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Decomber, 1936
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
The Saviou r, the Lord Jesus Christ, is th e personification and the giver of perfect peace. He is the Prince of Peace.
Christmas greetings bring suggestions of tranquillity, peaceful lalces a n d winding streams, quiet woods and snowy silences.
Putnam Studios
The Christmas Name By JO H N MacBEATH Glasgow, Scotland
S O M E time ago, a new planet was discovered, and astronomers had the uncommon difficulty of finding a suitable name for it. An embarrassment much more acute troubled the mind o f the prophet when he attempted to find an appropriate and adequate name for the coming Prince of Israel. He began to write, “ His name shall be called Wonderful . . . but that one name alone would not suffice. There must be another name, and other names after that. W o n d e r f u l “ His name shall be called W onderful.” This title says so much and yet so little. It is a subtle, elastic, inclusive term; we use it to express the inexpressible. It is a word we employ when other best words seem inappropriate and insufficient. David confessed that Jonathan’s love was “ wonderful.” Used words are exhausted, the literary critics say, when they urge writers to find new living words in their own hearts. The poet Gray was praised because he gave the worn thoughts of men a second youth by find ing for them the perfect word. It was not easy to find for Christ the perfect w o rd ; many names and titles were given, but all o f them together do not explain, much less ex haust Him. On His head are many crowns, and for His title are many names. “ W onderful” is the first, for in Him were qualities that were inexpressible. Th e wonder started at His birth: “ A ll they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” This sense of surprise continued into His min istry. They “ wondered at the gracious words which pro ceeded out of his mouth.” His miracles increased the wonder: “ W e have seen strange things today.” It was also true about His passion. “ Wonder,” said Plato, “ is the beginning of philosophy.” It is more than that; it is the beginning o f the gospel:
And from my smitten heart, with tears, Tw o wonders I confess, The wonders of His glorious love, And my own worthlessness. C o u n se l o r
Another name given to Jesus in advance through prophecy was “ Counselor.” It introduces the element of knowledge and wisdom. “ W h o w ill show us any good?” inquired an ancient mind. The replies have been so re peatedly unsatisfactory that another writer exclaims, “ Ah, what a dusty answer gets the soul when hot for certainties in a world like this!” When the hungry mind of man de sires knowledge, when the perplexed mind seeks assurance, and the anxious mind craves relief for its trouble, the hu man heart cries for a Counselor. There are two contrasted pictures of Jesus. In the first, He is a Child asking questions; in the second, He is a full-grown Man answering questions. W ise men like Nic- odemus came confessing, “ Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from G od.” Young, alert, and curious- minded men came asking, “ What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus stood among men as a Coun selor, uttering words o f such understanding and wisdom that men confessed that “ He taught them as one having authority.” This Counselor will not give “ a dusty answer” to your question. T h e M ig h t y G od The prophet was not satisfied; he must go still further and suggest another name: “ The mighty G od .” Th e charge against Jesus was that He made Himself equal with God. Men had asked, “ W h o can forgive sins but God only?” Jesus proceeded to exercise that prerogative, to use that power which He declared God reserved to Himself. He [ Continued on page 500]
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