North Park union., 1905-12-29

a. hS SouiEb ouC VI TEoulsc anu
Prophecy.-In all the past ages there
has been held before men a promise
and q prophecy OF redemption. grow
ing clearer and clearer as the history
moves on toward the coming OF Christ.
The birth OF Christ is not an isolated
event. but the bursting into flower of
a tree growing for ages. with its roots
In the remotest past.
1t is impossible that any mere man
could have wrought the work actually
accomplished by Christ The history
OF Christianity is the proof that Christ
must have been such a one as the
Gospels describe him. the Son OF God
made flesh. mysterious. but true.
union OF God and man.
II. The Period OF his Coming was
the most fitting time In all the history
OF the world.-There was most mar
velous conjunction of all lines of
Providential preparation. that makes
US wonder at the wisdom and good
ness of God
III. Ten Introductory Events in the
Gospels. General statement of the
Incarnation John l:lSli .. The Two
Genealogies (Matt. l:1-lI; Luke
3:23-SS). .. The Birth OF John the
Baptist promised duke l:5-25). 4,
The Annunciation TO Mary Luke
l;26-3S) .. The Annunciation TO Jo-
seph Matt, i:lS-25). 6. Mary's visit
to Elizabeth Uuke l;3945, 56). L.
The Masnidcat. Magy's Hymn OF
Praise luke ;i6.55D s. The Birth
of John the Baptist u.uke l;57.6C). ..
The Benedictus Zacharias' Hymn Of
Praise uuke 1:67-79). 10. The De-
cree of Caesar, aad The Journay 10
Bethlehem duke 2:l-5l.
". The Birth of Jesus Gods Gr.at-
est Gift to Man.-Vs. -. The n2Tra-
I tive first states how Bethlehem cane
| to be the birthplace of Jesus, although
Nazareth was his own country. the
home OF his parents. /. In those
days" The period In general indica.
ted by the events Just described. "A
decree from Caesar Augustus" the
emperor of Rome. THAT all the
/ world" Nearly the whole known
world then was included in the Roman
empire Should be taxed" Rather,
enrolled"
/ 9 And this taxing etc. Read as
| in II. V. and Am. X. This was the
first enrolment made e~hen Quirinius
was governor OF Syria"
! 8. His own city" The city of his
ancestors, where the family records
were kept.
4. And Joseph also went up
unto the city Of David, which
is called Bethlehem" THE mother OF
Jesus lived in Nazareth of Galilee. but
the prophet had foretold that the Mes
siah should be born In Bethlehem. the
city OF David (Mlc. 5:ek and this was
4 the oniy fitting riaer.. he was the
heir of David's kingdam. in whom
should be fulfilled the PROMISE 20 him
that his house and his throne should
be established forever t2 Sam. 1910 :
for the Messiah's kingdom was to be
the completion and fruition OF David s
kingdom.
5. with Mary" who also was OF
the lineage OF David,
Z. Wrapped him in swadd!ing
clothes" Not clothes regularly made
but strips of cloth threfor four inches
wide and several feet long. wound
around the child. And laid him in n
nanger," etc THE animals were out
at the time and the manger was not
being used. Int. Crit. Com. No
.oom for them in the inn.
Because so many had come to
Bethlehem for the same purpose of en-
rollment. in addition to the usual bus
mess travel. and had reached the town
before Joseph and Mary.
Points of Contact with Daily Life.
No Room for Them In the lnn.-So
often In our lives. in our hearts, in our
business. are crowds of worldly things
but no room for Jesus, for his service.
for prayer and communion with him
But really Jesus takes up no room
where he is there is room for all that
is good. and he transhgures and
/ blesses all things in his presence.
! V. The Earthly Scene from Heav'
enly Point of View.-Ns. SIP. Heaven
| ~ beings who knew Infinitely more
than men could conceive both of man s
needs, and of the blessings brought to
| them by the Divine Redeemcr, looked
| on the scene we have Just been view
| ing with very different thoughts from
| those of the bystanders. Through a
rift in the clouds thet hide the heav-
ems we see the angels and the Interest
they take in man. If there is Joy In
| the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner that repenteth. how great
must be the joy when the Redeemer
! came to save multitudes from their
sin.
/ s. "And there were In the same
| country" In the fields near Bethle-
hem. shepherds abiding in the field"
Note that while there is no certainty
as to the time of year, yet there is
nothing in this statement that mill
tates against Christs birth being in
December, for during the month Of
December the earth is clothed with
rich verdure, and sowing and plough
ing 20 on at intervals. Schubert says
that the period about Christmas is Of
ten one of the loveliest periods OF the
whole year."-Schaff.
9. "And, 10. the angel" rather IAN
angel" came upon them" stood by
them" apparently coming upon them
without their being aware Of his ap-
proach. In classic Greek also the
verb used of the appearance OF heav-
= ~-.~>.>~~~~~-~~.e~~ ~ooS@~~e~ee~-~~-
EnIaroino Life.
am quite clear that one OF our
worst failures is at the point where
having resolved like angels. we drop