The Carlisle independent., 1909-12-23
THE BIRTHOF
 CHRIST Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 26, 1909 Specially Arranged for This Paper

PLACE.-Bethlehem of Judea, a small
 town five or six miles south of Jerusalem.
 Suggestions and Practical Thought.
 A Journey Across the Centuries
 with the Wise Men of the East.-All
 through the Bible we read of angels
 visiting this earth on messages of
 mercy. We are taught in Hebrews
 that they are "all ministering spirits
 sent forth to do service for the sake
 of them that shall inherit salvatioin."
 It requires no great strain on the inn
 agination to conceive of the three wise
 men coming to earth to see together
 with us what the King they had sought
 and found had been doing all these
 centuries since that wonderful visit. I. We Visit Bethlehem-Describe the situation, and note what had taken place here, especially as a city of David. How Mary and Joseph came to be there when Jesus was born. The manager in the inn. The angels announcing his birth to the shepherds. Repeat the song of the angels, and its interpretation in John 3:16. The Coming of the Wise Men.-We see them in the far east gazing at new star in the heavens. Perhaps they will tell us why they followed the star, at such great cost of time and treas ure and comfort, over dreary wastes,
 amid hunger, and thirst. and cold, and toll, lin perils of rivers, perils of wilderness, perils of robbers;"E like the queen of Sheba who came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold a greater than Solomon is here;" like the merchant who sold all
 that he had to obtain the pearl of
 great price.
 What Motives Led Them to Un-
 dertake the Journey?-We are in formed by Tacitus, by Suetonius, and by Josephus, whose works these wise
 men doubtless could have read, that
 there prevailed throughout the en- tire east at that time, an intense con yiction, derived from ancient prophe-
 cies, that ere long a powerful mon larch would arise in Judea and gain dominion over the world. Vergil, who lived little before this, owns (fourth Eclogue) that child from heaven was looked for, who should restore the golden age, and take away sin.
 They could have learned more def-
 nitely about this hope from the Jews,
 who were scattered everywhere with 1 their Scriptures and their hopes, since
 the Babylonian captivity.
 They neded the forgiveness of sins l and the assurance from God as to the | conditions on which they could be for. | given.
 They found the King, net in Her | od's palace as they expected, but in
 a manager in a common village inn, of royal descent from the Father in | heaven and the royal line of David on l earth, and in those circumstances 1 through which he could best realize his kingdom in the hearts of men. They expressed their allegiance and worship by gifts, falling down, wor- | shipping, and offering. The first, the worship of the body; the second, of l the soul; the third, of their goods With these three, our bodies, our
 souls, our goods. we are to worship | him.
 H. With the Wise Men We Draw | Thirty Years Nearer, and Watch the King Doing His Kingly Work (Draw the facts from the class.)
 Curing sin, disease, sorrow, and l death (Name instances)
 Teaching Gods heavenly truth. Changing mems lives.
 An example of the perfect life. Giving his life to save men. Rising from the dead, the proof and | power of immortal life
 Ever-living King and Redemer; thus manifested as seeking not his
 self to serve and bless and help the l people over whom he is king. III. Let Us Watch the Glorified King Organizing and Developing His | Kingdom GAS recorded in the Acts. ) | The review of last Sunday will fur nish material for this picture, from | the day of Pentecost and it's gift of | power, through the church at Jerusa
 lem, the missions of the apostles and | of Paul, to the gospel proclaimed and | churches formed throughout the | known world.
 ". With Our Wise Men Let Us I Move Swiftly Down the Centuries, and | Glance at What the King Born at Beth | lehem Has Been Doing to Change the Kingdoms of This World Into the | Kingdom of Heaven. What the | Christ-K King did while living on earth
 and after his ascension in founding
 and developing the early church amid great opposition of Herods who would destroy both the King and his works
 and in conflicts with the world pow CTS of evil under the Roman emperors has been continued with increasing | success down through the centuries. The best Christmas gift is to en- tor the service of this King; to strive | with all sour souls to bring all men
 under his benign sway; to labor and give and pray for tho coming of his Kingdom in every heart. in every land <~ h ain thA Mnnr uaop at h~nA f~ orv,