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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1907-12-20, Page 7LESSON XII. --DEC. ea, X907, Christmas Lesson.—Matt. 2: r -z2, Commentary. --I. The coming of the wise men (vs. 1,2.) 1. When esus Was born— While the Facia date of Christ's birth is unoertain there is no reason why it may not have been on December 25th, . B. 0. 5. But why do the say that Jesus was born "before Christ"'? Simply be- cause our calendar is incorrect. For some centuries after Christ's time there was no calendar in general use, but each nation dated from •some event in its his- tory. Finally, in the sixth century, a learned monk, Dionysius Exiguus, was appointed to ascertain the time of Christ's birth, and it was ordered that history should be dated from that time. But Dionysius, who first published his calculations in A. D. 526, put the birth of Jesus about. four years too late.. In Bethlehem—"House of bread," "A name properly applied to a place where the true Bread was manifested for the life of the world."—Clarke. Of Judaea—To disstinguish it from Bethlehem In Galilee, mentioned in Josh. 19; 15. Herod,— Herod the Great. He, was an Eciomite, and although a. preeelyte tq the Jewish religion, was notorious for his wiciced- ness and eri{elty. He reigned th.irty- seven years in Judea and died a few months after the 'birth of Christ. At this time "the seepter was departing from Judah, a sign that the Messiah was uoiv at hand," Wise men—Or magi. "Orig- inally a +class of priests among the Per- sians and Medes, who formed the king's privy counsel:" They were men of learning and wealth. Augustine and Ohrysosttom say there were twelve magi, but the=common belief is that there were but three. But why were these magi walking the Christ? "We know that the Persian magi believed in .a Messiah of u+ture Saviour, who should in the latter 'they appear and renew the world in xighteeusnees."—Whedon. From the east —Perhaps •from Media, or Persia, or possibly, from Arabia. To Jerusalem -- They seemed to suppose that when they reached the capital of the Jewish nation they would have no trouble in finding the object of their search. 2. Where is he—This inquiry in Jeru- salem brought Jesus into popular notiee and called attention to the fact that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Born King of the Jews—This was a title unknown to the earlier history of Israel . and applied to no one except the :11es- siaah. It reappears in the inscription over the cross. ---Garr. Notice that Jesus was "born" a king. His star—Many inter- preters. especially those who seek to eliminate the supernatural, explain the "star," or "sidereal appearenee," by a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, which occurred in May, B. C. 7, and again in December. with Mars added. It is, however, much more in harmony with all the facts to believe that the star which attracted the attention of the magi was provided for the occasion. To worship him To do him homage. They were bold to confess the object of their coming. II. Light from the Scriptures (vs. 3-6). 3. Had heard The magi had created no small stir by their inquiries, which im- mediately atttracted the attention of the king. Troubled—Herod, now sunk into the jealous decrepitude of his sav- age old age, was residing in his new pal- ace on Zion, when, half maddened as he was already by the crimes of his past career, he was thrown into a fresh par- oxysm of alarm and anxiety by the visit of these magi, bearing the strange in- telligence that they had come to worship a new-born king.—Farrar. Herod feared a rival. All Jerusalem with him—Fear- ing that he would make this an occasion of renewing his acts of bloodshed. 4. Had gathered—He assembled the San- hedrin.—Lightfoot. Chief priests This expression probably comprehends the acting high priest and his deputy, those who had been high priests—for at this time the office was often transferred by the Roman authorities—and "the heads of the twenty-four sacerdotal fam- ilies," which David had distributed in BO many courses," Coribes—The learned in- terpreters of the Mosaic law, and the collectors of the traditions of the elders. Many of them were Pharisees—Demand- ed of them—Because they would be most likely to know. Where the Christ (R. V.)—Or the Messiah, the official title of the promised deliverer, "The wise 'men had said nothing about the Christ, or . the Messiah,but only.,about the Xing of the Jews. But Herod saw that. this king must the the expected Messiah." 5. By the :prophet --Micah 5, 2. Mat- thew aloes not quote the exact words found in Micah, but the sense is given. It was an accepted truth that the Mes- , slab muct+eome from Bethlehem. 6, Art in no wise 'least (R. V.)—Micah says, "Though thou ?be Tittle among the thou- . sands of 7udtab, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." This made Bethlehem • "in no wise least." Although Bethlehem was little, yet it was exalted above all the other cities of Israel. The princes— "The thousands" (Micah .5, 2), The tribe ? had been subdivided into thottsa'nds, and over each subdivision there was a 'chief - tan or prince.—Morison. A governor— To control and rule. Who shall be shep- herd (R. V.)—To feed and care for, as a a shepherd'his flock. Christ is both Shop - herd and Ring. My people Israel—Israel was God's people in a peculiar sense. They were His own peculiar treasure. IIh The intrigue of Herod (vs, 7, 8), 7. Privily .called—Herod desired to' keep the time of Christ's birth as secret as • possible lest the Jews who hated Hint should take occasion to rebel. Enr•Iuired of them diligently—"Learned of them exactly," ---R. V. Ile, inquired of them the exact time and received positive in- to,rinatiop is io the time the star ap- peered, Assuming that the star appeared j h• when the child ryas borer be would tlu i; . Tv' "*"*.**"*+t"*"*"*"*"* � have some idea of the age of the child. .$ 8, He sent them—He assumed control; ( but they followed the directions of the t Lord, Search diligently —Herod was honest in making this charge to then,; he greedy, desire(t to re, ee 'deflaitc a word con'grning the nett' iirig. And worshi Him also — What hypocrisy-! He only1viehed to find the eliild in dr- l der to murder him (vs, 13, 16); be oils Crafty and subtle, But one tieing and i ietalanother. fling God did not pea mit him is carry out his purpose. 1V Guided by the star ('s. 9, 10). 9. The star.. went befell the Th sam star which .they had seen In t$ielr own country 'iew again appears. Ante star had disappeared for it time and this led them to inquia•e in Jerusalem fpr the young King whom the souglet, Sup- eriratural helps should not be expected where ordinary means •are to be had Stood over—The star pointed out the very house.—Benso. 10. They rejoiced —The Greek is very emphatic. They rejoiced exceedingly because they saw they .were about to find the child and because they had such unmistakable proof of being in divine order. That alone is enough to .cause rejoicing. V.,,The child Jesus found (vs. 11, 12), 11. Fell down --They prostrated them- selves before Ilii according to the east- ern custom. "In this act the person knatale and puts his head between his knees, his forehead at the same time touching the ground. It was used to ex- press both civil and religious reverence." —('Iarke. Gifts—The people of the East did not approach into the presence of kiiigs without bringing theta presents. The custom still prevails in many places. Gold, etc. —Gold would always be useful, while frarlkincense and •nyrrh were prized for their delicious frag- rance. These were' the very presents Isaiah mentioned: "All they froin She- ba shall come; they shall bring gold and incense" (Isaac. 60. 0) "Incense, or frankincense, is a resinous gum, flow- ing from a tree, gashed for the pur- pose, grow ing in Arabia and Lebanon. Myrrh is also a gum obtained from a tree in Arabia" Whedon. 12. Warned of God in a dreaan— God communicated his purpose to them in a manner that they understood and the impression or conviction was so clear that they at once obeyed. Another was —They could easily go east from Beth- lehem and thee leave Jerusalem on the north. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. I. A place of salvation. "Now when Jesus was born'" ,(v. I.) '";Ton shalt call his name Jesus" (Matt. 1; 21.) A 'use'. name represents his character.. fIerod'•s mane is a Ayno:zlycm for .uruel+ty, Abra- ham's for faith, Stephen's for martyr- dom, John's for love, Jesus' for salva- tion. His mune has power to save. A brave cavalry officer, dying of his wounds, thought himself an the field at the head. of his gallant men, and that an enemy's gun was in front of them ready to be fired. IIe was greatly distressed. At the mention of the name of Jesus his agitation ceased, his dlelilium passed away; a smile lit up hie pale face, and he said in a ]ow tone, "Jesus, Jesus! It is lie who said: "Come unto me, all yo that labor and are heavy laiden, and I will give you rest!" I want rest; 1 am weary." The name of Jesus saved him from delirium, and he was restful and happy until his spirit took .its flight to G•od. Jesus is able to save "to the ut- tea•m.Oet;" (Iiob. 7.; 25); able to save from the power of sin as well as its pen- alty (Rom. 6; 2, 14); able to keep us from all unrighteousnees (1 John 1; 7), sad able to "keep" us clean (Jude 24). II. A place of obscurity. "In Beshle- hem" (v. 1.) An insignificant village, not mentioned among the many towns at the time of the division of the land. "Ina a manger" (Luke 2; 7.) Not in a palace, not in a house of luxury, not in a cottage surrounded by brightness, but in a limestone cave, aid the Christ -child open its infant eyes to earth. Was :this to teach how little God cares for .exter- nals/ That the Christly heart will not covet gaudy surroundings! That Jesus has a tender sympathy for the poorest'? That they who follow him will choose the lowliest pla.ees? III. A place of cruelty. "In the days of Herod the king" (v. 1.) Jesus came a stranger to this world; there was no room for him in the inn (Luke 2; 7.) Herod hunted hien (v. 7.) His own par- ents "understood not" his youthful as- pirations (Luke 2; 49j; his own towns- men rejecter] him (Luke 4; 29); he had not where to lay his head (Matt. 8; 20; John 7,'53; 8, 1); his own people stoned him (John 10, 31); one of his own disci- ples betrayed him (Hatt. 26; 14, 15); Jews and Gentiles conspired to crucify hien (Luke 22, 66; 23, 1, 12). A11 the way from the cradle to the cross he met with cruelty. IV. A place or royalty. "Born Xing of the Jews" (v. 2). The gospel of Mat- thew is the story of Jesus as Xing. Its key -word "kingdom," is found fifty-six times. Ite key phrase, "kingdom ok heaven," is found thirty-two times and nowhere else in the New Testament. Matthew gives his legal geneology, his royal pedigree, from David,' source of Jewish rule; and Abraham, source of Jewieh blessing (Matt. 1:1). Jesus was born king, but he waited—he is waiting still for the kingdom (Luke 10:25; -Matt. 26:29). The prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth" (Matt. 6:10), has never been literally fulfilled. It will be some day. Christ rules the hearts of his own to -day as a Shepherd (v. 6, R. V.). The characteristic of his spiritual kingdom is patience (Rev. 1:9). Christ will rule over men one day with a rod of iron (Psa. 2:9). V. A place of prophecy, "It is written by the prophets" (v. 5). .A study of prophecy gives a miniature life of Jesus. Isa. 7.14; Micah, 5:2; Lea. 9:), 2; Gen. 40:10; Hosea 11:1; Zech. 11:12, 13; Zech. 13:7; Isa. 53:12; Psa. 22:18; Psa. 22;1; 69:21; Zech. 12:10; John 1:45; Acts 18:27; 1 Cor. 2:8, A special bless- ing•is promised to those who read and hear and keep the last great prophecy of r . ... - • r"- +e444+++.4Y Mike's Christmas Gift n ti •.„ti John A. Corrnica, Oak Lake, Man., In The Presbyterian tits name was Mike.. That is, we all called him Mike, though I believe that, as a matter of fact, he was baptized -'lichen, abut we, the .felt/ Idle dish -speak- ing hOrncei;e i ens who had se £led oil the edbe of the large t',ra]ieian colony, called him Alike. After ii time, he was Mike to his father, who• held to aliehel for many weeks, ani. then he was Mike to all. The elicians were not popular with some of the "white" settlers, as they called themselves, Mainly l thought for the reason that the Galicians were he first and had some of the best horlae- steads in the district; but Mike was pop- ular with all. Re was a cheery chap, always smiling and.. often laughing. 12 you met him on the trail, when you were down on your luck or sick of your •job, his laughing "Good clay,Meister,'" would give you a new view of life. We were all "Meister" to him. He never tried to learn our names. (Inc was the "Beeg Meister," another the "old Meis- ter," and the "Meister at the Reever," the •other the "store Meister." You had to be quick when you met him on the trail to be first with the salutation. The boy had a way of coming on you when you thought you were alone and you never knew where you would hear his laughing "g'day, Meister." The first time I met him was a day when I was tramping through the coup= try on my way to a valley fifty miles north of the Galiclane. I had beard so much of -the Galicians that I thought fifty miles would he few enough to have between their settlement and my home- : stead. It was a day in eariy srping, one of those days in May, that seemed to have got out of place and felled itself by mis- take in the end of the first week in April. The snow iv -as gone except a , dirty drift caught in the bluffs here and there, The knolls on which the sun • shone were dry and were starred over with anemones, the little purple heralds of summer, and where the bluffs kept off the 'nor:theast wind., the grass was sprouting. The air was heavy with the smell of thawing soil. I had :already walked sixty miles and did not start the thirc. day of the jour- ney with a particularly light heart. 1 was only well stance! when I heard a shot from behind a bluff 1 was approach- ing end then the hearty laugh of a healthy boy. "G'day, Meister," he called to me. "Good day," I replied, my hearth en- kurging under the genial warmth of the boy's smile. 'Chen I saw he was not alone. Another bay was coming from the bluff with a gun. on his ;shoulder and arabbit danglintt •recon. laic hand. lie staggered under the weight of it, as if it were too mach for him, which sur- prised me, for a bay does net '.et a stran- ger see him stagger under a gun. "That me brudder," ,explained the boy. "Ile shoot very good" he added, unneces- sarily loudly, as I thought, until I saw a faint flush of pleasure come into the younger one's face at the hearty praise. "Rabbits blind in spring," he added for my benefit. We watched the boy struggle toward us. "Me brudder seeck;" saicl :Hike, and the smile left his face so quickly that it was plain that to Mike this was a ealaniity. "Me name- -Mike." he confided to sue, "Me brudder name Jack—lvan, ale fod- der call him." By that time Jack was at our side. When I looked into his face I saw it was more than the weight of the gun that made him stagger. I thought that When I came back in the fall Mike would be f,,june. Mike lifted the gun from Ms 'brother's shoulder and put out his hand to take the rabbit, but the hunter would n_ot yield his spoils, "Jack shoot frim," laughed \like. • "He 'Mit to take him home. He get tired pretty soon, then I take him." "You're a pretty decent sort of a kid, aren't you?" I said. I wanted to tell the boy what I thought of him, but did not know just how to do it. "Jack seeck, Meister," he replied. "He get very tired. He like to shoot. I help him shoot rabbit' ' "Well, good-bye, sir," I said. He came forward and held out his hand. "G'bye, Meister," he said and instruct- ed his brother to do the same. I turned after a few minutes to have another look at the boy. The gun was over Mike's shoulder and the rabbit was. dangling from the barrel of it and Jack Was clinging to Mike's arm. Somehow the sun was shining bright- er when I turned, the little anemones looked prettier and I thought the thaw- ing soil smelled sweeter. I met an Englishman soon after •vho persuaded .me that nothing would be gained farther north and I chose a homestead near by. I must confess that Mike entered my thoughts when the platter was under con;ic1e t ation. I meet the summer on my homestead and then went south to make some money on the harvest fields. * * * * * * * * a. It was late in the fall when I return- ed. alike, with the old gun over his shoulder, was one of the first to meet me. "G'day, Meister, you cum back?" he called to me. 1 thought I discovered a new note in his voice and when I carte nearer, there was something in his eye I had not seen before. 1 was afraid to ask for Jack. I had had no communication with the settle- ment during my absence. The conver- sation ran in hte ordinaary lines fur a while. Then he suddenly turned to .me. " MJebbe I shoot partridge?" he asked, I was juggled for a moment when I re- membered that the open season was past. There was a pathetic appeal in his voice that made his words go deep. "Jack very seeck, ileieter. Mebbe 1 shoot partridge?" he asked again. 'Jack like partridge," he added, by way of ex- planation. "You shoot your partridge, old man," I said, "Mcbhe I go to jail?" he said. "Jail be hanged," I said, "there's your bird." I watched him d';appearing like a deer through the bluffs, with this partridge under his coat, and then went on my way to my own home. * * * * * * * * * The •winter came early that year. Weeks before Christmas the ground was covered with snow and the thermeme- ter had made a record descent before the had every begun to think of Christcn.ss. I met the boy on one of the worst days and even I could see he was not proper- ly clothed. At the Christmas tree which, the missionary got up for the children of hte settlement, I took it upon myself to give Mike a special invitation and Mike saw that Santa Claus was in a position to give him a suit of warm clothes. An idea crept into his head that night and before he reached home it bio talcen•possession of }rim, Their own Christmas came ten days later and the Galicians were making preparations for it. Two days before their celebration com- menced, Mike appeared at the door of my shack, Meister," he said, "Mebbe a doctor come to station?" • "The Station" was the name of the little town at the railway, to which we were tributary and it was twenty-five miles distant. I had heard that a doe - tor had settled there In the fall and in- timated the same to Idike. ."Jack very sseck," he said. "Mebbe I go to Station for doctor." It was the firs"s time I had seen tears in his eves - "I get doctor for Jack for Chreest- mus," he added. The sky was threatening that morn— ing. "How will you go?" I enquired. "(lh, I walk, Meister, I good for- a. walk." "You can't, Mike, you'll freeze to, do" lieth.pointed to the warm el sites he wore, and before I could saq a word he - was gone. By noon that day it was blowing and the air was thickening with snow. As usual, I dined alone, and my thoughts turned on the boy. The doctor's service• was to lie his Christmas gift to Jaek.. It seamed to me that at was a gift that night cast too much. As the wind rase I got anxious. I left the dishes en the table and hastened to :Hike's lame. The boy was rot there. Then I went to the store. Ile ova, not there. Then I heard he bad gone for the doc- tor. I told a neighbor what I feared. Ile nerved with rue that Mike was in great d'iuger. and volunteered to go after hirci. The wind was behind us and we made gu+"I time. Wo (ante upon no traces of the buy on the way and in the town no one had seen him. The wind fell that night, andin the • morning the mercury stood at forty be- low. The sky was ten feetly clear and the star set the white, flashing world aflame. 1Ve started hi'i. with lighter hearts. We laid a trip in vain. but the faet that the boy was safe satisfied it's. Presently we came to a spot neer which were many well traekc. My rem - pardon' was anxious about it and insist- ed on seeing the cause. Something Was projecting from a drift. A terrible fear took possession of me and I began to tremble. The snow was peeked in a eirel, about • hint, far the wolves were hungry that ' winter, but they had been afraid to touch hint. We carried him into the sleigh and the tears which fell from our eyes froze into ice on his face. "His life for his friends," I mutter- ed, lfy companion made no reply. his second coming (Rev. 1:3; 22:18, 19). VI. A place .of guidance. "The star.... came and stood over where the young child was" (v. 0). Heralded by a star )esus ushered in the day of grace at the beginning of this dispensation. The star which illuminates our pathway and trues before us to guide us to Jesus is the Holy Spirit, of whom Jesus says: "IIe shall testify of me" (John 15:26). V1L A place of rejoicing (v. 10). The wise men, rejoicing at the cradle of the infant Xing, carry our thought forward to another day when a multitude of re- deemed men and angcis shall cry with a loud voice (Rev. 5:12). VIII. A place of worship (v. 1l), Tray gave themselves; then their gifts (2 Cor. 8:4, 5). They saw, they "fell down," thus presenting their "bodies a living sacrifice" (Rom, 12:1); they ''wo•hip. ed," pouring out their souls' adorn den; then "they offered unto him flirts" eft. V.). IX. A place of prese.lts. "Th ;•tr 1 e e- sented unto him gifts; gol 1, ;an 1 f and myrrh" (v. 11). .1. a Savior ,Jesus is Ged's great gift t., us (John. 3:10); as saves ones we are s:•:d'c gift to him (John 17:6). Cold, pr'ser,ted in token of his royalty, tytu!ie: %that we are; frankincense, referring to lair deity, refers to what we de; myrrh, an• tkcipatine ide :leech, ref La to what we suffer. A, C M. The Scramble tor ,iirisimas Presents. "The girl who works for her livirg does have a hard time, gathering up her Christmas gifts, unless she has a fine head for organization and 'snows id ere to shop," says Anna Steese Risberd- son in the Woman's Hoene Companion for December. " The first thing to re- member is that the C'lu•istmis l'.t•'1•ain counter is the dumping ground of the shrewd merchant, He tosses here all the left; avers from last year's usalable stock. For this counter, he buys up old wholesale stocks, auction lots and factory ends. Nobody knows the fail- ings of the bargaiit counter shopper bet- ter than doe's this shrewd merchaiit. And he makes fifty instead of .five.per cant. on every sale. Everaibmgeie. mussy and. colors are garnish. Moths have eaten in- to this and dust has settled on that. But the woman who tries to shop against time does not notice these de- fects. "The later you shop the more im- portant it is that you go to a good store. Girls who work clown town should leave home half an hour earlier, go to a first-class shop, tell the elei•1; frankly just how much they can spend and unless my measure of the clerk in the first-class store is wrong, they will be waited on promptly and satisfactor- ily. But if you know you have only $1.- 50 1:50 to spend on a nouveau ai't pin for your chum's belt, do not waste the clerk's time and yours, looking at ten or fifteen dollar pins. Be as business- like in your shopping as you are in I the performance of your office duties ! and you will reap the reward of- good and the blessings of the unhappy clerks. wen THE FORGOTTEN GUEST. 'Chore was once a family who had a guest shying w:th them, and when they found ant that he was to have ' a birthday during his visit they were all delighted with the idea of celebrat- ' ing it. Days before --almost weeks be- , fore—they began to prepare for the celebration. They cooked and stored a large quantity of sond things to eat, rind laid in a stock of good things to be cooked and prepared on the happy day. They 'planned and arranged the most beautiful deeoratienca. They even thought over and made.. or selected, lit- tle gifts for one another; and the whole house was in hurry and confusion for weeks before the birthday came. Everything else that was to be done was postponed until after the birthday, said indeed many important things were neg- lected. Finally the birthday came, the rooms Were all decorated, the table set, all. the little gifts• arranged, and the gueets from outside of the house had ail ar- rived. Just after the festivities had begun a little child said to its mother; "Mamma, where is the man whose birthday it is?" "Hush! hush !•" the mother ° said, "Don't ask geretions." But the child persic ted, until finally the another se11w: "Well. 1 ant sure, .1 do not know, my dear, but I will ask." She asked her neighbor, and the neighbor looked surprised, and a little puzzled. ""Vhy," she said, "it is a celebration. We are celebrating his birthday, and he is a guest in the house." Then the mother got interested and curious herself. "Bat where is the guest? Where is the man whose birthday it is?" And this time she asked one of the family He looked startled at first, and then in- quired of the rest of the, family. "Where is the guest whose birthday it is?" Alas! ncbody knew. There they were, all excited and trying to en- joy themselves by celebrating his birth- day, and he—,some of them did not even know who he was. He was left out and forgotten. When they had wondered for a little while they immediately forgot again and. went on with their celebrations ----all ex-• cept the little child. IIe slipped out of the room, and made up his mind to find the man whose birthday it was, and finally, after a hard search, he found him upstairs in the attic, lonely and sick. He had been asked to leave the guest - room, which he had oeeupied, so as to he out of the way of the preparations for his b'r:hday. Here he had fallen and no one had had time to thank of him, excepting one of the luunbler• servants and this little child. They had all been so busy preparing for his - birthday festival that they had forgot- ten hien entirely. This is the way it is with neat of us. at Christmas time. ---Leslie's Monthly. THE CHRISTMAS TOAST.. Awake, awake, the hours draw. nigh,. Nor heedless pass the moments by, Still thro' the ages ring each giadd'niag word, Smoke Once by angels and by shepherds= heard, "Peace on Rarth, Cuoodwtll' to•men." Arise, for all the Glory of tine dawn :-treat.•. o'er the East •sv'.ere Ile the Christ wis Bern 'Pb''' -%vibes brim;; we from throe hearts Z Gol.uak •1 3'.li'tlis s,hal' Fortune, ands b000d. (Thier.Goe S: tame, .aat�?