So the long years went by. Many of the people forgot God, and sorrow upon sorrow came, and still there was no sign of the blessing that had been promised. God sent to his people many prophets who spoke words of cheer, and told of a Saviour who would come, but all the people knew was that some day he would come, and they cried eagerly to the Lord saying, “How long, O Lord, how long shall it be?” The hearts of the people grew sick with waiting as they asked each other, “When will the promise come true? When will the Saviour come?” But no one could answer, for none knew.
One day, in Jerusalem, those who truly loved the Lord came out of the temple with joy shining in their faces. “Something has happened!” they said to their friends, “We do not know just what it is, but Zacharias the priest has seen a vision. He was in the temple burning incense, and when he came out to us he could not speak, but he made us know that God had sent him some wonderful message.” So the people began to hope that this might mean the coming of the Saviour. But half a year went by and there was still no sign of the coming of the promised One. Every priest who went into the temple to offer incense must have hoped that some message would come to him, but no vision of an angel was seen there again.
The Lesson Story
Up in the north in a city called Nazareth there lived a young woman, so kind and good and true that even the birds and flowers seemed to love her. As God looked at her and read the very thoughts and desires of her heart, he knew that he could trust her with the care of the greatest Gift he had ever sent to the earth, the One in whom the promise made to Abraham should come true. So it happened one day that as Mary stood among her flowers a messenger came and spoke to her saying, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.” Mary was troubled when she heard his words, for she did not know what they meant. But with joy she heard: “Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God, and to thee shall be sent a Son in whom the promise made to Abraham shall come true, for he shall bring blessing to all the people of the world. He will come as a little baby, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
When Mary heard this she could hardly believe that it was not all a dream. To think that she should be chosen as the one through whom God’s greatest promise should come true! All the people thought that the Saviour would come as a great king, but Mary knew now that he was coming to her arms as a little child, and there was great joy in her heart when the angel left her and went back to the heavenly places. Very soon she went to see her cousin Elisabeth, that she might tell her of the great happiness that had come into her life, but Elisabeth already knew it, for God had told her, and together they rejoiced that the great promise was so soon to come true. Elisabeth told her gladness in a few words, but Mary’s heart was so full that her praises flowed out in song (read verses 46-48, 54, 55).
So you see it was the promise to Abraham coming true; and you know how one night at Bethlehem, while shepherds were watching their flocks on the hillside, a Baby was born in the stable of an inn and was laid in a manger for a cradle. That was the gladdest day of all the days that ever have been or ever will be in this world, for it was the day when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa. No wonder the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest.” No wonder we always wish to sing songs of joy at the glad Christmas tide.
Let us say together the words of praise that Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” And let us praise God as the angels praised him the night when Jesus was born: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” Is there any other way in which we can show our love and gratitude? (Speak of what your Sunday school is doing for the poor, and of the part which the Juniors have had in the gifts. Quote Matthew 25:40, and call attention to pages 36 and 37 of the Pupil’s Book for Work and Study.)