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276 THE CONVENTION TEACHER Lesson XII. December 19, 1948 GOOD NEWS IN THE BIBLE (CHRISTMAS LESSON) SENIOR TOPIC: GOOD NEWS IN THE BIBLE Luke 2:1-14. [[line]] AUTHORIZED VERSION 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. [[line]] REVISED VERSION 1 Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. 6 And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this is the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. [[line]] MOTTO TEXT — Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. Luke 2:10. [[line]] LESSON SETTING Time: 4 or 5 B. C. Place: Bethlehem. LESSON OUTLINE I. The Birth of Jesus. (VV. 1-7.) II. The Angel's Announcement. (VV. 8-12.) III. The Angelic Chorus. (VV. 13-14.) DAILY HOME READING December 13-December 19 M. The Birth of Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25. T. "Now When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem." Matthew 2:1-6. W. Herod and the Wise Men. Matthew 2:7-12. T. "In the Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Mark 1:1-11. F. "In the Beginning Was the Word." John 1:1-14. S. "A New Heaven and a New Earth.' Revelation 21:1-7. S. "Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:2-7. INTRODUCTION Luke alone of the evangelists mentions the name of Roman Emperors, and he does this correctly. Caesar Augustus, not Tiberius Caesar, issued the decree that all the world should be taxed. It is Luke who connects the sacred with the secular history. He informs us about the imperial decree covering all the inhabited world. It was a new, epoch-making measure, and inaugurated a periodic enrollment for the empire which continued, at intervals of fourteen years, for over two centuries. Publius Sulpicions Quirinius was the regular governor in Syria during A. D. 6, when after the death of Archelaus a census for taxation was made, treating Palestine as an ordinary Roman province, and thus causing the formation of the militant Jewish party of Zealots, to whom the Apostle Simon, [[end page]] [[start page]] THE CONVENTION TEACHER 277 the Zealot, once belonged. This party continued until the fall of Jerusalem; the fate of its founder is recorded in Act 5. But Quirinius functioned in Syria during 7 B. C., and after, not indeed as regular governor of the province, but in a governing capacity. The Jews followed their own system of enrollment, each person's name, standing, property, etc., being entered in the family record and kept at the place which was considered the family seat. To follow this system of enrollment for taxation meant much travel and inconvenience, as we see in the case of Joseph and Mary. but the fact remains that this system was followed, and not the far easier Roman way of recording each man's data where he happened to live. EXPOSITION I. THE BIRTH OF JESUS. (VV. 1-7. (1) And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. Caesar Augustus decreed there should be a registration with a view to the assessment of a tax. The decree was issued, and it became a new feature in the government, carried on for more than two centuries. (2) (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) Cyrenius, Latin Quirinius, is mentioned by secular historians. During his office as governor of Syria a census of registration was made. At the time of the birth of Jesus he held a high office in Syria, though he appears to have been originally of humble birth. Like so many of the soldiers of fortune of the empire, he rose through his own merits to his great position. He was a gallant and true soldier, but withal self-seeking and harsh. For his Cilician victories the Senate decreed him a triumph. At death he received the distinguished honor of a public funeral. (3) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. When the edict was proclaimed, everyone went to his own city to enroll and to be ready for registration. (4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, (because he was of the house and lineage of David,) After all the long ages which had passed, still the chief title to honor of the little upland village was that there the greatly loved king had been born. Bethlehem (house of bread) was built on the site of the old Ephrath—where Rachel died and was buried. It is very significant that in this town He was always the Son of God become flesh, and thus become the Bread of God, coming down from heaven. Because it was the birthplace of David, "it is referred to as the city of David. It is frequently spoken of as the most beautiful town in Palestine, and has also been called the most Christian of all the towns of the Holy Land." of the house and lineage of David—The position in life of Joseph was simply that royalty descended to a village carpenter, the equally humble state of Mary, also one of the great king's posterity. This excites no surprise when the vicissitudes of that royal house, and the people over whom they ruled, are remembered. Seven hundred years before this, Micah, the prophet, had definitely predicted when the Messiah should be born that it would be in Bethlehem. (5) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. Their journey, from all that we know of their circumstances, must have been on foot; but this would not then be regarded as special hardship. Now the home of Joseph and Mary was not Bethlehem but Nazareth, ninety miles to the north, in a different province in a territory more radically different from Judea in which Bethlehem was located. (6) And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. The universal tradition of the Christian Church places the nativity in winter—the date December 25, which was generally accepted by the fathers of the Greek and Latin churches from the fourth century downward. (7) And she brought fort her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. "No inference can be safely drawn from this as to Mary's having other children afterwards." The general tradition of the churches and their teachers is that the brethren of Jesus were either his half-brethren, sons of Joseph by a former marriage, or his cousins. Because of the census the town was flooded with travelers and there was no room at the inn for Joseph and Mary. The stable may have been an adjoining cave of limestone. II. THE ANGEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT. (VV.8-12.) (8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the
