Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-25


night--a baby boy.
Few recognized Him. He was
born in poverty in an obscure
corner of the ancient Roman
Empire, which took no notice of
His coming, and He never jour-
neyed more than 300 miles from
His birthplace.
But He left his imperishable
calling card at homes in every
nation.
A PrecOci0us Baby
He was a healthy baby, and
precocious, but He never in
vented any new devices, orig
mated any architectural tech
niques. or won any medals. He
didn't leave any classic art or
solve any equations of astron-
omy, chemistry or physics.
But He unmasked the deepest
mystery of all.
He was a likeable child, but
many thought He grew irhprac-
teal. He never acquired any
property. or owned anything
but the cloak on his back, never
held any Office. or composed any
written work. except some scrib-
bling in the sand, and the wind
blew this away.
But to much of mankind, He
disclosed what God is like.
He was God, become man, so
men could know God better.
The Good News
This is the essence Of those
"tidings of great joy" to all
people which the heavens pro-
claimed when He came. The
good news was that 1.-THE Word
became flesh and dwelt among
us"
AT the time, the world was
full of dramatic, ingeniously
conceived gods. Glittering Rome
was at its zenith Of power and
Alexandria was the crown jewel
of literature and learning, with
philosophy exuding fine SUBJ
tleties.
But the real, unknown capitol
of life was in Bethlehem.
Some say there are no mir
acles. But read the record of
that child-reared in drab sur
roundings, known as rowing
carpenter-preacher in rustic vii
lagos. finally. hung as a criminal
Who raised a scepter over
humanity.
Invincible Force
From Him, here radiated a
rushing, invincible force that
swept past the resistance Of
swords. dungeons. executions,
battlements and slaughter to
burn His name into the pillars
Of civilization.
But the coming of one child,
into a poor family in a beaten
and bled vassal province, cut
through the murk of flamboyant
mythology and Wanted theories
to convince men that God
walked with them.
All the mental gymnastics Of
various cultures-of the Greek
analysts who offered their sleek
explanations shortly before Him,
Of the stoics who called God ain
impersonal logos unconcerned
with individuals. of the Epicu-
reans who termed religion nom
sense and only the body real.
Of the sweeping mysteries" the
idols backed by entrenced priest
hoods and wealth - all this
shrivel before the impact Of a
Child.
The Image Of God
Why?
An answer trumpets through
the record:
Because He is the Image Of
the Invisible God"
Because He is the Way. the
Truth and the Life"
II must be that He lived. spoke
and acted in a way that made
the few around Him know. be-
yond all doubt, that their deep
est aspiration was inherent in
this man-that they were see
ing God.
From ages past. Judaism. that
most ancient of faiths believ-
ing in the supreme God, had
recognized men we're His crea-
tures--His children created in
His own image" But what was
this image
Gives the Answer
To those who bear His name
the Christ Child gave the an
KWer.
/ and My Father are one
lie that hath seen Me hath seen
tbs Father"
md when He departed the
ca h. He said God win give
you another comforter the
Holy Ghost that He may