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H OW DO YOU know we’ll have another Chrismas?” a devoted Christian lady inquired of her pastor, “Christ may come again before then.” "Indeed,” indescribable in glory and gladness.” Out of the Ivory Palaces Wearily four thousand years of mankind’s existence moved along, and no Christ! Throughout that long vista of years, the prophets declared that Messiah would surely come. But the world was tragically wrapped up in its own program, when, in the fullness of time, the heavens opened, and from the “ ivory palaces” stepped forth the King o f Heayen in garments odorous with “myrrh, and aloes, and cassia.” The night of all nights had come. Immanuel was born in Bethlehem. What a night! It was a concert at midnight. Heaven was on parade. Throngs of angels accompanied Him, chanting exultingly the Gloria in Ex- celsis: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The heavens were aflame with resplendence as the Light of the World left the atmos phere of celestial radiance for the frigid, darksome earth. Meteors acted the part of special escorts. The angel of the Lord introduced the Crown Prince of Heaven, now a * Miracle-Babe, cradled in a manger, and wrapped in swad dling clothes: “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 2:10,11). A Chilling Reception * While Heaven was bending over the earth in royal splendor, attesting to the divinity and majesty of God’s “ only begotten Son”—now in great condescension assum ing the likeness of sinful flesh—the earth opened fo r Him a barn door. Shame, oh, earth! Rulers and princes of this world are welcomed with elaborate demonstrations; bht when the King o f kings and Lord of lords came down on a costly redemption mission, “we hid as it were our ' faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him liot” (Isa. 53:3).
The sin-afflicted world expressed its detestation by regarding Him as a ‘ “root out of a dry ground,” as a ^ “worm,” as a '“reproach of men,” as* a Sabbath-breaker, i wine-bibber, traitor, blasphemer. Sin-blinded men saw in ’ Him “no form nor comeliness,” and “no beauty that we ^should desire him” (Isa. 53:2). Ignominious shame, oh, earth, to so despise your Creator: born in another man’s barn, eating at another man’s table, cruising the lake in another man’s fishing-smack, buried in another man’s mausoleum. He Himself, the oppressed Son of God, gave us in one sentence His autobiography: “Ihave trodden the •winepress alone.” Christmas! “I am come,” said Christ, “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 16:10). But Christ was not received. The great rejection was manifested in various ways: The rulers were moved with jealousy and cruelty; the religious classes, content with formality, traditions and ceremonies, were stirred with envy; the common masses, absorbed in the cares and pleasures o f this life, sank more deeply into their spiritual lethargy. The spurned Son of God wept, “ And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life” (John 5:40). Th« Master's Minority However, there were the few who recognized JesuS as the eternal Christ, and “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). The light broke upon the shepherds, who “came with haste . , . found . . . returned, glorifying and praising God . . .” (Luke 2:16,17,20). The wise men from afar discerned the meaning of that “star in the east,” and, though hindered by designing unbelievers, they found the Lord, “rejoiced with exceeding great joy . . . fell down and worshipped him . . . and . . . presented unto him gifts; gold, frankin cense, and myrrh.” , The forerunner, John the Baptist, faithfully heralded H im * “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The multitudes beheld Christ’s miracles, partook of His bounties, and then went back into their old way of life! Christ, grieving over their defection, turned to His
replied the pastor, “and that w ill be another Christmas-
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