Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-01-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY
CONSIDERED.

ScHtOOS SUBJECTS CAHEF OIlY
CONSIDERED.
Scholarly Exposition Of the Lesson
Thoughts Worthy Of Calm Reflec-
tion-Haif an Hours study of the
scriptures-Time Well Spent.
The initial lesson for the new year
Sunday, Jan. y is Luke 2; 1-16, and its
subject is THE Birth of Jesus" For
eighteen months we are to study the life
of Jesus as narrated in the four gospels.
The lessons are arranged chronologically,
hence they skip from one gospel to an
other, according to the progress of the
narrative. This fact makes the posses
sion of harmony of the gospels by both
teacher and pupils very desirable; in fact
almost essential to the best results. In
studying each lesson the teacher should
have before him the parallel passages in
other gospels, also any context or record
Of intervening events that may be nec-
essary to an understanding of the lesson.
This of course he cannot conveniently do
without harmony; though IL one have
the time and patience, it is an excellent
exercise to make ones own harmony by
clipping the passages from a cheap edi-
ton of the New Testament and FASTING
them on sheets or in book.
In the first lesson, therefore, are in
Guided Johns prologue and Matthew's
account of the nativity, as well as the
passage in Luke. A brief review of the
events that preceded the birth of Jesus
will be the first thing in order--the an
nouncement OF the birth of John the Bap-
fist and OF Jesus, and the utterances that
accompanied these events. AS to the
date, there can be little doubt that Jesus
was born during the winter of b. G. 5-4,
and December, Il. G. 3, is as likely time
as any. A few scholars would place the
date year earlier; scarcely any put it
much later. The process by which the
date is reached is very complicated, and
depends on considerations which cannot
be discussed here. For this, as for all
questions Of chronology, see Andrews
Life of Our Lord" for full discussion.
Many scholars will not know why the
Christian era is four years behind time,
and for their benefit the teacher may find
in an encyclopaedia the story of the work
Of Dionysius Exiguus, who introduced
this era in the sixth century and calcu
lated wrong.
Explanatory.
Galilee, which had been the home Of
Joseph and Mary, was not a rude coun-
try district by any means, though that
impression might be gained from one or
two facts. The people of Jerusalem did
indeed look down on the Galileans, but
their attitude was that of patronizing
condescension, something like the way
Boston is supposed to think of Chicago.
Galilee had far more of commercial ac
tivity and travel and wealth than Jeru-
salem. Galilee was right in the center
of trade, the Greek cities of the Decapolis
lying on one side Ito the east, the Phoe-
nician cities of Tyre and Sidon to the
northwest, Damascus to the northeast.
All the overland traffic between the ORR
ent and Egypt had to pass through Gal
lice. So that its cities were busy and
thriving.
Nazareth was quicter, in the secluson
of the hills, yet it was near enough to
Capernaum and Tiberias to feel the inn
pulse of their bustling life. So that it is
not correct to speak of Jesus as a peas
ant. The word is not applicable. He
was of gentle birth and his early sur
roundings were those Of refinement and
culture such as were afforded in that age.
The parents of Jesus lacked money, it is
true, but so did most other people in that
country. The rich men were few, and
not many of them, probably, were strict
Jews.
The reason for going to Bethlehem was
that this was the ancient seat of the
family. 1t is suggested that the family
records were probably preserved there.
There have been those who have claim
ed that Jesus could not have been born
in December because shepherds would
not spend the night out of doors at that
time of year. This, however, is denied
by most authorities. These shepherds
were rude men, peasants indeed, and ii
is interesting to speculate what the an
gelic message would mean to them.
Knowing so little Of their character, we
tell whether they were familiar
with the Messianic expectations of de-
vout Jews or whether the whole matter
would be an impcnetrable mystery to
them.
"A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord:
here are three ideas, which would be
more evident tU- hearers like these shep-
herds-if they thought about it at all
than to us. Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord; the idea of Saviour is COM
mon in the Old Testament, though the
is not always salvation from
sin. Christ" is simply the Greek for
Messiah" or "Anointed"; the great lead
er who was to come and lead Israel ac-
cording to the prophets. Lord is title
Of deity. Such words were enough to
make the shepherds ''sore afraid" That
they fail so meaningless upon our ears
SO often is sad comment on our ideas
Of divine things.
GLORY to God in the highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men,: as
most people know, the revised version
changes this to peace among men in
whom he is well pleased" This tranAa- |
ton depends on an alternative reading
Of the Greek. Authorities are divided |
as to which is correct. Probably the |
revised version Is preferable, but the |
question cannot be certainly determined. |
IL we were arguing as to which would |
DC the more likely form we should choose |
he old version. peace TO men of Gods |
good pleasure" is perhaps rather tame
md redundant message TO be sent from
heaven to earth. However, it is a rash |
to try to settle such q ques- |
ion OF grounds of probability. Either |
way the message is full of beauty.
They always find Jesus who follow the |
heavenly directions. The trouble with |
many Of us is that we seek to find him in |