Heralds of the Morning
259
darkness, but shall have the light of life.” [
John 8:12
.] Whoever is with
singleness of purpose seeking to do God’s will, earnestly heeding the
light already given, will receive greater light; to that soul some star of
heavenly radiance will be sent, to guide him into all truth.
At the time of Christ’s first advent, the priests and scribes of the
holy city, to whom were intrusted the oracles of God, might have
discerned the signs of the times, and proclaimed the coming of the
Promised One. The prophecy of Micah designated his birthplace;
[
Micah 5:2
.] Daniel specified the time of his advent. [
Daniel 9:25
.]
God had committed these prophecies to the Jewish leaders; they were
without excuse if they did not know and declare to the people that
the Messiah’s coming was at hand. Their ignorance was the result
of sinful neglect. The Jews were building monuments for the slain
prophets of God, while by their deference to the great men of earth
they were paying homage to the servants of Satan. Absorbed in their
[313]
ambitious strife for place and power among men, they lost sight of the
divine honors proffered them by the King of Heaven.
With profound and reverent interest the elders of Israel should
have been studying the place, the time, the circumstances, of the
greatest event in the world’s history,—the coming of the Son of God
to accomplish the redemption of man. All the people should have been
watching and waiting that they might be among the first to welcome
the world’s Redeemer. But lo, at Bethlehem two weary travelers from
the hills of Nazareth traverse the whole length of the narrow street to
the eastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a place of rest and
shelter for the night. No doors are open to receive them. In a wretched
hovel prepared for cattle, they at last find refuge, and there the Saviour
of the world is born.
Heavenly angels had seen the glory which the Son of God shared
with the Father before the world was, and they had looked forward
with intense interest to his appearing on earth as an event fraught
with the greatest joy to all people. Angels were appointed to carry
the glad tidings to those who were prepared to receive it, and who
would joyfully make it known to the inhabitants of the earth. Christ
had stooped to take upon himself man’s nature; he was to bear an
infinite weight of woe as he should make his soul an offering for
sin; yet angels desired that even in his humiliation, the Son of the
Highest might appear before men with a dignity and glory befitting his