The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-12-23
The
Sunday =ScI1OOl
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DECEMBER 20.

Subject: The Birth of Christ, Matt. .:
1-f2-Golden Text: Matt. 1921
Commit Verses II, t2 Com.
mentary on the Lesson.
TIME 3. G.
PLACES.-Jerusale Bethlehem.
EXPOSITION.-T. The Wise Men
Seeking Jesus TO Worship Him, 4, 2.
The certainty of Gods Word comes
out remarkably in this passage. Seven
hundred years before Micah had pro.
phesied that He that was "to be Ruler
in Israel, whose goings forth have
been from old, from everlasting" was
to come forth out of Bethlehem (Mi.
can 6:2). But she that was chosen
to be the mother of Jesus did not live
in Bethlehem, but far away Nazar.
eth. But men who were utterly un.
conscious of Gods purposes and pro.
phecies, by many decrees and ways
worked together so that Mary was
brought to Bethlehem at the time of
our Lords birth, and thus Gods
Word was fulfilled and His eternal
plan carried out (cf. Luke 2:1-6; Ps.
1870. The sure word of prophecy
spoken over seven centuries before
by man who was borne along by
the Holy Spirit" was thus fulfilled to
the very letter, in spite of all the Gun.
ming of great men. Through their
Tery wickedness. Gods purposes and
words were fulfilled These wise men
from the East were the ancient magi
They were students of the stars, as
trologers; they sought to live up to
the best light they had, and God met
them where they were and gave them
moro linht II &c oil 1,
lives up to the light that he has will
get more (cf. Acts 10:1-5, 30-S2),
but the man who refuses to live up to
the light that he has will lose even
that Matt. 25:29; Q Thess. 2:11,
12). AS they studied the stars. God
led them by star. The bright light
that led them on was dim, only star
light, but it was the best they had:
and, as they followed it faithfully.
God gave them fuller light. that of
His revealed Word, and following
that they find Him who is "the Light
OF the world" John S:12). In their
earnestness to find the King, they
took long, weary Journey, but their
labor was abundantly rewarded.
They made far better use of their
little light than the chief priests and
scribes did of their fuller light.
III. Herod Seeking Jesus to Kill
Him, 3-S. The tidings that came to
Herod that the King was come should
have brought him joy, but in reality
thev troubled him. for he wanted to
be king himself. So many heart to-
day that ought to welcome Christ as
King with JOY is troubled at the dec
laration that Christ is King, for we
wish to be king ourselves. But not
only Herod was troubled, but al Jeru-
salem, as We'll Jerusalem, the city
OF the great King, whose whole glory
was to centre in Him, was unwilling
10 receive Him when He came; was
troubled about His coming instead of
rejoicing at it John 1:1n. How
many in the church would be trou-
bled If they knew Jesus was coming
Tomorrow. Herod thought the pro.
per place to go for information about
the Christ was to the Scriptures. In
that he was right (John $500. If
he had studied the Bible as he ought
Tor himself 1t would not have been
necessary for him to go to the chief
priests and scribes to tell him; but
many Kings and many common Deo-
pie instead Of searching the Scrip-
lures Tor themselves, depend upon
the theologians for their information.
Herod was very thorough in his
search to find out about the Christ:
he gathered all the chief priests and
all the scribes; he inquired diligently
OF the wise men; he told them to 20
and search diligently. He laid his
plans with great skill: he was bouud
TO make sure. He thought he had
left no loophole in his schemes, but
ne had left God out of his calcula-
tions, 50 in spite of his thoroughness.
thev all came TO nothing.
III. The Wise Men Finding Jesus.
o-i2. As soon as the wise men have
received the desired information thew
started Immediately to find the King
whom they sought. Again God leads
them by the star, and leads them to
the very spot where the young child
Was' They were more accustomed to
beinB ied by stars than any other
way, and God adapts His leading TO
our necessity. While Herod and Je-
rnsa!em had been troubled at the
thought that Christ was come. the
wise men of the East rejoiced with
exceeding great joy to find Him.
Those who enjoy the largest priyil-
eyes, oftentimes least appreciate
them, and those who have the least
hght are most eager for more (cf.
Matt. $40, III. There is an eager
ness to hear about Christ to-day in
heather lands that Is sometimes lack
Ing in so-called Christian lands. There
Is no greater joy to the true heart
than that of finding Jesus. When
they entered the house they fell down
and worshiped Jesus. They saw Mary.
His mother, but they did not worship
her. Worship may not have meant
to them all that 1t means to us, but IL
Is right to worship Jesus (Heb. 1861.
When they had worshiped they pre-
sented unto Him their gifts. That is
the true order; first, worship, then
giving. They gave Him their very
best. gold and frankincense and
myrrh (cf. Ps. 1910, IL. They
were wise men indeed. Many to-day
give Him only their poorest Note
| carefully the conduct of the wise
men: 1. They sought Jesus. 2. They
found Jesus. g. They rojoiced over
Jesus. 4. They worshiped Jesus. 81
They gave gifts to Jesus. God now
guides them by still another method,
q dream.
A demonstration of the practical