_NO ROOM!_ ‘There was no room for them in the inn.’ Luke 2:7 We repeat the words, and wonder whether they have meaning for us to-day. Think for a moment. In this world of society in which we find ourselves, is not the Christmas tragedy repeated? There is no room for Christ. I. NO ROOM IN THE MO... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE ANGELIC VISION_ ‘And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.’ Luke 2:8 (R.V.) Let us think about a few things concerning the appearanc... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE UNSEEN FROM HEAVEN_ ‘And the angel said unto them, 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. Let us be more careful that we catch the right em... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE BIRTHDAY OF CHRIST_ ‘Born this day.’ Luke 2:11 The birthday of Christ: what are its lessons? I. THE LESSON OF REVERENCE.—Think of the Divine majesty of the love which for us surrendered all, for us accepted all. II. THE LESSON OF PURITY.—Amid what innocence and with what purity and holin... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE CHRISTMAS SONG_ ‘And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.’ Luke 2:13 I. THE HEAVENLY HOST.—In making the great announcement one angel does not suffice. The soothing words of the herald angel being uttered, ‘Fear not,’ the assurance being given tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_PLEAS FOR PEACE_ ‘On earth peace’. Luke 2:14 No one would dream of disturbing words consecrated by long usage, yet in all probability the text does not represent what Luke actually wrote. His real meaning seems to have been ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of His good w... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE TURNING POINT IN THE WORLD’S HISTORY_ ‘And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass.’ Luke 2:15 The birth of Jesus Christ is the turning-point in the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE HOLY FAMILY_ ‘They came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.’ Luke 2:16 We will look for a moment at each particular figure, and gather the central lesson which lies there. I. JESUS LYING IN THE MANGER.—What is the first and central revelation of the Incar... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS_ ‘And all they that heard it wondered.… But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.’ Luke 2:18 These three verses may suggest to us in what spirit we ought to look back to the birth of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME_ ‘And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus.’ Luke 2:21 The passage narrates how our Lord was circumcised and received His name. I. THE NAME AND THE RITE.—Circumcision (Genesis 17:12) the sign of the covenant. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE PURIFICATION AND THE PRESENTATION_ ‘And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord.’ Luke 2:22 Let us meditate on this profoundly interesting subject in relation to Mary and Jesus. I. OF THE M... [ Continue Reading ]
_‘THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL’_ ‘Simeon … waiting for the consolation of Israel.’ Luke 2:25 A very precious title of our Lord. Simeon, who was ‘waiting for the consolation of Israel,’ was satisfied in receiving Christ. I. WHAT IS CONSOLATION?—It is the comfort whereby we are held up against spirit... [ Continue Reading ]
_WALKING IN THE LIGHT_ ‘A Light to lighten the Gentiles.’ Luke 2:32 God’s people, in the days of the old dispensation, lived and moved in dim twilight. We have GOD’s blessed sunshine flooding us with light. I. IF WE WOULD WALK IN THE LIGHT we must look for it. The secret was told to Simeon, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_FALLING OR RISING_ ‘This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel.’ Luke 2:34 The expression is somewhat figurative. It suggests a stone or step in a man’s pathway, which becomes to him, according as he treats it, either a stumbling-block over which he falls, or a means of el... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE TEMPLE AND THE HOME_ ‘When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem.… And He went down with them, … and was subject unto them.’ Luke 2:42 In this passage we learn something of Christ when He was young. We read the only circumstance recorded of His early years (cf. Isaiah 53:2). We... [ Continue Reading ]
_CHRIST LOST AND FOUND_ ‘And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple.’ Luke 2:46 The guardians of the Child were devout Jews. Is it not somewhat significant that we see in the life of our Lord between His nativity and His ministry, His obedience to the law? And does no... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE BOYHOOD OF CHRIST_ ‘They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and askimg them questions.’ Luke 2:46 Though but one incident in the early life of Jesus is recorded, that one is particularly charming and valuable, and deserves to be studied with a spe... [ Continue Reading ]
_A DIVINE NECESSITY_ ‘Wist ye not that I must?’ Luke 2:49 Our thoughts go out to Him Who is the founder and pattern of our religion, and the use He made in His life on earth of His opportunities of worship in God’s special house of prayer. His first recorded words, indeed, were spoken in self-def... [ Continue Reading ]
_A CONDITION OF LIFE_ ‘Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?’ Luke 2:49 The lessons to be drawn from this incident are sufficiently obvious. Work is a condition of life. It is in itself one of its most ennobling conditions, raising us as it does into closest union with God, Who i... [ Continue Reading ]
_AT NAZARETH_ ‘And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.… And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.’ Luke 2:51 In this glorious life of the Lord let us trace some lessons which may enable us the better to ‘fight the good fight.’... [ Continue Reading ]
_INCREASING IN WISDOM_ ‘Jesus increased in wisdom.’ Luke 2:52 The Gospels do not give us, nor do they attempt to give us, a detailed history of our Lord’s wondrous life. A few stories of the infancy, one lovely little narrative of the Child among the doctors, an outline sketch of the brief activi... [ Continue Reading ]