The record-union., 1897-12-27
THE COMING Of The MESSIAH
STARTLING MESSAGE OF TWO
THOUSAND YEARS AGO.
Sermon Preached at Westminster
Presbyterian Church by Rev.
w. H. Landon.

Rev. Warren H Landon, d. d., FRO
fessor Of Practical Theology IN the oaii
Francisco Theological Seminary at odh
Anselmo, delivered the sermon al p" est
minister Presbyterian Church yesterday.
This is the seminary in which the pas
tor of the church, Rev. z. }. Jonhsoh'
pursued his studies preparatory 10 en-
tering the ministry. Prior to accepting
his present position, Rev. Mr. Lanoon
was for six years pastor OF CALVARY
Presbyterian Church Of Portland, Or.
Mr. Landon took his text yesterday
from Luke H., 1912. He said:
The past week has been a happy one
in many homes, one of the happlest OF
the year. Very few are the homes
where there has not come little more
brightness than usual. In some homes
the presents may have been few and
of little value, but even in such there
has been pleasure experienced in CIV
ing and receiving. But While 1t Is
proper for us to make the Christmas
season as joyful as possible for our own
and other homes, we should not forget
the lessons Of the season, the source or
the truest Christmas joy. We should
not forget the greatest Christmas gift
the world ever received. The true joy
of Christmas finds it's source in this
old but interesting story in the second
chapter Of Luke. Christmas is more
than a time Of frolic and fun. 1t is a
time to celebrate reverently the birth
of the Son of God in this sinful world.
Let us therefore take a little time to
consider the angels announcement of
this wondrous birth and it's significance
TO the world.
1t was night on the plains of BSth-
lehem. Shepherds were watching their
flocks where David had done the same
centuries before, and where still earlier
Ruth, the ancestress of Christ, had
CLEANED. Suddenly ''the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of
the Lord shone round about them, and
they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not; for, behold,
/ bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto
you is born this day, in the city Of
David a Savior, which is Christ the
Lord And this shall be a sign unto
you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' -
This was a startling message. 1t
coming of a Messiah had been long
hooked for, but also long delayed. Sew
eral hundred years had passed since the
last prophecy was uttered concerning
Him. Ard still there were devout souls
looking for Him. In Jerusalem was a
Simeon, Just and devout, waiting for
the consolation Of Israel" And it is
not improbable that these simple shep-
herds also We're walters for ''the con-
ISOLATION of Israel" and meditated upon
His coming during the long night
watches. But this was a dreary season
of the year. 1t was wintry, rainy De-
cember Springtime, when all nature
was sprfnging into tife, would, from
human standpoint, have seemed more
appropriate season. But Gods greatest
manifestations, His greatest blessings.
have usually come at unexpected sea-
sons. This time was the fullness of
Gods time. At the appointed hour the
doors of heaven opened and the angel
throng came through to make the great
announcement, and follow it up with
song.
The message was startling not only in
its suddenness, but startling in its
wording. The announcement that the
lOnS-tOOkeu-lOI AleSSldII lldu dpPtdIEu
was startling But more startling was
the announcement that He was only a
babe, an infant of the night, helpless
little child. More startling still the
tidings of the place in which He would
be found. Hear the message: Is it:
You will find the child wrapped in
royal garments, richly ornamented and
highly perfumed, in the palace of the
surely have read if some human mind
some writer of myths or legends had
created it. But this is the Lord s
story, the Lords doing, and it is mar
velous III our eyes. And so it reads:
"Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in manger"
Strange place for any child, Stranger
still for such a child, But it was well
for the shepherds, for they could go, and
did go, to Him at once. They We're not
dressed to pay a visit to a palace But
they We're in full dress for a visit to a
stable.
babe in swaddling clothes in a
manger in a Bethlehem stable was to
be the sign by which they were to iden-
tify the Messiah, a strange mark to
identify one born to such lofty tasks
Rev. DR.. Storrs says in regard to this
sign: THE humblest and certainly not
least common of human sights, in
humble Oriental life, was made the
sign to the shepherds and to the world
of Gods supremest Intervention to raise
the race unto HIMSELF The utmost
weakness of the infant of day be-
came the index Of His omnipotence,
coming into the world to redeem and to
save IL The tiny life, just beginning
10 unfold before mothers eyes, in this
was the surprising witness to heaven