The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-17
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les.
son for Teachers and Pupils.
BY CHAS. K. MEYERS

2, i-2O.
We are to consider this week the
account in Luke of the birth of Jesus
the Savior l am glad we can study
this lesson at time removed from
the Christmas festivities. Usually
the minds Of parents, teachers, schol-
ars are mostly taken up with the eX-
element which comes with present
making, preparing for the holidays,
entertaining company, when this part
of the bible is considered, and the
great thoughts are lost. At this time
we can consider the fact of the birth
of Jesus calmly and in condition to
have proper impressions made on the
mind.
Let us remember that the birth of
Jesus was the fulfillment of promise
made by God back in the days of the
account of things found in Genesis
3-15. In the 49th chapter of the an
cient book at the 10th verse the prom
Use is given that the tribe of Judah
will be preserved until Shiloh came.
David in the Psalms speaks in glow
ing terms of the coming of the holy
one, and Isaiah in definite words de-
scribes the character of the Savior,
his life work. and manner of death.
The prophet Micha, chapter five, verse
two, points out the very place where
the child was to be born. The learned
Jews were able to tell Herod from the
scriptures that the Messiah was to
be born at Bethlehem. So the won.
derful birth was but the fulfilling of
promise.
Of course, year after year, the faith
full Jews looked for the Messiah. In
Isaiah TIA the eXpectant ones were
given the information that sign of
the advent of the chosen one would
be that "A virgin shall conceive and
bear a son, and shall call his name
Emmanuel" Our lesson verses today
tell how this prophecy came true in
very fact. There are some alleged
wise ones" who would fain believe
that they wipe out the truth of the
bible account of the birth of Jesus
| by asking how child could be born
by Mary under the circumstances CIV
en-. They insist that such thing could
not be. Let them explain the birth
of any babe; how starting from a
germ there is born child, which has
lungs which will purify blood, heart
which will beat increasingly, for hun
dred years in some cases, eyes which
will see, vocal organs which sound
in many keys, digestive organs which
will assimilate food. Herein is mir
acle as far as human explanation is
concerned. So the motherhood of
Mary is wholly within the power of
the creator of all things to bring
about
Let us then read believingly of the
birth of the Christ child, picture in
mind the pure Hebrew girl who bowed
to the will of God as told her by the
angel, who herself was not informed
as to the full character and mission
of her offspring. Then consider the
message to the shepherds, to the wise
men, their expressions of alteration of
the babe because they had faith to
believe that he was the promised
Jesus. May the rejoicing of that day
find echo in our own hearts, and
may we give thanks for the birth of
the blessed Redeemer.
The difference between nations and
people who believe in Jesus and those
who do not, is a striking evidence of
the divinity. of the son of Mary. 1t
is the bible and the words of the
Christ which are leading China at this
time to form a republic based on the
principles of justice and righteous
ness. The leaders of the new move
ment are Christians. 1t is the working
out of the principles set forth by the
babe of Bethlehem when grown up
which have caused the wonder. Soon
the millions of China will be remem-
bering the birthday of Jesus and add
ing their praises to those of the mil
lions of the western world. Those
who read the recent letter of Miss
Glassburner printed in this paper will
remember of her statement as to
Cinnamon who had been taught in the
American and English missions who
were behind the new republic. This
is evidence at first hand from wo-
man of preeminent character and
knowledge of the situation.
The birth of Jesus means everything
to us all, and especially to those who
believe on His name and shape their
Lives from His words. He did come
to break the bondage of sin, to give
us salvation and blessed eternal life.
|