Forerunner of Jesus: A Key Figure in Christian History Christian Religious Studies JSS 2 First Term Mid Term Test

Who is a Forerunner?

Explain the Birth of the Forerunner of Jesus Christ.

What is Magi?

b) Explain the visit of the wise men to Baby Jesus and the gifts given to Him.

1. Forerunner:
In religious contexts, a “Forerunner” typically refers to a person who precedes or prepares the way for a significant figure, event, or message. In Christianity, John the Baptist is often referred to as the Forerunner of Jesus Christ because he prepared the way for Jesus’ ministry by baptizing people and proclaiming the arrival of the Messiah.

2. Birth of the Forerunner of Jesus Christ (John the Baptist):
According to the Bible, John the Baptist’s birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel to his father Zechariah. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were elderly and childless, but miraculously, Elizabeth became pregnant with John. John the Baptist played a crucial role in preparing people for the coming of Jesus by preaching repentance and baptizing them in the Jordan River.

3. Magi:
The Magi, also known as the Wise Men or Three Kings, are figures from the Christian nativity story. They were traditionally regarded as skilled astronomers or wise scholars who came from the East to visit the newborn Jesus. The story of the Magi is primarily found in the Gospel of Matthew in the Bible.

4. Visit of the Wise Men to Baby Jesus and Gifts:
According to the Gospel of Matthew, the Wise Men (Magi) followed a star that led them to Bethlehem, where they found the baby Jesus in a house, not in the stable as depicted in many nativity scenes. They presented three gifts to Jesus:
– Gold: Symbolizing Jesus’ kingship and royalty.
– Frankincense: Representing his divinity and priestly role.
– Myrrh: Foreshadowing his suffering and death, as myrrh was used for embalming.

The visit of the Wise Men is often celebrated as the Feast of the Epiphany in Christian tradition, symbolizing the revelation of Jesus to the Gentiles. This event is an integral part of the Christmas story, highlighting the recognition of Jesus as the promised Messiah by people from different backgrounds.

Evaluation

1. Who is a Forerunner?
a) A prophet
b) Someone who prepares the way
c) A magician
d) A traveler

2. John the Baptist is known as the ________ of Jesus Christ.
a) Brother
b) Forerunner
c) Teacher
d) Cousin

3. The Forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist, was born to ________ and ________.
a) Mary and Joseph
b) Zechariah and Elizabeth
c) Adam and Eve
d) David and Bathsheba

4. The Wise Men who visited Baby Jesus are also known as the ________.
a) Three Brothers
b) Three Kings
c) Three Shepherds
d) Three Soldiers

5. The Wise Men followed a ________ to find Baby Jesus.
a) Map
b) Star
c) River
d) Trail

6. The Wise Men came from the ________ to visit Jesus.
a) West
b) East
c) North
d) South

7. When the Wise Men found Jesus, he was in a ________.
a) Stable
b) House
c) Cave
d) Temple

8. The gifts given to Baby Jesus by the Wise Men were ________, ________, and ________.
a) Silver, jewels, and spices
b) Gold, silver, and myrrh
c) Toys, clothes, and books
d) Flowers, fruits, and candles

9. Gold symbolized Jesus’ ________.
a) Humility
b) Divinity
c) Friendship
d) Wisdom

10. Frankincense represented Jesus’ ________ role.
a) Teacher
b) Kingly
c) Healing
d) Musical

11. Myrrh was a gift that foreshadowed Jesus’ ________.
a) Birth
b) Suffering and death
c) Marriage
d) Miracles

12. The visit of the Wise Men is celebrated as the Feast of the ________.
a) Nativity
b) Epiphany
c) Resurrection
d) Thanksgiving

13. The Wise Men recognized Jesus as the ________.
a) Messiah
b) Carpenter
c) King of Egypt
d) Shepherd

14. The Forerunner of Jesus, John the Baptist, prepared the way by ________.
a) Building a house
b) Preaching repentance
c) Singing songs
d) Planting trees

15. The Forerunner’s role was to ________ for the coming of Jesus.
a) Cook meals
b) Make clothes
c) Prepare hearts
d) Write books