Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-01-03
The Shepherds
Find Jesus
Sunday School Lesson Tor Jan. 7. 1906
Specially Prepared sor This Paper.

LESSON TENT.-I.uke 2l-ec. Memory
verses. L. "a. Read also Matt lI-25. Luke
iI-s0
GOLDEN TE.<T-"For unto YOU is
born this day in the city OF David a
saviour. which is Christ the Lord. Luke
2:ll.
TIME.-Deeember. b. c. s. four years be-
fore our Christian era This apparent dis
crepancy Is explained oy the inaccuracy OF
the monk DioEysius Exiguus who first
published the chronological calculations In
90 n. ID. and made iscalcuation OF
about four years.
PLACE.-Bethlehem FIVE or six miles
| south OF Jerusalem
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES.-Pr
&c visions OF the Messiah and Messianic
times i'm the old Testament: Mum e4l5:
Deut. ISIS; Sam. 7:11-l6; Chron II :ls Il:
22;lo (promise TO the Son of David of those
things which are predicted OF Jesus in Luke
l;Sl-SS). Psa. ~; lisa. $50 I; ll:l.lO: 5Sl-l2;
Jer. 2S;5. o; Dan. 2:ti. IS: 7:lS. Il; s:25: Mic
az; Matt S;2. J. The expectation OF the
Messiah which arose out OF those prophe-
eies. as noted in the Gospels.
comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. 1. In those DAYS" The period in
general indicated by the events inst
described. "A decree from Caesar An
gusths." the emperor OF Rome. That
! all the world Nearly the whole
known world then was included in the
Roman empire Should be taxed 8"
Rather enrolled"
V ). His own city" The city of his
ancestors, where the family records
were kept.
V. T. 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 Messiah
should be born in Bethlehem. the city
OF David mic. 5:2) q Sam. 1870. II
does not say that Joseph took Mary to
Bethlehem on account OF the prophecy.
but implies the guiding providence of
| God
V. 5. With Mary" who also was of
the lineage OF David. In Roman cen
sus women were not obliged TO come in
person. though they raid the poll-tax.
| V. 4 Wrapped him in swaddling
clothes. Not clothes regularly made.
but strips OF cloth three or four inches
wide and several feet long. wound
around the child. And laid him in a
manSer." etc. The animals were out
at the time and the manger was not
being used. Int. Crit. Com.
V. 3. And there were in the same
country" In the fields near Bethle-
hem. Shepherds abiding in the
field" The open country, with their
V. 9. And 10, the angel" rather IAN
angel" came upon them" stood by
them" And the glory Of the Lord
The angelic form is bright and lumin-
Gus. throwing all around them a sort
OF heavenly halo. in which even the
lustrous Syrian stars grow dim.
V. 10. Good tidings" The word
from which our word gospel" comes
They announced the best news the
world had ever heard. the news OF the
Saviour who would fill the whole
world with heavenly glory. like that
then shining on the field of Bethle-
hem. ITO all people" To all ages. all
nations. all classes. all coIors.
V. IL. For unto you is born a
Saviour" One who should save them
from their sins. their worst and most
dangerous enemies. Jesus" means
Saviour. Christ. The Amounted
One" the Messiah. whom they had
long been hoping and praying for.
V. IL. And this shall be sign unto
you" that the words spoken were true
and guiding sign. like the sign to the
wise men.
V. 70. with the angel multitude "
| THE whole host of heaven was prais-
ing God. not merely that portion OF II
which was visible to the shepherds"-
Int. Crit Com. Compare Chron
1913; Psa 1903: 81; lisa. 6:1-4. and the
vision OF Elisha's servant q Kings
6:17
" IA The song of the angels. the
Gloria in Excelsis. consists OF two
strains OF three members each.
J. Glory TO God . in the high
est
2 Peace good will TO men
on earth.
16 They came with haste" show
ing their zeal and ardOr. as well as
faith. We can never find the Saviour
too soon"
V. II. They made known abroad .
Whosoever has truly found the Sa-
viour burns TO proclaim TO all around
what a Soviour they have found" See
Acts 4:20; I John II. 2
" 1s. "All they that heard IT won
dered." II was indeed marvellous news
so good that many find 1t hard 10 be
lieve that It is true
v 10. But Mary" in contrast with
the others. kept all these things" in
| her memory. They we're treasures
whose value the following years re-
vea;ed to her. "Pondered them" Kept
them" Kept revolving them. compar.
ing them with the promises Of the Old
| Testament. and what had been an.
| nounceC TO her
V % "The eheuhe~de returned " TT