Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-13

INTRODUCT1ON-In the month of De-
cember the rural population of ancient Italy
celebrated festival called Saturnalia.
whose origin was ascribed to the gods. AT
first 1t was kind of harvest-home occa-
sion, not unlike our Thanksgiving. Under
the emperors games were introduced. The
festivities began about the 18th of the
month and continued week. during which
time all business was suspended, social dis
tinctions were forgotten. crowds of people
pressed along the thoroughfares, presents
were exchanged. feasting and revelry were
in the houses and all classes made merry.
In the second Christian century the bishop
of Rome instituted movable feast in
commemoration of the birth of Christ. The
eastern churches observed it In April or
May. In the fourth century, after due con-
sideratfon, the festival of the nativity was
fixed on the 25th of December. 1t has been
thought by some that this was done to dis
place the heather observance above men
toned. Whether designed or not, 1t had
that effect. For many centuries the retoic-
ing began at Christmas and prolonged In
the early weeks of the year has been tenn
pered by thoughts of the advent The les
son of the day covers incidents connected
with that event.
VISITORS-Luke records the visit of the
shepherds on the morning after the birth,
and the presentation In the temple at JeEu-
salem. Joseph and Mary must have re-
turned to Bethlehem, perhaps to complete
the listing ordered by Caesar Nuke, IT'D,
while other visitors came from the east,
probably from the ancient home of Abra-
ham Gen., x:25). They We're called wise
men, class of men who, like the FRIENDS
of Job, devoted themselves to the study OF
philosophy and religion. By many 1t Is pc
lieved that they had access to the prophetic
writings of Israel, which, by the captivity,
had been extensively distributed among the
learned. There was a general expectation
throughout the world at that time that an
f,,,v n
These wise men had seen star (Numo,
xxiv:1O, which they had interpreted as an
omen of the birth of a king. They came
therefore, to Jerusalem, the capital of the
nation, supposing that the infant prince
would be among those in authority. Thelr
purpose was praiseworthy. 1t was no idie
curiosity, neither spirit of enmfty tnat
brought them: they desired simply to pay
their homage lisa, ix:3) In this they may
have been moved by the good spirit OF God
ANXIETY-The appearance OF these
men in Jerusalem, their statement OF What
they had seen before they left home tnelr
question and their declared purpose caused
no small commotion. Herod was greatly trou-
bled An Edomite by descent, proseiyte
to the Jewish religion, he had come to the
throne by war and bloodshed. Ambitious
and cruel, he feared a rival, but propaply
knew something Of the oid-tlme preoiclioh
of the Messiah The royal family, espe-
cially the son who succeeded this monster,
would share his anxiety. They would nat
urally express their thoughts to suooldl-
mates in the public service, and the 1eehhS
of insecurity would gradually pervade an
official circles. 1t is possible that the
church party and the people would be oi-
vided. Pious souls there were waiting pray
erfully for the coming OF the promlsea oiae
(John i:45), and many were weary OF no
man rule (Acts, t:6). But, on the othef
hand, partly because of honor and emoiu
ment many desired to retain the existing
order quite content to be under the RUE
The discussions re-
surIing from this diversity of opinion ana
interest would add to the general excite
ment, until the theme would be on every
COJJNSEI-Wicked thoughts and pur-
noses entered the heart of Herod, for the
execution of which he needed fuller 1nfor-
nation. Where is this child, the prospec-
tive king? He is not in the palace, neither
in Jerusalem. The chief priests and scf7Des,
the high officials of the church, were called
together and consulted. They were not, as
a rule, men of piety e Chron., xxxvi:lD,
but they were acquainted with the Scrip
lures. Seated in the great counsel cham.
Der they represented the best learning of
the nation (Matt. IT'D. Herod required
them to tell him where Christ should be
born" For their reply they searched the
sacred writings, nor needed they to search
long. The custodians of the parchments,
with more care and precision than we exer-
else now had a system Of indexing by
which any subject might be quickly exam
ined John. v:39), and every detail concern
ing the great king might easily pc traced.
The proof text was found micah, wy, and
the answer was given in the very language
of the old prophet, who had written seven
centuries before. Here is the first Jewish
testimony to Jesus, delivered in His in
fancy, the beginning of thai overwhelming
evidence which afterward was employed in
convincing the people that GODS anointed
had come.
ORDERS-Having obtained the desired
information, Herod called the wise men and
inquired concerning the time when the Star
appeared. This was the second step In
working out his fiendsh design Because,
afterward, he ordered the slaughter of all
the innocents two years old and under (Ch.,
lilo, it is thought by some that that in
dicated the time which they gave him. They
were then sent to Bethlehem, with instruc-
tons to search for the child and return to
Herod and bring him word He would make
these wise and good men the advanced
agents of his crime. What consummate
hypocrisy is this? What hellish hate? The
Lord Of glory began His career with muir
derous king In search of Him psalm, ii:2).
It was a right thing which Herod proposed
Ito worship Jesus, emblematic of that
honor which all kings must ultimately pay
Him (Rev., xxi:24. But His concealed pur-
pose was the earliest form of that enmity