406
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November, 1934
Object Lesson P ictures Object: A kodak album filled with pic tures. Lesson: This kodak album is filled with pictures. Why do people keep pictures? Yes, it is in order that they may remember their friends and relatives. When friends are leaving, they often give pictures to help us remember them. When Christ was preparing to leave this world and go back to heaven, He wanted to leave something with His followers to remind them of Him. There was no way o f taking pictures in those days; and be sides, Christ wanted His disciples to re member His death, rather than how His face looked. People would not be saved by seeing an exact picture o f Christ, but they are saved by knowing about and ac cepting His sacrificial death on the cross. In order that Christ might remind His followers o f His death for them, He took bread and, breaking it, said: “This is my body, which is for you” (1 Cor. 11:24, R .V .). Because the bread did not remind them o f all that He wanted them to remember, He took a glass of grape juice, and said Alternate Lesson: The Christian Home (Eph. 6:1-4). Golden Text: “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to ward men” (Lk. 2:14). Outline and Exposition I. T he P lace (8, 9). T h is was the first Christmas service ever held. It was not found in a stately cathedral or a magnificent building, but out in the open country under darkened skies. The brown hillside was suddenly illumined and made beautiful be cause of what had come into this scene (v. 9). The angel o f the Lord appeared, and with the angel came holiness. And wherever holiness enters, there is a trans formation o f gloom into glory. IL T he A udience (8, 9). The audience was composed of simple shepherds. It was most appropriate that such men should be the first to hear and to tell to others the truth concerning the Shepherd. The first effect on the audi ence was one of fear—“they were sore afraid.” That is, they were filled with holy awe and reverence, which is another result of the presence of holiness. In this state of mind, these humble listeners were ready to give attention to the message without interruption, to accept the message just as it would be given to them, and to believe the message that came to them. In just such an attitude should audiences listen today when God speaks. With a be ginning o f this kind, the shepherds were led into experience, the experience turned to Joy, and the joy was crowned with glory. This is God’s order, whenever jHis message is received. III. T he P reacher (9, 10). Doubtless this angel was the one whom God used frequently to deliver messages, the angel Gabriel. God’s truth can be known only by revelation, and it was a revelation that the shepherds received that night. If the question be asked, “Why do we not have such angel ministry
telling of universal blessing for men o f all nations. 2. It was occupied with the offices of Christ. The One o f whom the angel spoke is “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” He is, first o f all, the Saviour —able and willing to save by His grace. He is also Christ, the Lord’s Anointed, possessing the power necessary to save sinners. The strength for salvation cannot be found in man, but in Christ alone. He is also the Lord, hav ing authority to save. Because He is the Lord, it is a righteous and just thing for Him to save man, whatever may be the condition in which the man is found. This was a personal message; it was “unto you” (v. 12). It was concerned with a personal Saviour and was meant for personal acceptance. VI. T h e M usic (13, 14). The W ord reads: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest. . . ” It may be that in the expression of their praise, the heavenly multitude sang. It was the first time the Gloria in Excelsis was ever heard. And those who made the praise vocal composed “a multitude of the heav enly host.” They announced God’s attitude by saying: “ On earth peace, gOQd will to ward men.” This is ever the attitude of God toward humankind. God desires peace on earth, and peace can come only when good will prevails among men. And good will is possible among men only when men are reconciled to God. The message for today and every day is : “ Be ye recon ciled to God.” God is already reconciled to man. V II. T h e E ffects of th e S ervice (15-19). 1. The shepherds came to a decision in faith. They said: “ Let us . . . go . . . and see . . .” Theirs was a decision willingly made; it was not forced upon them, ex cept by the urge in their own spirits that came through hearing the heavenly mes sage. The decision was promptly made; they said: “Let us now go.” And it was made in faith; they would go “even unto Bethlehem,” however unlikely was such a location as the birthplace o f a king. 2. They made a declaration of their faith. They said: “Let us now go . . . and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known.” They did not go to test the truth of the message, that they might afterwards believe it, if they found it true. They believed the message was true before they saw that it was; to them, it was something that was come to pass. And the message was not the angel’s, but the Lord’s —made known through the angel. 3. They acted on their decision. “ They came with haste.” The proof of faith is always obedience, and obedience always finds what it seeks (cf. John 7 :17). To say, “I believe,” and (hen to refuse to act upon that declaration is a manifesta tion of inherent unbelief. To say, “ I will believe if I see,” is to deny faith. But to arise and say, “ I will go and see what is already come to pass” is the expression of that faith which brings rest to the spirit and satisfaction to the soul. Points and Problems 1. Those who mark their Bibles should put “an angel” for “ the angel” in Luke 2 :9. There is no definite article in the ori ginal text. Furthermore, a very important
that it was like His blood which would cleanse from sin. Before Christ died, godly people brought the blood o f lambs to the altar, and the sacrifice of the lambs was a picture of the death of Christ for our sins. Now that Christ has died, Chris tians are reminded o f Him by the bread and grape juice which is served at the Lord’s Supper. How glad we should be that Christ left such a remembrance for us, telling us of His death, rather than a picture which would have revealed the shape o f His face! When the Lord’s Supper is served, we should never forget that it is a re minder of Christ’s death for us. today?” the answer is that the revelation from God is now complete; having spoken in His Son, God has nothing more to say to man, and all He said concerning His Son is contained in the Bible. Hence there is no further need for messages brought by angels. Much less is there any neces sity for messages to be conveyed by spirits, or by demons, or through dreams, or through any other method. IV. T h e T h em e (10-12). The theme of this sermon was the person and work of Christ Jesus the Lord—the One to whom all the Scriptures point, to whom all the promises relate, in whom all the glories converge—the promised Seed and Sacrifice, Judge and Deliverer, Redeemer and Saviour. Jesus Christ should be the subject of every sermon. Darkness was universal, but in Him light was come into the w orld; death was uni versal, but in Him life was come; and hatred was universal, but in Him love was come. Hence, the theme o f the sermon was the light and life and love of God manifested in Jesus Christ for the .benefit of all those dwelling in despair, having no hope and being without God in the world. V. T he S ermon I tself (10-12). 1. It began with the birth o f Christ. There were good tidings, telling of the love of God for man, who deserved pun ishment. There were joyous tidings, tell ing of God’s salvation provided for man when eternal condemnation might be ex pected. And there were acceptable tidings, BLACKBOARD LESSON
DECEMBER 23, 1934 THE CHRISTMAS LESSON L u k e 2 :8-19
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