Studies in the Christ-Life at Brother Eldred's by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · May 8, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 19.

Studies in the Christ-Life at Brother Eldred's

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Second Evening's Study.

"I WONDER if Jack can remember why this cruel King Herod caused the death of those innocent babes," questioned Brother Eldred.

"Why, papa, he wanted to kill Jesus, and--"

"Yes," interrupted Florence, "yes, he thought if he killed all the babes in the city and neighborhood where Jesus lived that he would be quite sure of killing Him among the others."

"But, Jack, why was Herod so anxious to murder the Christ child? What harm would He ever do Herod?"

"He was a jealous, bad man, and was afraid Jesus would be king some day, instead of him."

"Yes," replied Sister Eldred, "but I think that the Jewish priests and rulers had given the king a wrong impression of the Messiah. He was to come in humility and poverty, instead of grandeur and display, and instead of a royal crown He was to wear a crown of thorns."

"Then do you think, Tom, that Jesus would ever have sought an earthly kingdom? What does Jesus say about His mission? Please read John 18:36."

"'My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence,'" repeated Sister Eldred before Tom could turn to the text. "No; there was not the least danger. We see from this that Jesus would never seek to occupy any earthly throne. But how did it happen that the divine Babe was not slain with the other children of Bethlehem? Alice, suppose you read Matt. 2:13," continued her mother.

"'And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.'"

"You see how tenderly God watched over His Son. Even tho His mission to this earth would not be accomplished until He should give His precious life for the world, the time for His death had not yet come. He had a wonderful work to accomplish, and all the wrath of the dragon could not cut short one single hour of that precious life, until that work was done."

"Do you not believe, father," questioned Tillie, "that the Lord cares for us, too, and keeps us from danger every day, until our life-work is done, and that we each have our particular work to do for Him?"

"Yes," continued Tom, "and do you not almost think, father, that perhaps the Lord marks out our path for us, and that if we live as near Him as we ought, we shall be led by His angels?"

"Most certainly I do," replied Brother Eldred, "I can believe nothing else, since He has assured us that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him. But, Margie, my child, what were these men called who saw this star which led them to the Christ child?"

"Wise men, I think, papa, and they were also called Magi."

"Were these men Jews, father?" asked Jack.

"No, my son, and more than this, they were looked upon as heathen by the Jews. But altho they did not have the light which the favored people of God had always enjoyed, still they were living up to the little light they had far more perfectly than were the Jews. But, Alice, did these men succeed in finding the Babe?"

"O yes, sir; they found Him and His mother over in Bethlehem, for the shining star went before them and guided them."

"I wonder if this was a real star, or if it was a comet?" interrupted Jack.

"I suppose it was a glorious company of angels, my son," replied his mother. "Now," she continued, "will you tell me where Joseph and Mary lived at this time, Alice?"

"In the city of Nazareth, Galilee, I believe, mother."

"Why did they visit Bethlehem, Florence?"

"They went to be registered in their own tribal city, because Caesar Augustus, who then ruled the whole known world, decreed that every one must thus do. So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, because that was the city of David, and they belonged to the house of David—mother says King David was their ancestor."

"Very good; but do you suppose they really were required to pay their taxes at this time, Alice?" smiled Brother Eldred.

"Why yes, I think so, father; of course Joseph and Mary were poor people, but I suppose they just had to pay their taxes for all that."

"Well, please read the first verse of the second chapter of Luke, reading the margin, and we shall see."

"'And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the world be enrolled in order to be taxed.' Well, father, I never thought of reading the margin of that verse before," said Alice.

"Were there any others whom the Lord took special pains to notify of the birth of the Child Jesus? Will you answer, Florence?"

"Yes, papa; the angels came to some shepherds who were keeping their sheep at night. The shepherds saw the sweet Babe before the wise men."

"Can you tell me, Tillie, where the record concerning the shepherds is found?"

"Why in Matthew, I suppose, isn't it, father?"

"No, no," interrupted Tom. "Matthew doesn't say a word about it, neither does Mark; but Luke tells the whole story, in the second chapter. I thought as Tillie did until I looked it up."

"Very good—but now perhaps we have given as much time as we should to the study, for this time. Next Friday evening we will study the life of Jesus as a child. Let us each learn all we can thru the week."

"Before we close, father," smiled Sister Eldred, "let us hear another little poem, about the 'Slaying of the Innocents.' I think Alice will repeat it, will you dear?"

"I'll try, mother," replied Alice, as she made her bow.