QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON. 1. The light of the star, v. 1, 2; Rev. 22. 16. What was its signification? Who beheld it? For what had the East been famous? 1 Kings 4. 30. What prophecies may have led them? Num. 24. 17; Isa. 9. 6. What kind of a king did they expect? What example do they afford us? 2. The light of the Scriptures, v. 3-8; Psa. 119. 105. What was the character of the reigning king? How was he affected, and why? Why was Jerusalem troubled with him? What measures did he take, and for what purpose? How does his conduct illustrate Psa. 2. 1. What classes composed the council? What prophecy was presented? How long before had it been written? What command did Herod give, and for what purpose? What result comes to those who plot against God's plans? Ps. 2.4. 3. The light of the world, v. 9-12; Isa. 60. 3. In what direction were the wise men led from Jerusalem ? What other events were associated with Bethlehem? Ruth 1. 22. What was the character of their gifts? How did God speak with men in ancient times? PRACTICAL TEACHINGS. What does the lesson teach concerning 1. How we should receive christ? 3. How we may honor Christ? SUBJECTS FOR STUDY.-Gentile interest, and Jewish neglect of Christ.... Science leading to the Saviour.... Three ways of treating Christ. THE LESSON CATECHISM.-(A review exercise for the entire school.) 1. Where and when was Jesus born? At Bethlehem, in the reign of Herod. 2. Who came to Jerusalem seeking him? Wise men from the East. 3. By what were they led to Christ? By a star. 4. How did they honor him? With worship and gifts. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION-The inspiration of prophecy. B. C. 5.] LESSON II. [Jan. 11 THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT; or, The King Hated. Matt. 2. 13-23. Commit to memory verses 16-20. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Jo'seph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into E'gypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Her'od will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into E'gypt; 15 And was there until the death of Her'od: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Out of E'gypt have I called my son. 1 Num. 24. 8; Hosea 11. 1. 16 Then Her'od, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Beth'le-hem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by 2Jer'e-my the prophet, saying, 2 Jer. 31. 15. 18 In Ra'ma was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Ra'chel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Her'od was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Jo'seph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Is'ra-el: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Is'ra-el. 22 But when he heard that Ar'che-la'us did reign in Ju-de'a in the room of his father Her'od, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Gal'i-lee: 3 Chap. 3. 13; Luke 2. 39. 4 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Naz'a-reth: that it might be fulfilled 5 which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Naz'a-rene'. 4 John 1. 45; Luke 2. 4.5 Judges 13.5; 1 Sam. 1. 11.-a That is, Branch, or, Separated one; Num. 6. 2; Zech. 6. 12. HOME READINGS. M. The king hated. Tu. The kings against Christ Matt. 2. 13-23. ...Psa. 2. 1-12. Acts 4. 23-34. F. The angel of deliverance.......Acts 12. 1-17. FLIGHT TIME.-B. C. 5, immediately following the events of the last lesson. The return from Egypt, B. C. 4, between six months and a year afterward. CONNECTING LINKS.-The events of this lesson follow immediately upon those of the last lesson. EXPLANATIONS.-They-The Magi, or wise men. Angel of the Lord-A messenger, who was probably Gabriel, (Luke 1. 19, 26.) Joseph-See Descriptive Index. Flee into Egypt-A country which was outside the realm of Herod. By night-In order that the departure might not be noticed. Departed into Egypt-By a route along the Mediterranean coast, a journey of about a fortnight. Death of Herod -Which took place a few months afterward. Out of Egypt-A prophecy originally referring to Israel, but not less suitable to Christ. Mocked-Scorned, by their return without informing him where Christ was to be found. Wroth-Anger is often the beginning of murder. All the children-The male children only are meant, numbering from twenty to forty. Two years old-This may mean 66 between one and two years old." Jeremy-A Greek form of the name Jeremiah. Rama, Rachel-See Descriptive Index. Weeping-Rachel, whose tomb was near Bethlehem, is represented as weeping over the death of the children. They are dead-Not only Herod, but many others of his family. Archelaus-See Descriptive Index. Turned aside-Went across the Jordan, and around Judea. Nazareth-See Descriptive Index. A Nazarene-That is, one despised, as Nazareth was a place of bad reputation. QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON. 1. The defeated king, v. 13–15; Psa. 2. 10, 11. What is the fate of those who oppose God? Matt. 21. 44. Nazareth 2. The defiant king, v. 16-18; Psa. 10. 8. Why is Rachel's name mentioned in the prophecy? 3. The dead king, v. 19; Psa. 73. 18, 19. What enemy overcame Herod? 1 Cor. 15. 26, 27. What fate must the wicked expect hereafter? Dan. 7. 14. Dead Sea What are the differences between the kingdoms of heaven and of earth? 4. The living king, v. 20-23; Psa. 145. 13. How did Joseph show faith in God? What reason for fear did he have? What part of the land became the home of Jesus? What prophecy was thus fulfilled? What was the current opinion concerning Nazareth? John 1. 46. How did the people of Nazareth justify their reputation? Luke 4. 29. PRACTICAL TEACHINGS. What are we here taught 1. Concerning opposition to God's plans? SUBJECTS FOR STUDY.-Various ways of divine revelation... The double fulfillment of prophecy....Innocent sufferers for sin....Examples of haters against God, and their fate. THE LESSON CATECHISM.-(A review exercise for the entire school.) 1. Who appeared to Joseph in Bethlehem? The angel of the Lord. 2. Of what did he give warning? Of Herod's purpose to slay Jesus. 3. Into what land was Jesus taken? Into Egypt. 4. What did Herod do at Bethlehem, after the escape of Jesus? He slew all the little chil dren. 5. How long was Jesus in Egypt? Until Herod's death. 6. T what place was he then taken? To Nazareth in Galilee. DOCTRINAL SUGGESTION-Divine Providence. A. D. 25.] LESSON III. [Jan. 18. JESUS BAPTIZED BY JOHN; or, The King Attested. Matt. 3. 1-17. Commit to memory verses 13-17. 1 In those days came 1John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Ju-de'a. 1 Mal. 3. 1; Mark 1. 4; Luke 3. 2; John 1. 28.2 Josh. 14. 10. 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 Dan. 2. 44; chap. 4. 17; chap. 10. 7. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet E-sa'ias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 5 Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 Isa. 40. 3; Luke 3. 4. Luke 1. 76. 4 And the same John 7 had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 6 Mark 1. 6.2 Kings 1. 8; Zech. 13. 4.-8 Lev. 11. 22.9 Deut. 8. 8; 32. 13; 1 Sam. 14. 25; 2 Kings 18. 32; Psa. 81. 16; Ezek. 27. 17; Luke 24. 42. 5 Then went out to him Je-ru'sa-lem, and all Ju-de'a, and all the region round about Jor'dan, 6 And 10 were baptized of him in Jor'dan, confessing their sins. 10 Acts 19. 4. 7 But when he saw many of the Phar'i-sees and Sad'du-cees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from 11 the wrath to come? 11 Rom. 5. 9; 1 Thess. 1. 10. 8 Bring forth therefore fruits a meet for repentance: a Or, answerable to amendment of life; 2 Cor. 7. 1, 11. 9 And think not to say within yourselves, 12 We have A'bra-ham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto A'bra-ham. 12 John 8. 33; Acts 13. 26; Rom. 4. 1. 10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: 13 therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 13 Chap. 7. 19; John 15. 6; Heb. 6. 8. 11 I 14 indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: 15 he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 14 Mark 1. 8; Luke 3. 16; John 1. 33; Acts 1. 5.-15 Isa. 4. 4; Mal. 3. 2; Acts 2. 3, 4; Titus 3. 5. 12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly 16 purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will 17 burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 16 Mal. 3. 3.-17 Mal. 4. 1; chap. 13. 39. 13 Then cometh Je'sus 18 from Gal'i-lee to Jor'dan unto John, to be baptized of him. 18 Chap. 2. 22. 14 But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Je'sus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to 19 fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 19 Dan. 9. 24. 16 And 20Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw 21 the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 20 Mark 1. 10.2 Isa. 11. 2; Luke 3. 22; John 1. 32. 17 And 22 lo a voice from heaven, saying, 23 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 22 John 12. 28.23 Psa. 2. 7; Isa. 42. 1; Luke 9. 35; Col. 7. 13. |