, and that the name of the son should be Jŏhn. Explain that Jŏhn was to be sent into the world to prepare people for the coming of Chrīst. Then tell how the same Angel Gā´brĭ-el was sent to the City of Năz´a-rĕth to a young woman named Mā´ry̆ to tell her that she was to have a son who was to be called Jē´s̝us. Then teach the class the answers to the following questions on the subject of this lesson, and explain to the little pupils just where to find the answers to the questions of the first lesson, and have them answer the questions in class either singly or in chorus. The children should understand that the questions are to be asked them by parents or older brothers and sisters until they have fixed in their minds the story of the lesson, and are able to tell it in their own language.
1. What angel was sent by God to Je̍̄-rṳ´sa̍̄-lĕm? The angel Gā´brĭ-el.
2. To whom was the angel Gā´brĭ-el sent? To a priest named Zăch-a-rī´as.
3. What did the angel tell Zăch-a-rī´as? That his wife should have a son.
4. What was the name of the wife of Zăch-a-rī´as? E̍̄-lĭs̝´a-bĕth.
5. What name was to be given to this son promised to Zăch-a-rī´as and E̍̄-lĭs̝´a-bĕth? The name of Jŏhn.
6. For what did the angel say that Jŏhn, when he grew up, should make the people ready? For the coming of the Lord.
7. To what city was the angel Gā´brĭ-el sent after this? To the city of Năz´a-rĕth.
8. To whom did the angel speak in Năz´a-rĕth? To a young woman named Mā´ry̆.
9. What did the angel tell Mā´ry̆? That she should have a son.
10. What name was to be given to her son? The name Jē´s̝us.
11. Where did Jŏhn, the son of Zăch-a-rī´as and E̍̄-lĭs̝´a-bĕth, live while he was a boy? In the desert.