The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-20
RELIGIOUS NEWS

40. Besides, they interpret the prophi-
cies concerning the Messiah as descrip-
tive of temporal prince, and they will
not receive as such one of lowly birth.
The dgnitaries in church and state will
one day unite to put the son OF Mary
to death. Uuke xxii,29. Just outside
the city are flocks feeding on those same
pasture lands which were used centuries
ago. Humble men were there watching
the sheep, possibly those who were the
descendants of Jesse, when Samuel came
to annoint the new king. q Sam, xvi,1D.
These shepherds shall first know of the
advent. They have not been corrupted
by the scenes and customs of the court.
and they are best prepared to hear the
| message. (Psalms xxxiv, 2O
| ANGET-Who shall tell the story TO
the shepherds? Shall 1t be the porter
(John X, ~, who keeps the gate, who ad-
mitted the travellers from Galilee? He
cannot leave his post OF duty, and 1t is
doubted IL he knows anything of the
| manger and It's precious occupant Shall
Joseph go? 1t Is probable that the young
mother needs his company Matt, IL, ~.
Shall some one from the village be sent?
The inhabitants are asleep and know not
| the dignity of the little stranger. An
| angel shall be employed He knows
what no mortal then understood, for his
home is the eternal habitation whence
Jesus came (John xviii 81, where. through
| countless ages, the inexpressable glory
had been displayed. On other errands
Angels had to come to mortals Gen..
| xxi, %. Suddenly descending from the
| skies the. celestial visitor stood among
| the shepherds. The effulgence from the
world above attended him and lighted
up all the plain shedding an unearthly
| splendor over the face of nature. A sim
ila. visitation was granted to Saul, of
Tarsus, on his way to Damascus (Acts
| tx, %.
| TIDINGS-What will the angel say to
| the shepherds? "ISear not" were his
first words. The supernatural exhibition
: had overpovered them. Their vision must
have been disturbed by the sight (Acts
| tx, 81. Strong men though they were,
| accustomed to danger, they trembled with
alarm. Besides, it had been understood
that any one who saw celestial being
must die (Judges xiii, 22). The angel
therefore assured his hearers that no
harm was intended. Instead he brought
them good tidings. "a Saviour is born
unto you this day." he said, fulfilling the
promise made to Joseph (Matt., i, 2D,
declaring the nature and mission Of the
child human because born, divine be-
cause a Saviour. The angel went on to
associate the child with Israeis hopes,
locating him in the city of David, calling
equivalent of Messiah. King. the latter
the same as jehovah the covenant
making and covenant-keeping God (Gen.,
Iii. 15). Saviour. Christ, IIord-this was
the complete message.
ANTHEAT-What is the Importance of
the event just announced? The shep-
herds might have known in part, for the
synagogue schools had taught the Scrip
lures to all. The doctors might have eX-
planned moro fully had not a veil been
over their eyes. e Cor iii, ~. 1t is de-
sirable that the shepherds, and that af-
ter centuries, should know even from the
beginning, what the coming Of Christ
signified. Immediately there was with
the angel a. multitude of the heavenly
host. (Matt XVI, $50. They filled the air,
and their voices rang out full and clear
in the silence of the early morning.
"Glory to God in the highest" was the
first strain of their song. The mercy,
the wisdom, and the righteousness of God
We're to be unfolded by the advent. This
was the consummation of plan laid in
the ages past Gen i'll. 15). "On earth
peace to men of good will. so the words
should be translated. Christ's coming
m,ennts irrepressble conflict with the
powers of darkness Matt X, 3D, but to
those whose hearts are changed it meant
joy and satisfaction. He had godward
and manward mission 1sa H. i).
TISIT-How will the shepherds receive
this wonderful message? VIII It fall on
dull ears and hard hearts? VIII they be
Indifferent to the fulfllment of prophecy
and the realization of national hopes?
(Gal i. 16>. Scarcely had the angels de-
parted when they conferred concerning
what they had heard, and resolved to
visit the newborn child. Qsa iX G).
Fastening over the plain, up 1.-The ter
raced hill, through the moonlight gar
dens," they entered the town. Their
search was not long. Having been told
that Jesus would be found in a manger,
they proceeded to the public inn, where
strangers find accommodations, and We're
directed TO the place where the beasts
were kept, because there was no room
elsewhere The fancy OF painters and
poets has revealed In the scene as the
shepherds entered and beheld Joseph,
Mary and the child. But the inspired
penman with honest simplicity has not
attempted to describe tho interview.
WONDER-What will the shepherds do
after their visit? Will they retire In
silent Disappointment? Because of the sur
roundings and the humiliation will they
conclude that they failed to find Him OF
whom the angels spoke. or that the mes
sage was misunderstood? No, they were
of Bethlehem, they reported with glad
ness the doings of the night. Il Cor iv, |
13). The birth OF a babe always awak-
ems woman's sympathy. and when 1t was
told that in the manger lay an Infant, it
Is altogether probable that hospitality
soon found a more agreeable place. But |
the story of the angels. retold as 1t must |
have been, invested the little one with |
far greater interest AS the tidings |
spread from lip to lip, from home to
home, the village was greatly excited, the |
population wondering and curious, ask |
ing and answering questions. 1t may be |
that some doubted, but the greater part |
believed, and all felt that n notable event |
had occurred i'm their midst.
PONDERING--And what Of the Virgin |
mother? She had passed through strange |
experiences during the last nine months. |
There was the visit OF the mighty |
Gabriel at her home in Nazareth Oh 1, |
2O, when she bowed in humble submis- |
sion; there was the interview in the hill |
of Judah, with the mother OF |
John; there was the lapse of time in |
obscurity, followed by the journey to the |
ancient home OF her family, period full |
of expectation; there had been the moth |
ers joy. All this was calculated to lead |
her mind along many lines of sober re-
Election upon the problem of life and its |
issues And now these plain men of the |
field have come to report the night vision |
and to worship, and the people have taxi
en- up the story with amazement. She |
finds herself thus suddenly the subject of |
public attention. Highly favored among |
women (Ch 1, 2S), she seemed not fully |
to comprehend, but pondered in her |
heart the things that We're told to her
PRAISING-TIaving published the news
In Bethlehem, what will the shepherds
do? VIII the impression be short-liyed? |