The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-01-04
Lesson for January 7
BIRTH AND INFANCY OF JESUS


LESSON TEXT-MattheW 2:1-12.
GOLDEN TEXT-And she shall bring
forth son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS; for he shall save his
people from their sins. Matthew 1921.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Gifts for the Lit
tie Jesus
JUNIOR TOPIC-In Search of the
Saviour-King.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Honoring the Child-King
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
JC-The Incarnation.
We are now entering upon six
months study of the gospel according
TO Matthew. In order that the lessons
may be properly presented the teacher
must master the book of Matthew as
a whole, and then present each lesson
in its relation to the central purpose
of the book.
The central theme of Matthew is
Jesus Christ, the son of David, the
son of Abraham, the covenant King"
(Matt. 1:1).
|. The Birth of Jesus, the King
Matt. 1:1S-25).
l. The Saviour was to be the seed
Of woman (Gen. 3:15), the son of
n virgin This was fulfilled in the
birth of Jesus. The genealogy Matt.
lilo shows his legal right to the
throne Only a descendant of David
could be recognized.
.. The Saviour was to be divine
lisa. $50.
He must be more than the son of
David in order to be a Saviour. He
must be both human and divine.
Jesus was begotten by the Holy Ghost
and born of the Virgin Mary, thus be-
coming Emmanuel, which in its fullness
means God with US, God for US, and
God in u.s."
II. The Childhood of Jesus, the
King Matt. 2:1-23).
l. Wise Men from the East seeking
Israels King wv. l, y. Christs ad
vent was heralded by star which
guided men of foreign nation to seek
and to worship him, even pouring out
their gifts to him. These men were
Persian or Arabian astrolOgers, stu
dents of the stars Their attention
was attracted by the appearance of
an unusual star. Through the infiu-
ence Of the Jews who remained in
Oh dea, or the direct influence of
y, Iel extending to this time, they
had become acquainted with the hope
Of the Jews as to the Messiah. They
may have known of Balaam's prophecy
(Num. PAID.
.. ID seeking 10 kill Jesus wv.
! -S. 1o-Io). The news brought by the
Wise Men struck terror to Herod's
heart He was not alone in this for
all Jerusalem was troubled with him.
This news ought to have brought joy,
but a glimpse at the social customs
in and about Jerusalem at that day
enables US to understand why Herod
and all Jerusalem were troubled. A
Saviour who would save them from
their sins was not wanted. Herod de-
manded of the priests and scribes in
formation as to where Christ should
be born. The fact that they were able
to tell him quickly shows that they
had a technical knowledge of the
Scriptures, but not a heart for the
Saviour set forth therein. This oc-
Cured in Jerusalem, the city of the,
King, the place of all places where
he should have been welcome. 1t fire.
quently occurs that where the greatest
privileges are, there the greatest in
difference is shown to spiritual mat
tiers. When the Wise Men returned to
their country by another way, Herod
slew all the male children two years
and under in and around Bethlehem.
8. The King found by the Wise Men
wv. 9-12).
Having obtained the desired infor-
nation these men started Immediately
to find Jesus. AS they left the city
the star which guided them in the east
appeared again to direct them to the
place where Christ was. When they
found him they worshiped him. They
did not see any miracles, only babe;
yet they worshiped him as king.
BLESSED are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed (JOhn 20 :2G).
4. The King protected wv. 1929.
(a) Flight to Egypt wv. 1870. To
escape Herod's wicked aim, God direct
ed Joseph to take Mary and the child
Jesus and fee to Egypt. In obedience
to the heavenly vision he went and re-
manned there until Herod's death.
% Return to Nazareth wv. 1929 =,
Upon the death of Herod, the angel
Of the Lord directed Joseph to take
Jesus and his mother and return to
the land Of Israel. Though Herod was
dead it was not proper for him to re-
turn to Judea. BY divine direction he
turned aside into parts of Galilee and
dwelt at Nazareth.
Nazareth has held a fair renown
through the centuries only because it
was the spot where Jesus grew in wis
dom and stature, and in favor with
God and man.