Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

people."affirmation."poem with a large heart on the board,with sins such as anger and hatred init. They might then eliminate them bydiscussing why each could not be therewith faith, until faith stands alone in aclean heart.SABBATH SCHOOL, LESSONOctober 2, 1955Rev. W. J. McBurney(Lessons based on international Sunday SchoolLessons: the International Bible Lessons forChristian Teaching, copyrighted hy the International Council of Religions Education.)THE BIRTH OF JESUSLuke 2:1-40Printed Text, Luke 2:1-14Memory Verse. Luke 2:10, "Be notafraid; for behold, I bring you goodtidings of great joy, which shall be toallLuke is called the Historian. Today'slesson is a fine example of clear concisenarrative. The incident is one of themost striking in all history, because ofthe demonstrations that accompaniedthe incident, and because of the character of the incident recorded.Notice the prominence that the recordgivesto the Birth of Jesus. It waspromised in the Garden of Eden. Thewhole practice and law concerning theblood sacrifices until they were all fulfilled by Christ, is a commentary onthe meaning of His birth. Foretold byprophets, announced by angels and anHeavenly Host, and a star,alone in history.this standsSince this Quarter follows Luke'sstory of the Life of Christ, it is fittingthat the study should begin with Hisbirth. Then, as the last Sabbath of theyear comes on December 25, it wasdeemed appropriate that the study thatdayalso should concern His birth. Inview of the common practices under thename of Christmas, it is not to be wondered that every periodical we saw lastDecember contained some protestagainst the common methods of usingthe name Christmas to promote fun.amusements, business and worse. I enter no controversy as to whether weshould observe a special commemorationof the Birth of Christ. This statement isnot controversial, namely; if we observea commemoration of the Birth of Christ,or introduce the story of the Nativity,or any suggestion of it, into our gatherings orentertainments, it should bedone in a manner that is in keepingwith the sacred character of the subject.In the immediate preparation for thebirth of Christ, an angel fortold it toMary, Joseph and Zacharias, and it wasrevealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit.His birth was heralded by an angel tothe shepherds, and by a star to the WiseMen. It was celebrated by an HeavenlySeptember 14, 1955Host, and by the shepherds who joinedthe holy family in worshiping the Princeof Peace. After weary days of deserttravel, the Wise Men arrived to worship and bring gifts. We are not toldthat any of the worshipers expected orreceived toys, lolly-pops or a sack ofcandy, or that an entertainer was borrowed from the Big Top. There wasnothing to cloud the memory of thatBlessed Meeting.I was asked, with an inflection ofdoubt, what I thought of the NativityCrypt on the Genvea Campus. The firstpart of the second Commandment wasquoted,Thou shalt not make unto theeany graven image, or any likenessThat included all pictures and objects ofart. So we agreed to interpret that bythe second part, "Thou shalt not bowdown to themThen I said, "What doyou think of Santa Claus?" All joinedin smiles, and that subject was closed.Suppose an image of Santa had beenplaced with the "holy family" and theshepherds in the crypt, what would youhave thought? Who is he that he shouldbe fixed most prominently in the mindsof children, that they remember himalone as the event of the evening? "Butthe children would be so disappointed."Of course they would !to expect Santa?In this lesson,supernatural onlyWho taught themLuke speaks of theas it concerns theangel and the Heavenly Host. In thechapter before he tells of the uniquewhich Christ the Son of Godmanner bybecame man. Milton expressed it in thisline; "Bymotherborn."wedded maid and virginThe Roman Catholicshave become quite bold in their pretentions about the supremacy of Mary.That their claim is pure fiction is shownby the lack of any word in Scriptureascribing to Mary any quality that isnot ascribed to other women.There is a very common misinterpretation of the circumstances of Christ'sbirth. Being ina manger is used toillustrate the depth of his poverty, whobeing rich, became poor, that we throughHis poverty might be rich. Notice twothings; first, if Joseph had been a multibillionairethat would be nothing compared to the riches of heaven. Second,there is no indication at all that Josephwas poor in this world's goods. Thereis every evidence that he was a skilled,well-to-do workman. Christ came totake man's nature sothat He couldrepresent mankind at the throne ofGod. So He came through a representative home.It seems that Caesar was using theJewish law of inheritance to get a fullregistration of the Jews for taxation.It was by the toleration of Caesar thatthey were allowed to claim the rightof inheritance. Joseph and Mary wereheirs of David's estate. If they failed toregister on this estate, which includedBethlehem, Caesar could annul theirright.This taxation caused a great homecoming to Bethlehem. It was not on account of poverty, or the inhospitality ofthe inkeeper that Jesus was born in astable. When they arrived, there wasno room in the Inn. It was full. Therewere probablyseveral families in eachroom, and the hall floor covered withbeds. The keeper found them a betterplace. A clean stable, with the cleansmell of animals, to which they wereaccustomed, gave them room and privacy. We are told that according to custom, the shepherds would each bring alamb as a present, and the guests inthe inn where a child was born, wouldeach give a gift. Then the wise menbrought rich presents. Christ becomingpoor for our sakes, has no reference tomoneymatters. The two doves insteadof a lamb, may have been a token offering to fulfill the law, for Christ was theSon of the King, for whom no offeringwas required.There were many great men in Palestine. The announcement of the Birthof the Kingcame to shepherds. Whenthe shepherds at night saw the angeland the glory of the Lord, they wereafraid. A consciousness of the nearnessof God, causes an examination of one'sworthiness to meet Him. But the angelassured them that this was the comingof Christ, (the Messiah), even a Saviour,who is Christ the Lord. This messagethat was for all people, came to humblemessengers.Treasure in earthen vessels.Have we received it?Are we delivering it?DISLOCATED DISCIPLES"Abram, in the land of Egypt, lost hisintegrity; the exciting cause was temporal alleviation.Lot, in the gate of Sodom, lost his testimony; the exciting cause was socialelevation.Samson, in the lap of Delilah, lost hispower; the excitingsolicitation.cause was carnalDavid, in the house of Achish, lost histrust; the exciting cause was physicalpreservation.Elijah, in the shelter of the juniper,lost his courage; the exciting cause wasmental irritation.Jonah, in the hold of the ship, lost hisvision;reservation.the excitingcause was willfulPeter, in the palace of the priest, losthis fidelity; the exciting cause wasboastfulWm. R. Marshall in NOW171