Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13
for. Sunday Scbols.
STAR LESSON FOR JANUARY "a.
SECRETARY AMERICAN SOCIETY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
THE WISE MEN FIND JESUS. Matthew :l,la
By Rev. ]. E. Gilbert, d.

ESUS. Matthew If :1-i2
of the unregenerate heart which pursued
Him throughout His career and caused HE
SYNONYMOUS death on the cross ozark.
xy.32o.
JOURNEY-The wise men departed
from the preseu.'e of Herd, ha Ing lSH,rSed
what they sought. the city OF the Redeem-
ers birth Bethlehem a little quiet COM
munity, perched like birds nest among:
the rocky hills OF Judea, lay FIVE miles
south OF Jerusalem. The home of Jesse and
of his great son, David Il Sam, xvi:4D, III
was famed, not In Israel only, but in all
other lands as we'll As the travellers moved
forward, that same star which they had
seen In their own country, whose guidance
they had followed. went before them. BY
1t they directed their footsteps as the chill.
dren of Israel found their way through the
wilderness TO Canaan by the cloud of the
Divine presence (Numb, ix:20-2D. This
supernatural phenomenon whatever 1t may
have been. shows that God has not limited
His gracious manifestations to a chosen
portion of the mankind. not even in the
olden times to the posterity of Abraham. He
has ever had race-wide purpose, indicated
in this instance by special escort OF hon.
est seekers for the infant Emmanuel At
length the star stood over the Bethlehem
Rome. and when it became stationary the
masi, knowing that their search was sue
cessful, were filed with great Joy.
WORSHIP-Jesus was born in stable
and laid in a manger luke, ii:16l. Our
lesson saws He was In house when the
wise men came Verse III. 1t has been sup
posed that Joseph was able to secure fer
mother and child more comfortable quar-
tiers than those at first obtained, and ira
dition represents that the women of the
town. on learning OF the advent, offered
their houses to the little stranger. 1t must
have been an exciting occasion when these
visitors from a far country gained admis-
sion to the dwelling-honorable men seek
ing child. The intelligence must have
been rapidly carried into all parts of the
village, drawing the people together doubt
numbers Falling down
trate, their faces to the floor. in oriental
custom. the wise men worship the boy. the
future king. Then opening their treasures.
brought probably on the backs of camels,
they presented their gifts, a custom in
eastern countries from time immemorial
Gen., xxxifi:S), when interiors would hum
BILE themselves in the presence of the great.
Gold. frankincense and myrrh" were Of
fered. the things usually bestowed upon
kings Ct Kings. x:10).
WARNED-Wicked men are not al.
ways to act their pleasure. Sometimes the
spirit of God restraints them by moving di-
rectly upon their minds and hearts tEx.,
xviii:1D. At other times that spirit prompts
other men SO to act as to thwart their de-
signs psalm. lxxvi:10). Herod will not be
permitted to destroy this boy Jesus whose
time for sacrificial death is subsequent to
a long and noble service for truth. Matt,
xvi:21) The wise men whom he would en-
ploy against Him, by a dream or vision, a
method long established Numb, xii:s). and
frequently used during the evangelical his
tory (Matt, xxvii:19), were made aware
of the kings purpose. The communication
of this intelligence to their minds caused
their return to their own country without
visiting Jerusalem again, leaving Herod TO
devise another scheme of more extensive
slaughter, by which he went into history
as the most cruel and heartless of men
oversees 1919. This act of the magi, under
divine instruction. is further mark OF
REFLECTIONS events of this
lesson foreshadow the entire life of Christ
and the history of the centuries that fol-
lowed His birth. By their attitude toward
Him men have classified themselves as
enemies or friends. The wicked have OPP
posed Him, sometimes with relentless fury,
resorting to the basest measures for pre-
venting the spread of His kingdom There
can be nothing burt an irrepressIble conflict
between Jesus and all the powers of dark
ness q John, iS), and in that conflict there
can be no result other than the confusion
of the latter. But the good and wise of
all ages and lands have sought Jesus and
honored Him. They have come from near
and from far. They have brought their
treasures and laid them at His feet. They
have bowed down with reverence before
Him and owned Him Lord. They have
gone out from Him into distant parts.
loyal and devoted to His cause 1t Is i'm
portant for every student of these lessons
to adjust his relations to Christ. To all
who will come to Him, led by the spread
ing glory. exceeding that of the star that
hung over Bethlehem, We are able TO prom.
ise rich reward.
Questions Answered.
Any person may mail any biblical ques-
ton to DR.. Gilbert, 1903 r street northwest.
this city, and receive answer through
The Star.
40 What was the trouble with your ques-
ton and answer No. 80 in last weeks Star?
Answer. The compositor made a mistake.
and set up Mat, iv:l, which should have
been Nal, iv:1
Al. What star was 1t that guided the wise
men2
Answer Much learning has been EN-.
ployed. especially in English-speaking couu.
tries, in an attempt to answer this ques.
ton, and the results reached have been ex-
ceedingly varied. Certain astronomers have
held that It was comet that appears at
long intervals, but that seems untenable.
The greater part of evangelical scholars
think that II was miraculous display. as
this view best accounts for its movable
characteristics
AZ. Was the dream Of the wise men an
experience such as we have now?
Answer. No. 1t was more like vision.