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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1931-12-24, Page 3THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1931 THE SEAFORTH NEWS. PAGE ' THREE HURON COUNTY fort S LEADING NEWSPAPER Wishes Everybody Merry ehristmas [CHRISTMAS John 1:1.1—"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the rather), full of grace and truth!' These words are very suitable as a guide for our thoughts on this joyful day. We have in them a clear declaration of both of the Godhead and manhood of Christ our Lord. 'We read here of one who, as God, was able to save, and as pian, could suffer, and thus wonder- fully fitted for the great work of redemption, May God's Holy Spirit, as we examine the verse, help us to embrace tine precious truths it contains for us. Now that we may the better grasp the idea of the text, we will glance back to the beginning of the chapter, where the Apostle tells us who the Word was. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God : and the Word was God." We can easily understand why Jesus was called the Word. Our words express our meaning, and if we had no words we would have no means of intercourse one with anther. So Christ, in like manner, is the means of intercourse between God and man. As St. Paul says in his epistle to the Hebrews, "God who at sundry times and in divers manner spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days Spoken Unto tJs 13y His Son." Hence St. John calls that Son, the .Word of God. But more than that, St, John also plainly here tells us of His Godhead. "The Word was with God and the Word was God." He not merely says that Christ was great, or that he came from Heaven, or that he was the Son of God, but that he was actually God. He existed 'from the very beginning; before the world was, All the while He was in Heaven with God the Father, sharing His glory: but more, He was Very God Himself. St. John tells us that Jesus, the Word was not only God, but the Life and the Light of the world. "In Him was Life: and the Life was the Light of Men." And how truly he was the life of men. St, John who sti'ty Him raise the dead, knew. He was the Life not only of the body but of the soul. To those who were dead in trespasses and sin, he was the new life of righteous- ness. He was conte that they might have that new life and have it more abundantly. His words "I am the Re- surrection and the Life," was true of both body and spi- rit: "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." He was the life, the very life of a world subject to death. And what the Saviour was when He stood by the grave of Lazarus, such He is now: the life of the world, But we are told that He was full of grace and truth. That is, as St. John tells' us, "the Light of the World." Just what the sun is when it rises in the morning after the darkness of night, such was Christ. He was the "Sun of Righteousness,", "a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel." This then, was the glorious being who an this day matte his appearance in our sinful world. He bad left heaven for a space; He had parted with His glory for a season, that He might come among us on a message of the purest love. And this clay is the day on which we celebrate His conning. How shall we receive Him? Not surely as - many dict then, of whom St. John tells us He came unto His own, and His own received Hun not. The greater part looked coldly upon Him. The Jews scorned T=lim, and turned away from Him, Precisely as the prophet had foretold: He was despised and rejected of men. But all did not do so. St. John adds that there some —few in number, who did receive Him gladly. "As many as received Hhn to then gave He power to become the sons of God, even to then that believe on His name." Most blessed were those first followers of God the Son. Blessed was St. John himself, who served the Lord with his whole heart. And blessed are we, -if after count- ing the east, we are ready to give up all for Him, taking Ilim for our Lord and Master and surrendering to Him our every affection. To us also will be given the power (that is, the privilege) to become the sons of God. Hence it was a happy day and full of glory when the virgin mother laid her little child in the manger cradle, because there was no room for Hini in the inn. Those who were there at the time, little thought that this poor, helpful child, who came into the world in such a lowly manner, was the most Blessed Being that had ever come into the world, even God in the form of man. His ap- pearance was like that of other children. And for many years probably no one, not even His mother, knew the full extent of His greatness. For thirty years He lived in the greatest seclusion at His parents' home in Nazar- eth, unknown and but little noticed. But when He came forward in Elis mighty work of Salvation, every now and then His greatness showed itself. When He healed the sick or cloelled the storm, or raised the dead, He proved Himself to be something more than mere man. Theis; , and at sttch times, did His disciples behold His glory, the glory of the only -begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Today we cannot hear the Angel voices, as the Shepherds heard then on the plains of Bethlehem, say- ing, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace good -will towards men." We cannot kneel'before the body of the Infant Redeemer, as the wise Wien did, who brought Him, their offerings of gold, frankincense and myrhh. But. God still sends His messengers to announce to us the glad tidings, and to tell us that unto us is born a Saviour, and to urge us in the words of that beautiful, hymn, "0 come let us adore Hina Christ the Lord," and there is not one of us, but can go and worship him, bringing to Him what He values the most, that is the offering of a willing heart— a heart that is ever ready to obey His word.:, here then, is the thought, which this happy season should call to our minds. Jesus is God, therefore able to save: Jesus is man, therefore He can be touched with a feeling for ottr infirmities, and is a Friend and Brother to as many as will receive Him as such. Jesus is the Word '. and is ever ready to present our words at the. throne of grace. Jesus is the Life; and if we truly be- lieve in IIim we shall never clie eternally. What more can the human heart want? This seems to meet all our need. Here a Saviour, who is both willing and able to satisfy every longing, and fill our souls' emptiness. Oh; then let our hearts rejoice with a godly joy. Whilst,many are looking round for some new thing, and asking "Who will show us any good ?" we will say, "Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance tipon us. Thou; oh bless- ed Saviour, shalt be our desire and support in life, our hope in death, and our portion throughout eternity. Thanks be unto God for 1-l:is unspeakable gift."