The Lucknow Sentinel, 1987-12-23, Page 18Page 1A/Lucknow Sentinel/Wed.. December 23. 1987
SEASON'S GREETINGS!
1 would like to
wish everyone
all the best of
the holiday
season.
Hon. Murray J. Elston
M.P.P. -- BRUCE
Constitulancy Office:
O 816 Queen Street
P.O. Box 565
Kincardine, Ontario
N2Z 2Y9
Telephone:
(519) 396-4735
OR
Zenith 14p20
May all the little pleasures that.
embrace the holidays be yours the
whole year through. One of our
nicest pieasures•throughout the
year is doing business with you.
Merry Christmas, friends.
Distributor For Beatrice
HILDA & TOM ANDREW
LIDA
TO YOU!.
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Chisholm Fuels
'Grant, Wilma, Bill, Peter, Neil, Eldon & Bill Searle
Lucknow 529.7524
The birth of Jesus
While being enrolled in the tax registra-
tion ordered by the Roman Government,
Joseph and Mary were among those who
came to the little town of Bethlehem. No
matter where a Jew lived, in any part of
Palestine, he had to return to the place of
his home, and be enrolled with the other
members of his family.
The whole country was divided accor-
ding to the tribes, and Bethlehem belonged
to the tribe of Judah. Joseph was of the
house of Judah, and the lineage of David,
and so he needed to be in Bethlehem at this
moment of Jewish history, this was out-
wardly a matter of routine, but
nonetheless it was in the providence of
God.
"But thou, Bethlehem, though thou be
little among the thousands of Judah, yet
out of Thee shall He come forth unto me
that is to be a ruler in Israel; whose going
forth have been from of old from
everlasting" (Micah 5 : 2 )
The actual course of events seems to
have occurred in the way of providence.
There are few ideas commonly associated,
in the public mind, with the Birth of Jesus,
which they believe have -no-real historical
base.
Some people find it difficult to accept the
miracle of the Virgin Birth. Even Mary
could not understand it. When the Angel
Gabriel broke the news to Mary "Thou,
that art highly favoured, the Lord is with
Thee, blessed art Thou among women".
She could very well, have. been aware, of
the possibility that this would not be the
fulfillment, of the expectation among the
women of her nation. This would be why
the angel was telling her, that she was
especially chosen of God. "Fear not Mary:
for thou hast found favour with God, and
behold thou.shalt conceive, and bring forth
a son and thou shalt call His Name Jesus"
the promise to David was notvv to be
brought to filfillment.
Mary was of the house of David, and
because she was a member of that Family,
it was possible for her to become the
Mother of the Messiah. Jesus came in ac-
cordance with prophecy, fulfilling to the
letter of the law, what was said about Him.
But when Mary was; told of how Jesus
would come as her child, she was
bewildered and troubled, asking "How
shall this be, seeing I know not a man."
The Angel Gabriel reassuredher by saying
"With God nothing shall be impossible".
When God moves into a situation, and
takes control He can do anything He wills;
for He is Lord, therefore He said to Mary.
"Fear not Mary for thou hast found
favour with God, and behold, thou shalt
conceive, and bring forth a son, and shall
call His Name Emmanuel, God with us."
Why was He born? Why did the son of God
take upon Himself flesh and blood to dwell
among men? The answer to these ques-
tions are given by Jesus Himself when He
declared "Lo I come... to do Thy will, 0
God". Jesus entered this earth not only in
the form of man, but in a way that all men
are born as a helpless child. His cradle
should have been made of gold and adorn-
- ed with precious stones. Instead it was a
manger in a stable of an inn that had no
room for Him.
His attendants could have been angelic
hosts and the Kings of the earth; instead
they were lowly shepherds from the hills of
Judea. These lowly shepherds were the
first to hear about His arrival; by an angel
of the Lord who said unto them;
"Fear not; for behold I bring you good.
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day in the
city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord" (Luke 210,11) The angels rejoic-
ed as they made this known to the
shepherds that day. The angels continue to
rejoice today as individuals are introduced
to the Christ of glory who came to save
them from their sins.
Nearly 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, dei-
ty and humanity met. God, Himself, came
to earth to dwell among men; He came to
serve men; He came to save men, He
came to die.
As we approach h this holiday season
when Christ is upon many lips and in many
hearts, when many are merry but few full
with the joy of sins forgiven, let us -
"Behold His glory, the glory of the only
begotten of the Father, full of mercy,
justice, love, and majesty.
Let each of us who have experienced the
true meaning of Christmas be so filled with
His joy that it will spill over to others, so
they will come to know in a personal way,
the One Who came, born in a manger, to
bear a cross, and Who will one day be
crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
May God's richest blessings be yours
this Christmas Season.
Rev. Allison J. Ramsay
Lucknow and
South Kinloss
Presbyterian Church
In hopes Foy a Chaistmas fiLlEa with
peace and joy, we Extsna oua Glad
tidmGs ol the season to one anb all.
YOUR Faiendship has made us proud.
DECkET
Eqtii/2mEnL £Ld.
and staff • 529.7993
0