yet angels desired that even in
His humiliation, the Son of the Highest might appear before men with a
dignity and glory befitting His character. Would the great men of earth
assemble at Israel's capital to greet His coming? Would legions of angels
present Him to the expectant company?

An angel visits the earth to see who are prepared to welcome Jesus. But he
can discern no tokens of expectancy. He hears no voice of praise and
triumph, that the period of Messiah's coming is at hand. The angel hovers
for a time over the chosen city and the temple where the divine presence
has been manifested for ages; but even here is the same indifference. The
priests, in their pomp and pride, are offering polluted sacrifices in the
temple. The Pharisees are with loud voices addressing the people, or
making boastful prayers at the corners of the streets. In the palaces of
kings, in the assemblies of philosophers, in the schools of the rabbis,
all are alike unmindful of the wondrous fact which has filled all heaven
with joy and praise,--that the Redeemer of men is about to appear upon the
earth.

There is no evidence that Christ is expected, and no preparation for the
Prince of life. In amazement the celestial messenger is about to return to
heaven with the shameful tidings, when he discovers a group of shepherds
who are watching their flocks by night, and as they gaze into the starry
heavens, are contemplating the prophecy of a Messiah to come to earth, and
longing for the advent of the world's Redeemer. Here is a company that is
prepared to receive the heavenly message. And suddenly the angel of the
Lord appears, declaring the good tidings of great joy. Celestial glory
floods all the plain, an innumerable company of angels is revealed, and as
if the joy were too great for one messenger to bring from heaven, a
multitude of voices break forth in the anthem which all the nations of the
saved shall one day sing, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men."(512)

O, what a lesson is this wonderful story of Bethlehem! How it rebukes our
unbelief, our pride and self-sufficiency. How it warns us to beware, lest
by our criminal indifference we also fail to discern the signs of the
times, and therefore know not the day of our visitation.

It was not alone upon the hills of Judea, not among the lowly shepherds
only, that angels found the watchers for Messiah's coming. In the land of
the heathen also were those tha