about their heavenly messages, their hearts rejoiced that God had chosen them to share His wonderful secret. The night that the baby Jesus was bom the angels told the secret to a group of poor shepherds who were watch ing their sheep on the hillside near Beth lehem. Quickly the shepherds found the new baby in a manger in Bethlehem. No longer was there a secret. The shepherds told others of the angel’s message. Their hearts rejoiced that God at last had sent their Messiah to deliver them. Now, rather than keeping the news of God’s gift a secret, those who know the Saviour personally, are eager that everyone shall hear that God showed His love by giving His Son to be their Saviour and Lord. Dec. 26, 1954 The Whole Duty of Man Selections from Ecclesiastes Pointers on the Lesson The Book of Ecclesiastes is a very unique book. One must get its viewpoint before it can be understood. It is a pic ture of life in this world and what it has to offer. Its key phrase, “under the sun,” coincides with this idea. It occurs 27 times in the book and other similar expressions such as “under the heaven” and “upon the earth” also occur many times. Expressions that are often used and which suggest the viewpoint of the book are “vanity,” “vanity of vanities,” “all is vanity,” “vexation of spirit,” and “earth.” Ecclesiastes is' the book of the natural man. There is no “thus saith the Lord” in the book. It is an inspired account of the way man views things apart from God. No wonder atheists, in fidels and agnostics have been fond of quoting it. Its purpose may be said to show that apart from God, life is full of weariness and disappointment. There is a vivid contrast between Ec clesiastes and Ephesians. The former is the story of the man “under the sun” ; the latter the story of the man above the sun, quickened, raised and seated to gether with Christ. Searching After Satisfaction In 1:2,3 after the premise is laid down that all life “under the sun” is vanity, he goes on to show the emptiness of
SUNDAY SCHOOL continued psalm accord beautifully with the nativity story—“angels,” “ stars of light,” “beasts and all cattle,” “kings of the earth,” and “ old men and children.” The Christmas Message Matt. 1:18-25 The birth of Jesus was unique —“on this wise.” It was something totally dif ferent from any other birth. Its announce ment was angelic—“ an angel of the Lord appeared unto him” (v. 20). It was by the power of the Holy Ghost (v. 20). It was for the purpose of redemption (v. 21). Already over the manger at Bethlehem there was the shadow of the Cross. “Even as the Son of man came . . . to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). The birth of Jesus was prophetically an nounced (w. 22,23). The coming of Christ was no afterthought of God. It was in the plan of God from the begin ning. Thus it is not surprising to find the Old Testament prophets writing of His coming humiliation (e.g. Isa. 53). In His birth Jesus was recognized as Saviour (v. 25). Joseph called his name Jesus. That word means Saviour. As far as you are concerned, have you called Jesus Saviour? This is the way to receive God’s Christmas gift to men. Helps for fhe Children The First Christmas Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-20 MEMORY VERSE: ". . . thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins" Matt. 1:21b. Do you like to know a secret? Can others trust you to not tell a secret which they have shared with you? Mary, the lovely young virgin, had a secret! It was a most wonderful secret, for God Himself had told the secret to Mary! Soon Mary was to become the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love gift to the world! How excited Mary became; how her heart thrilled to know that out of all the women in the world God had chosen her to give birth to His Son! The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, the’ man who was to become Mary’s husband, to tell him of the birth of the Saviour. Joseph was told that the name of the baby was to be Jesus, “for he shall save his people from their sins.” As Mary and Joseph talked together
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