Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-01-04
INTERNATIONAL.
SUNl6XSQlOOL
LESSON
(By e. o. SELLERS, Acting Director OF
the Sunday School Course Of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
Copyright 1917, Western Newspaper Union. }
LESSON FOR DECEMBER %
THE STORY OF THE FIRST
CHRISTMAS.

N6hI = ] MAO
LESSON TEXT-Matthew 2:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-There is born to you
this day in the city OF David, Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.-Luke 2:u
The story of the birth Of Jesus is
recorded in three Of the four Gospels,
Matthew, Luke and John, each Of
which contributes some feature essen
tial to complete the picture. No one
should teach this lesson who does
not have q good Harmony Of the
Gospels" Every year for the As years
Of the International Sunday School
Lessons, we have had the Christmas
lesson taken from these three Gospels
one at time. This year in closing
the present series, we unite all three
Gospels in one complete story, 1.-THE
Story of the First Christmas"
The order of events should clearly
| be kept in mind as follows: ''The
angelic announcement to Zacharias,
the priest, while in the exercise OF
his ministerial Office. The angelic an
nouncement to Mary, the mother of
Jesus, and to Joseph, her espOused
husband. Mary's visit to her cousin,
Elizabeth, and the birth of John the
Baptist. The birth of Jesus and his
circumcision on the eighth day (Luke
2:21). His redemption some 81 days
later, introducing Simon the priest
duke 2 :22), and the publication of
the mother.
The coming of Jesus was at the most
oppOrtune time in all the history OF
the world, for Palestine was the CEN
trail region Of the Roman empire. The
whole civilized world was subject to
Roman domination. He was born
, while the entire world was at peace,
for once in its history. Travel was
2 at it's best, for the Roman military
:. roads all conferred in Rome and eX-
$ tended throughout the empire. The
f Greek language IVES spoken every
s where, along with native languages
so that the Gospel could readily bt
g heard in all parts Of the empire. Th'
a Old Testament was translated int
"a Greek. The Jews were scattered
throughout all lands, carrying this vi
n Testament with them, and had estan
g lished their synagogues in nearly eN
,o ery city and town. There was ais
4 widespread intellectual and mora
al awakening, and there was wide-sprea
w RELIGIOUS unrest and a hungering fG
d something better.
,e l. The Search. Notice that he WI
was born on this first Christmas, w;
en- the "only begotten of God" This di
he inc being became flesh, a strange al
Oh seemingly impossible union, but on
,rs such q union of the human and dlvll
in. could draw man to God. II Jes
us had not been identified with the OWL
u.s. nature of God, all the love, honor al
of devotion which we give to him, won
it'll lead us into idolatry. O Wlsdo
re- seeking wv. 1, y. See also Acts Ii
ON Who these men were. we 90 not kho
gs. They were evidently students or
nv stars, and perhaps came from Per'
ess whittier Balaam went. (NumD'
ons 2Y:7: Numbers "a :17-19) They m
have known of Daniels prophe
DIN They came because they had seen
ovo star. A little light, only small 81
on aud we may have the sun. &c
hot S;12) The highest wisdom is to KIN
ono God. prov. 9:1O) We do not nj
,,,os to seek far to find him. The high
Tor. wisdom is also teachable: "Where
two he that is born?" These wise Il
49,. were not the first ones to seek q
~ for the humble shepherds who
heard the angelic host duke z
ICY. Immediately went to Jerusa
TO make sure that the good news
=. :. true. Tradition only gives us
80. names of these men. They typl1y
-. world. the first Gentiles who cam
'"'' seek Jesus. (2) Wickedness Seei
~ 3-s). It is interesting to
oe- the alarm of Herod, his 81
.ne cion and jealousy. Why? Note
az. carefulness of Herod's search. L
'a the chief priests, who were
- ''H ~ ologians; then the scribes
LAWYERS, who were the historl
,an then the common people who
~. familiar with the traditions:
finally. the wise men ". y.
f,or- II. Wisdom Rewarded wv. y
Pnt Persistent Obedient searching
.e..op- God always brings wisdom. n
wes The steps of the wise men.
CEN sought, they found, they rejoiced'
that worshiped and they gave gifts.
s+o+o stable of Christ's birth Is evident
exchange for house ". IL and
% the 2:O. The gifts they presented
sod,v threefold significance: Gold
,mem- royalty, indicating divine glory F
rnoro incense for deity, the aroma
life; Myrrh, signifying death. his
n,.oo. and its value to mankind. Notice
tesnth they did not worship Mary.
oxor- III, Wickedness Foiled wv. 1
The God interviewed ". 12). Motto
these impotent rage of the enemy "
e writ Chrlst was ue'l>eiou. AAe
EN- or mayed. and the people were des
Suggestions: The cry "wher
cood the human heart is here ans'
God answers all honest searching
himself gave his best gift (JOhn