The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-12-17
Sunday School Notes
Side Lights on Next Sundays Lesson
for Teachers and Pupils.
Edited by Charles K. Meyers
Dec. 21.-The Word Made Flesh

| Dec 21.-The Word Made Flesh
| christmas Lesson. John !, lis.
Another year has rolled around and
again we are to celebrate the Christ
mas time. 1t is season of the year
long looked forward to with joy by
the civilized people of the world.
Even among peoples not knowing to
the bible their observing ones had
noted that at this season OF the year
the sun reached its furthermost limit
| to the south, and now the days would
be longer, giving promise of the time
when the cold Of winted would be
driven away, and the soft balmy
spring be followed by the fruit bear
ing, grain producing summer and fall
Students of history, even it not
humble believers of the Christ whose
birth we now commemorate, are many
of them ready to state that the Christ
was born at an opportune time in the
career Of the race, and that His in
fiuence for good has been unmeas-
ureable. The much Wanted civiliza-
ton of Rome had been given plenty
of opportunity to show what it could
produce. 1t was sadly lacking in
practice of virtue, truth and what we
call righteousness. The days of nine
teen hundred years ago We're certain
ly those when the teachings of Jesus
were needed How sadly, is shown
in the fact that with the constant
preaching of the gospel message the
world at large is not yet lifted up to
it's moral standards.
Contrary to custom, the scripture
given for the lesson of today does not
take up descriptive matter as to the
birth of Jesus at Bethlehem but rath-
err the spiritual meaning of the event.
The first chapter of John has few
equals in the bible for depth of mean
ing. Next after the first of Genesis
there has been written more COM
ments upon it than any other portion
of the bible. So at this time We shall
not attempt to enter into verse to
verse explanation of the lesson. 1T is
told that in Jesus was life, and that
this life was the light of men, and
how this light shone forth in the
darkness. 1t is told how those who
believed on the name of Jesus are
given power to become sons of God.
That we can behold in Jesus the glory
of God and that Jesus declared Gods
true character in His teachings while
on earth.
We urge on every reader the duty
to make the Christmas time one of
joy for those about them. TO the chill
dren in particular it means so much,
and it would be shame indeed not
to make their hearts glad by some
token of love. A. change in the ev-
eryday monotony of life because it is
Christmas time can certainly be made
and it will mean so much to their
dear precious hearts. Let it not be
time of loading gifts on those who
already have much, but rather a re-
membrance of those who have little.
The great writer, Charles Dickens, in
his Christmas Carols which | read
yearly at this time, gives us an in
sight into what the Christmas spirit
can do for the world, and how even
among the lowly under seemingly I'M
favorable surroundings the keeping
of Christmas gives joy and gladness.
When we compare the condition of
the people of this, our beloved coun-
try because of the birth of the Christ
child and His teachings, with the sur
roundings and customs of those who
know Him not, there is certainly
ground for rejoicing. Thus from a
simply worldly and physical point of
view the birth of the Christ child
should be celebrated. From the larg-
err spiritual there is the more cause
for words of honor and Thanksgiving
at this time. The blessed Jesus came