The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-01-31
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les.
son for Teachers and Pupils
By CHAS. X. MEYERS.

S~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have this week for our study the
visit of the wise men to the infant
Jesus. Last time we learned as to the
recognition of the Christ by two faith
full Jews, Simeon and Anne. Now we
are to hear of those of the Gentle
world paying the infant Savior their
homage, through faith in what had
been divinely revealed to three men,
who are known in bible history as the
wise Men,"
How these men came to be in COM
pany and to see Jesus at the same
time the record does not tell. Those
who have read the remarka BILE book
Ben Hur will remember that General
Wallace makes the opening chapters
intensely interesting with his ideas of
how and why these men came to be in
company. While we do not believe in
drawing on Imagination to add to the
simple words of the bible, yet we can
IAoI ouy WIZ So1AS oAIooAO
read the opening chapters of Ben Hur,
in connection with the study of the
lesson of this week.
The record says that three men
came to Jerusalem looking for Jesus,
saying that they had seen His star in
the east" and had come to worship
Him. They made extensive inquiry
and their mission came to the ears of
the king, who was troubled over the
matter. He called the high priest of
the Jews and his counsellors and
asked OF them as to whether their his
tory showed when and where the
Christ was to be born. Based on the
prophecy found in Micah SO, the san.
hedrin informed Herod that the prom
ised redeemer was to be born in Beth
lehem. With the intent to find the
child and destroy it, Herod pretended
to the wise men that he wanted them
to return and tell him as to the sue
cess of their journey, because he too,
desired to pay the promised one hon.
age.
The wise men find the child and
without hesitation make it presents
and showed kingly honors. Here
comes in another of the examples Of
faith in what God has revealed, and
action upon it. The student in chem
istry has set before him bottles and
boxes containing fluids and powders
of which he knows nothing except as
told him by the professor, or he has
read about in the book. He is told
that if he does certain things with
such and such substances, such and
such results will take place. He
could, OF course, refuse to believe what
is told him, but if he is wise he eXer-
cises faith in the knowledge given
him, and proceeds to act as if it was
true. Then he obtains results. This
in crude way illustrates what we
should do with the declarations OF the
bible. We are told of Jesus, His life
and death, His promise of eternal life. |
1t is then up to us to believe what the
bible says and act as if it were true,
or to reject the whole thing as false.
NOW, l and hundreds of thousands Of
others believe the gospel to be true,
and act on that belief. We are salts
fed thus far with our experiences in
the Christian life and urge others to
have faith and follow Jesus.
The evil designs Of Herod failed,
as will all plans to change the will OF
God concerning any matter on which
He gives his word. The wise men went
home without returning to Jerusalem,
and the father of Jesus was warned
to take the babe out of the country,
and obeyed. May the study of this
lesson lead many to seek Jesus. to
present Him their lives for service, to
have faith in His promises, and live
the happier here on earth and re-
ceive blessed everlasting life.