Evening star., 1923-07-07
Sunday School Lesson

, moniZed with the predictions of
Isaiah. Rejoicing over the revelation.
he took Mary to his home as his un-
sullied bride. The first trial In the
long series of sorrowful experiences
ended In way to increase her faith
and trust in Jehovah.
She faced a new trial when Joseph
and she were both forced to visit
Bethlehem to comply with the decree
of Caesar Augustus. that all the
world should be enrolled" Ramsay
has pointed out that this enrolment,
which has been the subject of con-
troversy and question, has been con-
firmed by the accidental discovery of
an Egyptian manuscript, found in a
rubbish heap In Egypt, and the in
scription accidentally discovered on a
we know 1t was census taken every
fourteen years. Possibly, she
passed the tomb of Rachel on her
way to Bethlehem, there may have
peril. When they reached Bethlehem
they found the village crowded. The
inn was filled. The only shelter
available was a rough chamber, cut
out OF the cliff, which was used as a.
stable. There the Virgin Mary
When the greatest event in history
took place. and God entered. the
human race in the form of the infant
Jesus, the blessed mother tenderly
WTdppcu Iou 6ltI u ioFc ~ tnc
world in swaddling clothes, possibly
Some she had prepared and embroid-
cred upon them the seal of David. and
laid the newborn King in the man
ger.
1t was not long before the shep-
herds from the ancestral fields came
and found the Savior, Christ the
Lord" and told her of the angels
message and the chorus Of the heav-
emily host. While she was thinking
over their visit and their sayings the
wise men came to worship the new
born King, whose light they had seen
in the east. They had followed the
leadership of science. scholarship and
the Scriptures until they saw the
young child with Mary, His mother;
and they fell down and worshiped
Him" When the parents carried
ferings for Mary's publication and
that Of Christ Jesus, their gifts re-
vealed their poverty. The blessings
of both the aged Simeon and the
and filled her with joy. There was
one note of Simeon's that sent terror
to her heart whenever she recalled
the sword that was to pierce her soul
Mothers Teaching and Trials.
In their devotion to the young child
and in obedience to the warning given
to Joseph in a dream that confirmed
the words of the wise men, they has
tened down into Egypt, where they
remained until after the death of
Herod, when they returned to Naza-
reth. While in Egypt Mary COM
menced instructing Jesus. She IN
structed Him in the significance OF
the Sabbath, the synagogue service
and the Scriptures. She taught Him
to touch the .Mezuzah" as He passed
in and out of the house, and then to
kiss the fingers that had come in con-
tact with the sacred name of God, re-
vealing His trust in the Divine watch
care. She. without doubt, supple
mented her instruction by stories OF
the nations history that presented
themselves to ones view from the
heights about Nazareth. which fur
nishes one of the most impressive
views to be found in Palestine.
Matheson has suggested that the
mission of the Mother of Our Lord
was 1.-The preservation of gifted son
for a heavenly mission" There was
danger. which she realized when she
found Him in the temple. that His
love for the heavenly things would
exhaust His physical strength. She
feared possibly that the temple au-
thoritieS, who had marveled at HIS
knowledge, might wish to take Him
under their control and complete His
education, not knowing His mission.
This probably is the key to the refer
ence of the Divine Boys subsection to
Joseph and Mary upon His return
with them to Nazareth, where He de-
veloped under their watch-care men,
tally, physically, spiritually and So
ciaIly.
Eighteen years intervenes before
we get another glimpse into the life
of Mary. 1t came at the wedding in
Cana, when she showed her confidence
in His initiative by telling Him that
there was something lacking. This
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of others and her social instincts that
desired to make everything connected
with the wedding successful. She
showed faith in Jesus by telling the
servants. Whatsoever He sayeth
unto you. do It," These are the last
recorded words of the mother of our
Lord. During her trials, troubles
and testings Jesus had never failed
her and she knew that He could al
ways be trusted to guide and~direct
in the correct way.
Twice again the scriptures refer
ton with the Christ; once during
the Lords ministry in Capernaum.
when she heard that the Master was
in great danger from a hostile multi
tude's criticism. The mothers love
revealed itself in her longing to pro-
tect Him. She stood near the cross
to give Him any possible comfort
and care that would help Him in
His agoNy. Looking down from the
cross upon her. a flood of compass
sion must have filled His soul when
He proved His love for her by com
mitting her to the care of the disciple
whom He loved. Christ knew that
in that hour John needed His moth
er's sympathy and spiritual help. The
last reference to the Virgin Mary in
the Bible is to her presence in the
upper room, where she shared the
first news of His resurrection. She
waited with the members of the early
church for the coming of the Holy
Spirit and under His teachings at
Pentecost she came to understand
the full meaning of the sayings and
scenes that she had stored in her
heart. The mystery anu sufferings
disappeared in the triumph OF her
son. The noble spiritual woman who
sacrificed her life and sunk herself
out of sight in the life of her son
is honored by all Christians, creeds