Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-10-05

ed in wisdom, and in stature and II
favor with God, and with man
Luke 2:52.
The birth of Jesus of Nazareth
was unique in one respect at least
it was not the beginning OF His
life. Nor did His death end His
life. John declares most emphat1
cally that in the beginning He was
that is, already in existence. wher
the beginning began. All of the
eVangelists record His claim to this
and Paul refers to it as the basis
of His faith. And yet His birth was
the most important event in the
history up to that time, and marks
the watershed of all history. We
recognize that fact now in every
letter we write, in every business
transaction, in every newspaper we
print. Every event of history is
either B. C. or A. d.
Strange, therefore, that we cannot
determine the time of it. Ordinar
lily, it is supposed to have occurred
December 25th, B. c.. 4. Both OF
these dates are certainly erroneous
Shepherds watch their flOcks by
night from May to October; it must
have occurred during those months.
The best evidences now are that
it was during the year B. c. 8. we
know positively that it was when
Quirinius was first governor OF
Syria and when he ordered a cen
sus, in obedience to tho Emperor
Augustus command.
Just that year is difficult to de-
termine absolutely. For many years
Iuke's account seemed full of in
accuracies, but recent Investigations
with archaeologist's spade have
shown that Luke is accurate to the
smallest degree. He is so trust
worthy in all of the statements that
can be verified that we are abso
lutely safe in trusting his accuracy
in those which have net yet beer
verified.
Mary and Her Sorrows
The interesting thing to us is
that man was unconsciously fulfill
ing the prophecies of God. He haC
said the Messiah should be born IN
Bethlehem; and yet Mary was q
resident of Nazareth, 100 miles away
and the time for her delivery hao
almost come. Then comes the order
everyone must be counted, and &C
cording to Jewish methods, they
must be counted at their ancestral
home. Since Joseph and Mary were
both of the house of David GhrougE
different sons, they had to so tC
Bethlehem, David's home. True
Joseph might have left Mary at
Nazareth, but under the clrcum
stances he could not get her con
sent. The village gossips had already
wounded her bitterly with their wag
cling tongues, and they would never
let up if the baby should be born
while Joseph was away. 1t was q
hard journey for this expectan1
young mother to ride on donkey
back over a hundred miles of noun
tain roads, requiring four or five
days to make the trip; but it woulC
have been harder for her to have
stayed at Nazareth. These were only
the beginning Of her sorrows.
The force driving her on tc
Bethlehem, however, although she
did not know it, was the word o1
God spoken by Micah many years
before.
You know the old, old story-the
inn, the stable, the manager, the shep
herds, the naming at the circum
cision on the eighth day, and the
presentation in the temple SIX miles
away after six weeks. You recall
the slaughter of the innocents by
Herod's order hoping he might get
rid of the KING who was threatening
his throne, as he thought. You re-
member the flight. into Egypt, and
the return after the death of Herod
(Which took place in B. c. A., and the
settling again in the old home in
Nazareth.
The principal thing in this period
was the repeated dangers for the
virgins son. The devil tried to
have Mary stoned to death for i'm
morality, but Joseph saved her, after
the dream, by marrying her. The
long Journey might have been dis
astrous to two Hves-it would be to
any one today. The stable and the
modern hospital are a long way
apart for safe delivery. The
SLAUGHTER ordered by Herod was
another of the devils tools, the flight
into Egypt was not without danger
to a six weeks old baby-but God
overruIed all of this, and kept His
word absolutely. In the fulness OF
time. He sent His only begotten Son
to be born of a virgin, to live as
one of us, to die in our stead, to
fulfill all Righteousness and to rise
again and be seated with Him on
His throne until He comes again
and reigns on the throne of His
Father David. And all the devils in
hell or out of it, headed by their
wise and subtle master, could not
prevent one small part OF Gods plan
from being realized, try as much or
as powerfully as he might.
The Waiting Ones
1t was not to the high and mighty,
but to the humble shepherds, that
the announcement Of the birth of the
Saviour came. These shepherds
were no ordinary herdsmen, but were
men who could understand the an
nouncement of the angels; and this
understanding required spiritual ca
pacity rather than mental. Some
of the most learned men today are
not able to recognize an angel or an
angelic message; while some humble
follower of Jesus Christ is able to
interpret the code messages of God
without difficulty. Their spiritual
capacity was the result of their pa
tlent waiting on God. and looking
for Him to fulfill His promises,
They were undoubtedly looking for
the Messiah to come, although it is
certain they did not expect Him in
that way.
There were others who were wait
ing for Him, and expecting the Mes
siah to come. One of these was
Simeon. Inwardly he was just, out
wardly devout-that is, his life was
a cody one. He had beer waiting