December 1931
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In His birth, Herod had sought to slay Him. Then were fulfilled the words of the prophet, “In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they were not.” The massacre of the innocents proved to be a prophecy of the close of His days, for as He neared the end of His ministry, once more “they went about to slay him.” The crucifixion was the climax of the same spirit which marked Christ’s reception at His birth. Only, with the years, the people’s hatred intensified. They compassed the cross as dogs ; they gaped upon Him as ravening and roaring lions ; they wagged the head ; they laughed Him to scorn ; they shot out the lip against Him. Amid the gaiety of modern Christmas festivities, the world has no room for the Lord Jesus “in the inn.” IV. The wise men drew near, with gifts and with cheer, They worshiped Him—King of the Jews : He was God, who is destined to reign one glad day, He was God, though He lay on a cradle of hay, Let Christians receive the good news. Could anything be more striking than the story of the wise men journeying from afar, with gifts of frankincense and myrrh, to worship the holy Babe as King of the Jews ? In His birth, He was worshiped as “King of the Jews.” In His death, He was crucified as “King of the Jews.” In His second advent, He will be heralded as “King of kings.” All of this is in line with the words of the angel, Gab riel, who said unto the virgin Mary, “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son . . . and the Lord God will give unto him the throne of his father David ; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Let Christians who rejoice on this Yuletide rejoice in the destined kingship of Christ. The prophet said, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” The children of Israel are still wandering over the face of the earth without a King. Lei them, nevertheless, re joice on this Christmas Day. Let this day bring back to their memory the sure sign which God gave to Ahaz, that Rezin and Pekah could not make a breach against Judah, and set a king in the midst of Jerusalem. God said of their attempt: “It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” For this cause, God gave to Ahaz the sign of Judah’s secur ity and of the security of Judah’s throne. That “sign” was God’s promise and pledge to Judah : “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” When Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, God’s promise to Ahaz was established. During the twenty cen turies which have followed, Israel has remained forsaken of both of her kings. She has, however, been kept by God’s election, awaiting the day when God’s Son shall return as Israel’s Messiah, to sit upon David’s throne. The Babe of Bethlehem still lives, and the “sign” of God still stands. God has given to all mankind His unchangeable oath that He will judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained, even by our Lord Jesus Christ. This oath, which was set forth by the “sign” of the conception of the virgin and the birth of ImmanueL was afterward certified and made sure by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What hallowed and what happy anticipations, therefore^, should be ours on this particular Christmas Day ! We are living in the midst of a world rent and torn; we are dwell-
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i j u j l g l a b ? . E. N eighbour
In a manger, on the hay, There, incarnate God, once lay: From the Father’s throne He came To a world all sunk in shame; Came a babe, of virgin born, Came from heaven, of glory shorn, Came with swaddling clothes wrapped round, Came with limitations bound. In a manger, on the hay, There, Immanuel once lay; “God with us,” on earth He trod,
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Fashioned man, yet very God; “God with us,” a babe, He came, To declare the Father’s name; “God with us,” from realms above Came to show the Father’s love.' In a manger, on the hay, With the cattle, Jesus lay; Not as monarch, with a crown, Not as wizard, with rehoun; Nay, He came the Holy One, Came the meek and lowly One, Came that shepherds might abide Unembarrassed at His side. In a manger, on the hay, Christ, the Saviour, sweetly lay; He took flesh and blood to die That the sinner might draw nigh; Came to open wide the door, Came the wanderer to restore; Came, that all might enter in, Blood-washed, saved from ev’ry sin. In a manger, on the hay, Christ, the “Jewish Sign” once lay; To a nation all forlorn, Trodden down, all rent and torn, Came, a babe, to certify, Virgin born, to verify, That God’s nation was secure, Israel shall e’er endure. In a manger, on the hay, Babe, yet “destined King,” He lay; Wise men, guided by a star, Came from other lands afar, Worshiped Him, “King of the Jews,” While His own refused the news; Yet, He’ll surely come again, Come as King of kings, to reign.
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