December Ninth

The Wise Men

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, 

behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? 

for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled,

 and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the

 chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded 

of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, 

In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, 

enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the

 young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, 

that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king,

 they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, 

till it came and stood over where the young child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child

 with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him:

 and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;

 gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God 

in a dream that they should not return to Herod, 

they departed into their own country another way." 

-Matthew 2:1-5, 7-12

One Solitary Life

George Clarke Peck

            How do you explain the greatness of the man whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas?

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30, and then for three years was an itinerant preacher. he never wrote a book. He never held office. he never owned a home. he never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself

            Although he walked the land over, curing the sick, giving sight to the blind, healing the lame, and raising people from the dead, the top established religious leaders turned against him. His friends ran away. he was turned over to enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was spat upon, flogged and ridiculed. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, the executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth, and that was his robe. When he was dead, he was laid in the borrowed grave of a friend.

            Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the Leader of the column of progress.

            All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that were ever built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as has that One Solitary Life.

Recommended Song: I Stand all Amazed