Evening star., 1921-12-24
CHRISTMAS LESSON:
THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.
Matt, 2.i-12.
Golden Text-And when they
had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold,
and frankincense, and myrrh.-
Matthew. 2.11.
BY REV. HUGH t. STEVENSON.

BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
Christmas calls for all mankind to
consider the greatest event in human
history. 1t proclaims in song, spirit and
service the story Of the birth Of Jesus
in Bethlehem's manger. Painters. poets
and preachers have more themes for
their studies, songs and sermons in
these portions Of the Scripture. which
relate the events connected with the
nativity Of the Christ child. than in any
other part Of the Bible. From the hour
when God emptied Himself Of His glory
to assume the form of a child until the
present moment, He has been influence
ing the movements Of men and nations.
Publicists assembled in Washington to
attend the arms conference have been
impressed with it's religious character,
which is distinctfvely Christian. Philos-
|ophers have tried to solve the influence
of Christianity that has permeated the
Of Jesus and has changed the current
Of civilization. Every one who has
tried to trace back this mighty river
which has overfiowed the limitations Of
race and nation until the whole earth
has been blessed with its life-giving
birth Of Jesus Christ. To the human
interest in the birth Of a child has been
added the religious and historical in the
miracle Of the ages when God entered
the human race in the birth of the
Saviour. who is Christ the Lord"
Our lesson centers about one of the few
recorded events in connection with this
fundamental fact Of the Christian faith.
The miraculous elements in connection
with the advent Of the Lord. while i'm
possible to men. are not SO with God.
Matthew, in writing his biography Of
To- ta hat 10 faith
was not only that OF their fathers,
whose hopes for a Messiah were full
filled in the Master, but also that Chris
tianity was aworld religion, freed from
the bands and restrictions Of local or
national faith. passes over the miracu-
lous elements Of Christ's birth. He
refers to the advent of Jesus as his
torical fact, which is the foundation of
human salvation and the hope of the
race. 1t may have been that the char
acteristic faith Of the chosen people
did not call for his reference to the
miraculous element. when he cited
how the advent of the Christ had been
the subject not only of prophecy but
also of the study of scientists of the
east.
events connected with the birth of
Jesus. who had been born in accord
ance with prophetic prediction in
Bethlehem. 1t is remarkable that the
former Jewish tax collector, writing
his gospel to prove that the babe of
expected theocratic king. records how
wise men from the east made the
first announcement to the national
authorities in Jerusalem Of the Mes
siah's birth. We are not told who
they came. They have been held to
have been kings. This theory was
based upon Isaiah. 9.3: THE Gentiles
shall come to Thy light. and kings to
the brightness of Thy rising" Ira
dition says that they were three in
number and assigns to them the
names of Casper. Melchior and Bal
thasar. Skulls Of three oriental kings
who are said to have borne these
names and been the first Gentiles to
worship Christ, have been placed IN
fretted gold and gems. under the
magnificence Of Cologne cathedral
Some legends make them to be de-
scendan;s of Shem. Ham and Japheth.
representing religion. service and
rulers from all classes Of men. They
have been portrayed as white. brown.
and black. representing all races.
While unknown by n"me or number
they represented the scholarship.
science and statesmen of their day.
Daniel. they were scientific students Of
the heavens and seekers after light
and truth in the various fields OF
knowledge.
The arrival of these travel-stained
men with their retinue of servants
created a sensation among the Jeru-
salem officials when they asked where
they could find the newly-born King
Of the Jews. Among the spiritual
souls who sought fellowship with
God in prayer in the temple there
had passed in whispers. from mouth
to ear. the story of how Simeon. the
| venerable servant. and Anna. the
aged prophecies, who for years had
been waiting the coming of the Mes
siah. claimed that they had seen Him
They told how they were enabled to
recognize the long-looked-for re-
demption of Jerusalem In the babe
recently brought to tee temple from
Bethlehem, but not one word of their
discovery ever reached the crafty and
despised Idumean uSurper, whose
hold upon the throne was very slen-
der and absolutely illegal. If these
Gentle scholars surprised Jerusalem
it is safe to say that they were dis
appointed to find that the leading
men of the capital city knew nothing
concerning the birth Of their King,