Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-05
The Shepherds
Find Jesus
Sunday School Lesson ior;Jan.7 2. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Luke 2:1-2O. Memory
verses, 10, II. Read also Matt. t:l-25; Luke
1:1-S0.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"For into you is
born this day in the city of David a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.'-Luke
2:11.
TIME.-December, B. C. 8, four years be-
fore our Christian era. This apparent dis
crepancy is explained by the inaccuracy of
the monk Dionysius Exiguus. who hrst
published the chronological calculations In
526 A. D., and made a m~iscalculation of
about four years.
PLACE.-Bethlehem, five or six miles
south of Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ic visions of the Messiah and Messianic
times in the old Testament: Num-. PAIN;
Deut. 1878; 2 Sam. 7:11-16; ] Chron. 17:lS, IA;
22:l0 (promise to the Son of David of those
things which are predicted of Jesus in Luke
l:Sl-sSl. Psa. "; lisa. $50, Z; 11:1-1O; 5S:1-l2;
Jer. 23;5. 6; Dan. 2:44, as; 7:13. Ia; 9:25; Mic.
5:2; Matt. 3:2, 3. The expectation of the
Messiah which arose out of those prophe-
cies. as noted in the Gospels.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. l. In those days" The period in
general indicated by the events Just
described. "A decree from Caesar Au-
gustus," 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"
v. 3. His W city" The city of his
ancestors, where the family records
were kept.
v. A. And Joseph also went up .
unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem" The mother If Jesus
lived in Nazareth of Galilee. but the
prophet had foretold that the Messiah
should be born in Bethlehem, the city
of David (Mic. $50 e Sam. 1910. 1t
does not say that Joseph took Mary to
Bethlehem on account of the prophecy,
but implies the guiding providence of
God.
". 5. with Mary" who also was of
the lineage Of David. In a Roman CEN
sus women were not obliged to come in
person, though they paid the poll-tax.
V. z. 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
manger,' etc. 1.-The animals were out
at the time and the manger was not.
being used."-Int. Crit. Com.
v. 8. And there were in the same
country" In the fields near Bethle-
hem. shepherds. iabiding in the
field" The open country, with their
f1ocks. ( W 80
v. 9. "And 10, the angel" rather al
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 colors.
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" hat the words spoken were true;
and a guiding sign, like the sign to the
wise men. | i.
V. Is. with the angel a multitude"
"The whole host of heaven was prais-
ing God, not merely that portion of it
which was visible to the shepherds."-
Int. Crit. Com. Compare 2 Chron
1918; Pisa. 1903: 81; lisa. 6:1-4, and the
vision of Elisha's servant e Kings
GIT.
V. Ia. The song of the angels, the
Gloria in Excelsis, consists of two
strains of three members each.
l. 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 1920; / John IL, 2.
v. IS. "All they that heard it won
dered." 1t was indeed marvellous news.
SO good that many find it hard to be-
lieve that it is true.
V. 10. But Mary" in contrast with
the others, kept all these things" in
her memory. They were treasures
whose value the following years re.
veaied to her. "Pondered them" Kept
them" Kept revolving them, compar.
ing them with the promises of the Old
Testament. and what had been an
nounceG to her.
v. 20. 1.-THE shepherds returned" To
THAR duty as sheDhardS hut with a