The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-01-23
THE BIRTH OF JESUS.
International sunday school Lesson 4
January 20, 1890.

January S6, lS0Os
LESSON TExr--Luke $500.
GOLDEN TExr-Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
toward man.-Luke 2:14.
T1ME-About six months after the
first lesson. The last OF December,
b. G. s. Four years before the COM
mencement Of our common era, A. d. 1.
DATE OF THE BIRTH OF CHRrsT-It is
very perplexing to many to find that
Jesus was actually born four years be-
fore the time from which we count His
birth. The simple reason is that no one
calculated dates from the birth of Christ
till centuries after He was born, and
then Dionysius Ezigook, the monk who
published the calculations in A. ID. see,
made a mistake Of four years. He
placed the birth of Christ A. d. in the
year Of Rome ~. C.) 754. But Herod
the Great, who slew the innocents of
Bethlehem, died in April Of the year Of
Rome $50; so that Christ must have been
born several months before or not later
than the last of 749. Jesus was proba-
bly, born at the very close Of B. c. 8,
which would be only four years before
our era, for in o week after the 25th OF
December, B. G. 8, 1t was January, B. G.
4. Since it is impossible to rectify the
dates in all books and records over the
world, we simply apply the true dates to
the life of Christ. He was five years old
at the close Of A. d. 1.
PLAcE-Bethlehem Of Judea, village
flve or six miles south of Jerusalem. Its
name, Bethlehem ("house of bread'),
was due to the fertility of the adjacent
corn-felds. 1t was the town of Ruth
vid because it was his birthplace; it
now contains about five thousand inhab-
itants. The exact place Of Christ's birth
was probably cave in the southeastern
| part of the town, where is now Latin
convent.-Andvews. The field Of the
shepherds was about mile from the vii
lage.
RULERs-Augustus Cesar was EN-
peror Of Rome. Herod the Great (the
drst of the seven Herods mentioned in
the New Testament), King of Judea,
but Palestine and most OF the known
world were subject to Augustus.
CIRCUMSTANCES Six months pass
away after the birth of John the Fore.
runner, and then came the birth of Jesus,
the Messiah, the most important event
in the worlds history, the most marvel.
Gus proof of Gods love to man; the ris-
| ing above the horizon of that Light
whose dawning rays have been our
theme, and of which John was the Morn
ing Star.
EXPLANAToRY-I.T The birth Of Jesus
the Christ.-His pre-existence John
1:1-3). The Word, who became Jesus
| on earth, was with His Father in Heaven
from eternity. BY Him the worlds were
created. He was with God, and was God.
From His glorious home He came to this
world, as the highest expression of Gods
| love, to take upon Himself our human
nature for the salvation Of the world
from sin to holiness and Heaven.
III. The Heavenly messengers announc-
ing His birth.-Vers. s-12. 8. And there
'cere in tie same country. In the fields
near bethlehem. The traditional place
is about mile from the town; "the
same fields from which David had been
summoned to feed Jacob, Gods people,
and Israel His inheritance. Cam.
bridge Bible. Shepherds abiding in Mt
fields. Instead of in the town, as was
usual with farmers in the East.-P.
The sheep Of Palestine are housed al
night only in the very coolest parts oi
winter, not always even then. The
shepherds watch the mat night, sleeping
on the ground or on beds made oil
branches Of the trees, and wrapped in
the heavy cloak or burnoose.-
Keeping scdtch Oper their focks 6y nigAt.
Literally, keeping the night.watches.
Thieves, wild beasts and the dangers OF
the rough precipices form the chief rea.
sons for night-watch over the flock.-
Prof. Isaac Hall.
III. The song Of the Angels.-Vers.
IS, IA. IS. And suddenly there scas scith
the angel multitude Of the Aeauenly
host. Literally, of the heavenly army.
The vail between the seen and the un-
seen was rent, and the sky above Beth
lehem was peopled with hosts OF angels,
for the King of angels was born there.
II when Elisha was in certain city II
was surrounded with chariots and horses
OF fire, much more would angels circle
round the birthplace of the Only Begot-
ten.-Sadler. Praising God. Even the
angels could find nothing more worthy
OF praise than Gods love in the sal
vation of men.-P.
~. Seeking and finding the Saviour.
-Vers. 1920. Is. Let as now 40. AT
once, without delay. So should we ever
seek the Saviour. They had so much
faith in the angels message that they
proceeded to investigate and see for
themselves. So should all do who have
heard others tell OF this Saviour.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
1. Out Of times Of enforced rest and
silence, as by affliction or poverty or
sickness, often comes the best work of
our lives; as this Benedictu from
Zacharias' nine-months' silence; as the
Pilgrims Progress from Bunyan's twelve
years Imprisonment, when he was shut
out from preaching.
2. Yer. 81. 1t was not that Zacharias
was filled with enthusiasm, filled with