The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 68

\\-hen lo I Augustna, the heathen emperor l\t Rome, demands a census, and the Jewish 'Rmilies must enrol tbl'mselves at the tribal cities. This simple circumstance, whose :•urpo~e was the levy of men or the levy of money, brought Mary to Ilethlebem In time to b('come, in the appointed ple.ce, the mother of the Lord. It enrely shows the full comn1Rnd which God bas over the wills even of those who e.re not his worshippers. He is the Sovereii;i:n of all men, whether they lik~ it or know it or not. Cyrus w11e his sbepberd, although he did not know God (Isa. xhv. 28; xiv. 4); and Augustus orders a census and "keeps books" in subservience to Divine purposes and fulfilment of Divine promises. II. How LITTLE WELCOllE DID THE WORLD GIVE ITS NEW-BORN SAVIOUR. The birth in Bethlehem was the most important birth which ever took place in our planet. Had the world appreciated the advent, it would have heralded it on every shore• but so little "isdoru was there in the world that the precious Child had, so to speak, 'to steal into the world in a stable an<l among the cattle. It was humiliating to be born, even had palace halls received him; but how humiliating to be born in the common ca.ttle- pen, because there was no room for Mary in the inn 1 .And yet, in thus me.king his advent, he identified himself not only with the poorest, but also made common cause with the beasts. They, too, have benefited through Christ being born-there is less cruelty to animals in Christian than in other lands ; and the relip;ion of love he came to embody and proclaim will yet do more to ameliorate the condition of the beasts. Mean~hile let us notice how sad it is if men have no hospitality to show to Jesus, but still exclude him from their hearts and homes l III. THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON WAS PREACHED BY AN ANGEL. The importance of the birth at Bethlehem, if unrecognized by man, is realized by angels. Heavenly hosts cannot be silent about it. They must begin the telling of the glad tidincrs, If we suppose that the shades of night threw their mantle over Mary when the Babe was born, then it would seem that interested angels looked for an immediate a'U,dience to hear the wondrous story. Where shall one be found? The inn is full of sleepers or revellers; they are not fit to hear the message of peace and joy. But outside Beth- lehem in the fields a.re shepherds-humble men, doubtless, and despised as in all ages. Still. they are kind to the sheep-" saviours," in some sense, of the dumb animals they tend and feed-and now in the night watches they are awake and watchful. Here, then, is the angel's aooience, Does it not instrnct preachers to be content -with very humble hearers, and it may be sometimes very few hearers? .An audience may be most important, even though few and despised. But we must next notice the message of the angel. Coming with dazzling light, perhaps the She~binah-glory encircling him, he first scared the poor shepherds. They were " sore afraid." It was needful, there- fore, that he should first put to flight their fears, and then proclaim the glad tidings of a Savwu,r's birth, which gospel is intended for all people. 'l'he sign also which he gives is that the Babe Rhall be found in swaddling-clothes and lying in a manger. It is a message about a Saviour in apparent weakness but in.real power. Such is the gospel. It is a message about a personal Saviour, who, in !!pita of all appearances, is "the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, and the Prince of Peace" (Isa. ix. 6). We must " preach Christ n unto men if we know what it is to preach the gospel. .Again, we must notice the angil~ choir. The angel has arranged for a " service of praise " alona with his preaching. There is the angel's sermon and then the angels' song. The "'sermon is short, but its contents are of priceless vahi.e.1 The same may be said of the angels' song. It speaks simply of" glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men. in whom he is_ well pleased" (Revised Version). It mu~t have_ been a melodious eemce----such music as heavenly harmony secures; angehc chonst.ers doina their best to interest and elevate a few poor shepherds. .Another lesson, surely, to those who would" sing for Jesus." The preaching of the gospel should be backed np by the sinaiocr0 of the gospel. Praise has its part to play as well ae rreaching and prayer. It w°as at the praise part of the dedication service in Solomons temple that the glory of the Lord appeared (2 Chron. v. 11-14). IV. THE AUDIENCE PUT THE PREACHING TO AN lllm!:DIATE TEST. The shepherds, as soon as the angels p8.8l8d away, went at once to Bethlehem. '!'hey were resolved w see for themselves. There was a risk in this, for the sheep might be endangered in 1 Cf. Arndt's • Leben Jesu,' erster theil, 1. 58. CB. n. 1-62,] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 69