INSIDE!HUMBLE BEGINNINGS 8

DAYS OF DARKNESS 16

DREAMS OF AFRICA 18

BROKEN BOLT 23

Tony’sSecret

PAGE 2

magazineVolume 29Number 28

2 Volume 29, Number 28

Tony’sSecret

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R osa Sunzeri noticed it first: As the autumn days lengthened, her hus-band was staying later and later in

his garden. True, he always milked the goats and took care of the plants that had provided the family’s livelihood since they moved from the old country to America, but it just wasn’t like him to spend so little time in the house.

After more than a week had passed in the same way, Rosa grew indignant. Now, her dark-fringed eyes staring out into the gathering darkness, she called to her hus-band in their native Italian dialect, “Tony, what do you do out there in the garden?” She rested her hands on her hips, and threw back her dark head in protest. “What is it you plant, Tony, that takes so long?”

Tony lifted his head and smiled, show-ing a fine set of white teeth. “Don’t worry yourself, my dear one. I planta garlic.”

“Garlic!” she echoed. “It not be the time to plant garlic—we wait the spring. You have the lie on me!”

“No, no, my dear. You will see one day, Rosa mia.1 This will be fine garlic—and much more!”

Several boys appeared at the edge of the garden, grinning as if they knew a secret.

Rosa glared at them in disgust and disap-peared into the house.

Secret discoveredEach evening, after finishing his regular

work, Tony labored over the giant rect-angle he had marked out on the side of the hill that rose steeply at the edge of his garden and nursery. He had begun by cultivating the rich soil until it was as fine as the polenta meal Rosa cooked each day. Next, he smoothed the ground and marked it with a long, narrow board until it lay like ribbons arranged side by side. By the time he began to plant, nearly all the neighbor-hood boys showed up each evening to watch. At first, they had asked Rosa’s ques-tion: “What are you planting, Tony?”

Tony answered with the same smile—and answer—that he had given his wife. “I planta garlic.”

But the boys’ careful observations soon told them a bigger story. They watched Tony sow something very specific in thir-teen long rows, and they noticed that he planted the upper left corner in quite an unusual manner. Their sharp minds soon came to a conclusion, which they joyfully shouted out.

as told by Anna Crever

Young Disciple 3

Tony stood up and walked to where the boys were standing. “You finda my secret,” he told them, “but you must not tell it.” He looked at them with solemn black eyes. “Will you keep it, my secret?”

The boys nodded. “Yes, sir! It will not pass our lips!”

Tony shook each boy’s hand before returning to his special rectangle, where he worked until the sun disappeared behind the horizon.

Song of AmericaTony leaned over the special rectangle in

his garden, pulling out any tiny weed that had had the audacity to sprout. Then, using a watering can, he carefully watered each tiny shoot in his beloved garden. As usual, the neighborhood boys gathered nearby. “Sing to us,” one called. “Sing one of the songs of Italy.”

Tony smiled and broke into a rich bari-tone: “Apparve grande luce raggiante su nel ciel. . . .” 2 When he had finished, the boys clapped and cheered. “Sing us another one, Tony!”

The man shook his head. “Now I am in America. Here I find much to make me glad. I sing a song of America.” Starting softly, he began to sing: “O beautiful for spacious skies, . . .”

The boys listened, entranced, almost not noticing the car that pulled up behind them. A young lady stepped out and stood listening. At the conclusion she called out, “Bravo, Tony! I came for some of your wonderful pansies, but I did not expect such a treat!”

Tony stood up and wiped his face with his sleeve. “Thank you, Miss Ella. This country very good to me. I no speak Eng-lish so good, but I can sing songs of my new land.”

Excited boysWhen the heavy winter rains came

on, Tony still worked on his mysterious piece of garden, using a hoe to make a deep trench above it so no sudden streams would wash out what he had so carefully planted.

When spring arrived, Tony kept busy supplying his customers with early cab-bages, lettuce, cauliflowers, and peas, as well as bedding flowers of all descriptions. Still, he never failed to take time in the rectangular garden on the hill—and the interest of the neighborhood boys seemed to grow more intense with every passing day. “How long will it be?” they asked Tony; but he only smiled. “The good Lord will work as it pleases Him.” He winked. “But no worry yourself; it shall be soon.”

Suspicious neighborsYoung Jimmy Janeway ran into his

house, whistling.“Where have you been?” his mother

demanded.Jimmy grinned. “Over watching Tony

sing and work in his garden.”Mrs. Janeway frowned. “You’re spend-

ing altogether too much time over there. What’s he doing that’s so interesting, anyway?”

Jimmy pursed his lips. “Ah, that’s a secret. We fellers promised not to tell.”

“Hmmph! I don’t like the sound of it!” Mrs. Janeway rattled the dishes in the sink. “That man is up to no good, if you ask me.”

Later that evening, Mrs. Janeway told her husband about the conversation. “It’s a devilish scheme,” she declared. “That man Tony is teaching our boys to be radicals. He uses his fine voice to attract them, so that he can fill their minds with ideas against our government. What do we know

4 Volume 29, Number 28

about him, after all? Maybe he’s a Marxist. Maybe he’s a fascist. How do we know?”

“Nonsense,” her husband replied. “The man is simply a God-fearing farmer who loves to sing. In any case, a peaceful occu-pation like raising vegetables is not the set-ting for anarchistic propaganda.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” Mrs. Janeway crossed her arms over her chest. “And I think that secret of Tony’s is downright dangerous.”

The next morning, Mrs. Janeway made a point to speak to her neighbors about the activities in Tony’s garden. Some of them dismissed the woman’s concerns, but many listened to her suspicions. In the end, the parents agreed to forbid the boys to visit Tony; but that was not all. “Let us stay away from him, too,” an agitated man sug-gested. “If we don’t buy a single cabbage or turnip from him, he’ll soon get the message that we are wise to his schemes.”

Most of the others nodded in agree-ment. The few voices that objected were drowned out. “We must act in solidarity,” they were told. “Otherwise, how will we ever be free of this menace?”

Sudden arrestEarly the next morning, Tony was

hoeing his cabbages when he looked up to see two police officers towering over him. “You come along with us.” One of them pointed to the badge on his coat.

“No time,” Tony answered. “You want to buy?”

“No. We’re putting you where you can’t talk so much. Come along. You are arrested on suspicion of anti-American activities.”

Trembling and bewildered, Tony bid Rosa goodbye. “I return soon,” he prom-ised. “I beg you to water the garden—espe-cially the rectangle on the hill. And cover it

with the light canvas at night—but remove the cover before the sun should waste any of its warm rays.”

Before he could scarcely believe it, Tony—who loved to laugh and sing among his vegetables—was locked into a dark prison cell.

Court hearingThe hearing was set for the following

week. When Tony, handcuffed and miser-able, was led in, the visitors’ gallery was almost full of onlookers. Tony shivered with bewilderment and fear as he entered the courtroom in company with the bailiff. The lawyers seated themselves at a long table, and the bailiff led Tony to a seat next to his court-appointed attorney. The judge, after a nod to the court, seated himself in a leather chair behind a high railing, and the hearing began. First the clerk, at the request of the judge, read the indictment. When he was finished, the judge looked straight at Tony. “Tony Sunzeri, stand up.”

Tony, his curly black hair in disorder from a restless night of tossing on the hard bench in his cell and his eyes sunken and full of trouble, stood up.

“Mr. Sunzeri,” the judge said, “you are accused of teaching sedition to a group of boys. It is said that while you work in your garden you are sowing seeds of discontent and anarchy in the minds of our youth. What have you to say to this charge?”

Tony gesticulated wildly with his hands. “I planta garlic, Your Honor.”

The room rippled with suppressed laughter, increasing Tony’s embarrassment.

“Mr. Sunzeri,” the judge asked, “are you guilty or not guilty of the charge against you?”

Tony looked at his lawyer, and then held his hands out in a gesture of helplessness.

Young Disciple 5

“I not guilty.” He sat down, feeling that all was lost.

The judge spoke to the district attorney. “Please present your witnesses.”

The lawyer stood up and looked over at a group of boys huddled on a bench in front of a group of indignant-looking par-ents. “The first witness is Jimmy Janeway.” The boy made his way to the front, looking almost as frightened as Tony. After the for-mality of the oath had been administered, the lawyer began his examination. “Do you know Mr. Sunzeri?”

“Yes, sir.” He gestured toward Tony. “Is this

Mr. Sunzeri?”“Yes, sir.”“Where have you seen him?”“In his vegetable garden.”“What does he talk to you about?”

The attorney gave a hard look to the boy. “Remember that you have promised to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

Jimmy jumped to his feet and faced the lawyer. “Tony’s a good sport,” he exclaimed, thrusting his hands into his pockets. “He likes us guys to come over after school, and we like to hear him sing. There’s nothing to this anarchist stuff they say Tony’s teaching us.”

“Son,” the judge interjected. “Don’t give your opinion; just answer the questions.”

“What does Tony talk to you about when you are with him?” the lawyer insisted.

Jimmy swallowed hard and pushed his hands deeper into his pockets. He drew his brows together in a frown. “It’s this way. Us guys promised Tony—and we shook on it—that we wouldn’t tell about something that’s going to happen. Are you going to make me break our word to Tony?”

The prosecuting attorney turned to the judge. “Observe his words, Your Honor. This boy—this American boy—has virtu-ally admitted that he has knowledge of a plot.”

“I have not observed anything incrimi-nating in his testimony so far,” the judge observed. “We have yet to hear all the evi-dence. Besides this, the youth recognizes a point of honor in hesitating to break his word to Mr. Sunzeri.”

Now Tony’s lawyer stood up. “Your Honor, may the accused plead for him-self?”

The judge nodded. “He may.”The lawyer whispered to Tony that he

should take the stand and speak for him-self. Tony, the peaceful tender of cabbages, looked at the lawyer in dismay. Plead for himself in the strange words of his adopted country, which came so slowly to his tongue? He tried to think, but could not seem to remember even a syllable of the language. Then, like an inspiration from Heaven, a thought came to his mind. Yes, he would speak. He would let his baritone voice plead for him.

Tony stood up and ran his fingers through his curly black hair. Then, draw-ing a deep breath, he began: “O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light. . . .” With the first line of the song, everyone in the courtroom stood up, even the judge. As Tony sang in deep, pure tones, he put forth an argument that could not be denied. Here was the American spirit interpreted through the voice of an immigrant!

With the first two of three bars, Tony felt his courage mounting. As the song pro-gressed, he realized he had never sung with such fervor. He closed his eyes and contin-ued to sing, delighting in the music pour-ing from his mouth. All unconsciously, his hands sang, too. Grimy and calloused

6 Volume 29, Number 28

with many long hours at the hoe, he gave emphasis to his words as the song pro-gressed, ever more eloquent. In his mind’s eye, Tony saw the dawn’s early light and the bombs bursting in air; and with convincing assurance he declared to his listeners that the flag was still there.

The bailiff rapped for order, but Tony did not hear. Like a torrent plunging into a gorge, the song progressed. The boys listened with eager, sparkling eyes. Even the parents and the prosecuting attor-ney seemed to yield to the spell of the song. When Tony had finished, the judge observed, “It seems hardly necessary to carry this investigation any farther. We have heard from the lips of a man of for-eign birth a more correct rendering of this hymn than even our greatest American singers could achieve.”

Important testimonyJust then a sudden commotion caused

all eyes to turn toward the door. There was a click of feminine heels rapidly advanc-ing up the aisle, and a determined young woman marched straight to the judge. “Swear me in,” she demanded.

“Do you have an important testimony?”“I have.” The judge nodded to the clerk, who

administered the oath to Miss Ella Doyle. The young woman quickly turned to the judge. “Your Honor, for more than a year I have been buying vegetables and bedding plants from Tony Sunzeri. I wondered why he was not in his garden this week, and this morning I went to his home to see what I could find out. His wife, Rosa, told me the whole story. Before I left, she showed me around his garden and nursery. It was there that I saw, on a piece of specially prepared ground, I saw—but Judge, I beg you to

grant a recess, and go out to his place and see for yourself.”

The judge thought for a moment, and then smiled. “Your invitation intrigues me. Why should the ponderous processes of the law stand in the way of a recess in the great out-of-doors?”

The prosecuting attorney’s protests

fell on deaf ears. The court was quickly adjourned, and in ten minutes the mem-bers and visitors of the court found them-selves standing in Tony’s garden. Miss Doyle led the solemn procession along the neatly pebbled walk, past the greenhouse and tool shed, and along rows of fat cab-bages.

Then she pointed to the bank just ahead. All at once, as if by a burst of magic, one final bit of evidence burst in full splendor upon them. There, on the steep incline set against the side of the hill, in the glory of full bloom, sat seven rows of red hyacinths interspersed with six rows of snowy white ones. In the upper left corner, bright blue hyacinths clustered together in a rich mass, spangled with brilliant white flowers like so many stars. A line of thrifty garlic bordered the whole figure, beautifully setting off the Stars and Stripes.

For a moment, no one spoke. Then the judge clapped for attention. “Case dis-missed. May we all be as loyal to our coun-try as this brave man.” Y

1. Mine. 2. “A great light appeared, beaming up in the sky. . . .”

The prosecuting attorney’s protests fell

on deaf ears.

Young Disciple 7

8 Pictures of Jesus • Lesson 2

Bible study hint: Using Strong’s ConcordanceThe Bible was written in languages that most of us don’t know today. Thankfully, scholars have translated it into English—but wouldn’t it be nice to be able to study Bible words in the original languages? Strong’s Exhaus-tive Concordance of the Bible helps you do just that. You can look up just about any word in the King James Version of the Bible, and Strong’s will show you what the words meant at the time the Bible was written.

To use this great Bible study aid, choose a word to look up, such as save as used in Matthew 1:21.

1. Turn to the Main Concordance, which lists, in alpha-betical order, all the words in the Bible (except for some very common words). Find the listing for SAVE, which will give every text in the Bible that uses this word. The texts are listed in the order they are found in the Bible.

2. Look down the list until you find Matthew 1:21, ab-breviated to “Mt 1:21.” At the right end of the line for this text, you will see the number 4982 (or ditto marks under this number). This is the Strong’s number for save in this

text. (Old Testament numbers are in plain text; New Testament numbers are in italics.)

3. Now find the Greek Dictionary of the New Testament in the back of the book. (For Old Testament texts, use the Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary of the Old Testament.)

4. In this dictionary, find entry number 4982. This gives the word in Greek characters, how it would be written in our alphabet, and how it is pronounced.

5. Next comes the definition of the word, as well as dif-ferent ways the word was translated into English in the Bible. Sometimes you may be quite surprised.

These instructions are what you need to get started. Later, you will want to look over the material and in-structions in the front of Strong’s. These will tell you even more about how you can use this valuable reference tool as you study your Bible.

Bible Lesson Key Study for Yourself: More challenging.

Dig Deeper: Most challenging.

Puzzles/Activities: Enjoy! For the answer key, use a mirror.

Read It: Learn more!Core Concept and Bible

Memory: For everyone.

PROJECT: MEMORY – JOHN 1:1–14“All things were made by Him; and without

Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

If you follow the learning and review suggestions each week, you will memorize the entire passage by the end of the quarter!

MEMORY TEXT“And she shall bring forth a

son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

“Never should the Bible be studied without prayer. Before opening its pages we should ask for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, and it will be given” (Steps to Christ, page 91).

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Pictures ofJesusTHE EARLY YEARS

2

Based on The Desire of Ages, by Ellen White

Young Disciple 9

A ll Heaven was on the alert: There was hope for the tiny world that had been

lost to the enemy in a far-off galaxy. In fact, a rescue mission to that rebel world was about to begin.

God’s Son gathered the angels and told them of His plan to save Earth from sin. In grief and wonder, they listened as He revealed His plan:

> He would leave Heaven, with its purity and peace.

> He would put aside His immortal life and go “in the likeness of ” (Philippians 2:7). He would become “a

little than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9).

> He would live on Earth, and would experience for Himself the G , S ,

and temptations that humans must endure (Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 4:15).

> He would pay the price for sin—and that price was sorrow, shame, and D (Romans 6:23).

> His sacrifice would make it possible for His people to be saved from their S (Matthew 1:21).

SUNDAY: RESCUE MISSION 1

Besides the obvious references to God’s care for the Israelites in the wilderness, Ps. 107 has a deeper meaning. Read it, thinking of Christ’s mission to this earth. Where do you see references to the plan of salvation?

DIG DEEPER

Read Matthew 1:21 by saying aloud all words beginning with S, and all other words as a whis-per. Do the same with words beginning with F, H, and A.

Memory Text

C O R E C O N C E P T

Why did Jesus experience our trials and temptations? See Hebrews 5:2; 2:18.

STUDY FOR YOURSELF!

“Jesus saves me from sin, sadness, suffering, and eternal death—and He gives me the hope of eternal life.”

—Samantha Thiltgen

MISSION GOAL!Christ’s reason for coming to Earth can be summed up in three words. To find them, place one letter from each column in the shaded middle square. Only one letter from each clue word may be used. For an extra clue, see 1 Timothy 1:15.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Answer key: Christ came to Earth . . . to save sinners.

CHRIST CAME TO EARTH . . .

10 Pictures of Jesus • Lesson 2

If the angels expected Jesus to go to Earth as a great king with pomp and

splendor, they were disappointed. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness can never save a soul from sin. Instead, those who accepted Christ’s plan of salvation would do so because they were drawn to the beauty of H (Psalm 96:9).

The angels begged to be allowed to go to Earth in Christ’s place, but it could not be. Only the One who created man had the power to buy him back from sin. Yet Jesus

promised to give the angels a part in the plan of redemption. And so, before Jesus was born, an angel appeared to an aged priest named Zacharias with a startling an-nouncement. Read Luke 1:5–23 and 57–66.

\ What would happen? See verse 13.

\ What would be the son’s mission? See the last part of verse 17.

MONDAY: STARTLING ANNOUNCEMENT2 C O R E C O N C E P T

The Bible has much to say about beauty. Use your concordance to look up this word. What warnings do you find? What admonitions? What is bet-ter than beauty? Why might we prize beauty so highly?

DIG DEEPER

Use the initial letters to review Matthew 1:21. ASSBFAS, ATSCHNJ: FHSSHPFTS.

Memory Text

Jesus wanted no outward attraction to draw people to His side. Long before He came to Earth, He inspired the words of Isaiah 53. What does verse 2 say the Redeemer would not have?

STUDY FOR YOURSELF!THE WORK OF ANGELS!When Jesus was on Earth, angels ministered to Him in many ways. They still have much work to do on Earth, to help carry out the plan of redemption. Using the clues, write each answer on the blanks; then transfer the letters to the blank in the yellow box with the same number. This will spell a special name given to the an-gels in the Bible.

Answer key: The angels are ministering spirits. (See Hebrews 1:14.)

1. What we will do when Jesus and the angels appear. (2 Thessalonians 1:7)

___ ___ ___ ___8 7 5 6

2. A word in Matthew 13:39 describing the angels.

___ E A ___ E ___ ___15 13 8 12

3. The way an angel was helping Jesus. (Luke 22:43)

4. The first letter of the name of a man who saw an angel. (Judges 13:15)

5. Insert the same vowel for letters 2, 9, 14, and 16.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ H ___ ___ ___ ___ ___18 17 15 7 10 11 6 7 3 4 10 11

___1

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___12 13 14 15 16 17 18

The angels are

.

Young Disciple 11

S ix months after the angel appeared to Zacharias, a young woman in the town

of Nazareth also received a visit from an angel. Read the story in Luke 1:26–38.

? Who was the young woman? See verse 27.

? What angel came to her? See verse 26.

? What did he say she would bring forth? See verse 31.

? Mary wondered how this could hap-pen, because she was a virgin—a pure young girl who was not yet married. Who would place the baby in her womb? See verse 35.

? Whose son would the child be? See verse 35.

? What should she call Him? See verse 31.

For centuries, Jewish mothers had told their daughters, “Perhaps you will be the one whom God will choose as the mother of the Messiah.” Now, at last, God had made His choice. Mary knew that it was a great responsibility. She must also have realized that people would look down on her for being “with child” before she was married. Even her fiancé, Joseph, might not understand. But Mary answered with perfect faith and trust. Read verse 38. Did Mary hold back in any way?

TUESDAY: ANGEL VISIT 3C O R E C O N C E P T

Read Lk. 1:39–56. What does Mary’s prayer (beginning with v. 46) reveal about God’s character?

DIG DEEPER

As you read John 1:3, clap your hands each time you say made; raise your hands when you say Him. Repeat five times.

Project: Memory

Just as it was impossible for a virgin to have a baby, it was impossible for Mary’s cousin, Elisabeth, to have a baby in her old age. For every seeming impossibility, God has an answer. Find it in Luke 1:37.

STUDY FOR YOURSELF! FAVORED OF GOD!Mary could not have accepted such a great responsibil-ity if she had not been “highly favored” of God (Luke 1:28). To learn a meaning of this phrase, according to Greek resources, place all the #1 letters in the #1 blanks, all the #2 letters in the #2 blanks, etc. Each given letter is used one time. They are not in order.

W

“I know that God can do the impossible because I have experienced it in my own life.”

—Isabelle Ingelse

Answer key: “Highly favored” means filled with grace.

1 F G W 2 I I R 3 A L T

4 C H L 5 E E 6 D

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4

___ ___ ___ ___ ___.1 2 3 4 5

“Highly favored” means . . .

12 Pictures of Jesus • Lesson 2

Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, was a J man. When he learned that Mary

was going to have a baby, he must have been shocked, but his first thought was for Mary’s well-being. He did not want to make her a public E , so he thought he would quietly end the en-gagement (Matthew 1:19).

But God sent an angel in a dream to set things right. The angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary for his W , because the child that she would bear had been given to her by the H Ghost [Spirit] (verse 20).

What did the angel say the child should be called? (Verse 21)

What reason did the angel give for calling the baby this name? See verse 21.

Did Joseph follow the angel’s counsel? Read verses 24–25.

Think about it! God gave Joseph one of the highest possible

honors: to be the earthly father of the Son of God. It would not be easy, but God would give him the grace to do it. God’s greatest honors may seem difficult, but they are always worth it. Would you accept a difficult assignment from God? _______________________________

?

WEDNESDAY: BLESSED NAMEC O R E C O N C E P T4

What did the angel call Joseph in Mt. 1:20? What did he mean? See Lk. 1:27. Was it necessary for the Messiah to be of the line of David? See Isa. 9:7. Joseph’s genealogy is in Mt. 1:1–16. Bible scholars believe that the geneal-ogy in Lk. 3:23–38 is Mary’s lineage. Why might it be important for her to also descend from David?

DIG DEEPER

Use the initial letters to review John 1:3. ATWMBH; AWH WNATMTWM.

Project: Memory

Read Matthew 1:22–23. Who is the “prophet” in verse 22? See Isaiah 7:14.

STUDY FOR YOURSELF!SPECIAL MEANING!The name Jesus has a special meaning. Find it by filling in the missing letter in each row to spell a name for Jesus; then read down the middle column.

Answer key: The name “Jesus” means: Jehovah is salvation.

The name “Jesus” means:U D G E 2 Tim. 4:8

B R A D John 6:35

S H E P E R D 1 Pet. 5:4

R C K 1 Cor. 10:4

I N E John 15:1

E/I M M N U E L Matt. 1:23

L I G T John 8:12

isU N Mal. 4:2

W Y John 14:6

L I Y Song of Sol. 2:1

S A I O (U) R 1 John 4:14

L M B John 1:29

T R U H John 14:6

M C H A E L Dan. 12:1

D O R John 10:7

K I G Rev. 19:16

Young Disciple 13

Joseph and Mary set up their home in Nazareth. Not long before the baby was

due, Emperor Caesar Augustus decreed that all the W should be taxed, or registered (Luke 2:1). In order to do this, each must go to his family’s C (verse 3). For Joseph, this meant

traveling to the town of Bethlehem,* “be-cause he was of the house and lineage of

” (verse 4).

Without this imperial decree, Mary and Joseph would never have tried such a long, weary journey, because Mary was with C , or pregnant (verse 5). The baby was due any day, and the last thing they wanted to do was to travel! But the F of the time had come, and God was preparing to send His S to this world (Galatians 4:4). The prophecy said that the Messiah would be born in B , and now God used a heathen ruler to make it

happen! (See Micah 5:2.)

When Joseph and Mary finally arrived at Bethlehem, they discovered that “there was for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Finally they found shelter in a place where animals were kept.

Picture Jesus, the Son of God and the Redeemer of the world, born in a stable with only the animals

in attendance. No royal robes for this baby King. Instead, Mary “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a

” (verse 7).

Historical Note: When Jewish babies were born, they were washed in wa-

ter, rubbed with salt, and placed on a square of cloth. The corners were folded down over the baby, and secured with narrow strips of cloth wrapped around the baby’s arms, legs, and body.* The trip to Bethlehem would have been 70–90 miles, depending on the route they took.

THURSDAY: THE MISSION BEGINS 5C O R E C O N C E P T

As you read Lk. 2, consider the exchanges Jesus made in order to rescue us. What did He exchange for His throne? For His retinue of adoring angels? For constant praise and glory? For perfect peace and safety? Can you think of any other ex-changes He made? Find at least one text telling why He made such a sacrifice.

DIG DEEPER

As you review John 1:1–2, emphasize a 9-letter word that is used twice in these verses.

Project: Memory

Isaiah 1:3 is thought to be a prophecy about the birth of Je-sus. What two animals are mentioned in this verse?

STUDY FOR YOURSELF! HUMBLE CRADLE!There could hardly be a more humble place for a baby to sleep than in a manger—an eat-ing trough for animals. Construct your own miniature manger from pieces of cardboard or wood. Is it clean or dirty? Mary most likely would have placed straw in it to help make it soft. What else might she have used? Fix up your man-ger as best you can to receive a royal baby.

14 Pictures of Jesus • Lesson 2

On the night Jesus was born, angels pre-pared to announce the Messiah’s birth.

To their amazement, they found only a few who seemed to care. Even the priests were satisfied with their ceremonies and sacri-fices and were not looking for a Savior. The angels passed them by.

In the fields outside Bethlehem, S kept “watch over

their flock by ” (Luke 2:8). These simple men often spoke of the promised Messiah, and prayed together that He would come soon. They were re-warded! Read their story in Luke 2:8 –18.

Who were the good tidings for? See

verse 10.

Who had been born that day? See verse 11.

The shepherds did not doubt, for they had seen and heard the angels singing the glory song! After they found and wor-shipped the baby King, they told all they met the glorious news.

Although we may not always see and hear the angels, they are still with us. “Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those who come and go at God’s command” (The Desire of Ages, page 48).

FRIDAY: GLAD TIDINGSC O R E C O N C E P T6

A principle of God’s Kingdom is found in Isa. 44:3. Jesus said something similar in Jn. 7:37 and Rev. 22:17. What might the “water” be? What is the requirement for receiving it? Find other verses on the subject. Do they support your conclusions?

DIG DEEPER

The shepherds may not have under-stood that Jesus would save them from their sins, but their hearts were open to truth. What does God promise such seekers? See Psalm 112:4.

STUDY FOR YOURSELF!

Say John 1:1–3 in one breath; then thank God for giving you life and breath!

Project: Memory

DISTANCE TO HEAVEN!Even though we may not see what the shepherds saw, there is something we can know for sure. To discover what it is, crack the cryptogram’s code. Each letter stands for another letter, but they are not in any pat-tern. Use the chart to keep track of the letters as you figure them out. Hint: The first word of the cryptogram is the first word of Mark 13:31.

Answer key: “Heaven and earth are no wider apart today than when shepherds listened to the angels’ song” (The Desire of Ages, page 48).

B C D G H I J K L

M P Q R V X Y

H

Y J H R J C H C V J H D K Y

H D J C X P Q V J D H G H D K

K X V H I K Y H C P Y J C

L Y J G Y J D V L B Q L K J C J V

K X K Y J H C M J B L ’ L X C M .

“H H

H H

H H

H ”

Young Disciple 15

“Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of . . . heredity” (The Desire of Ages, p. 49). Study the list of His an-cestors in Mt. 1. Use your concordance to find out more about several. Did they have perfect characters? How can this encourage us, with our inherited tendencies to evil?

DIG DEEPERAt the very beginning of the day, recite John 1:1–3 and Matthew 1:21. Remember that these verses all refer to the same divine being.

Memory Challenge

Read The Desire of Ages, chapter 4. Highlight what Heaven did to announce the birth of the Savior of the world.

SABBATH: REVIEW 7R E A D I T !

“Jesus’ humble birth tells me that there is nothing too lowly for Him to do in order to save me.”

—Abigail Hess

What’s in a Name?Of All The Week

THE BESTNames are an important part of who we are. In Bible times, names were chosen carefully according to their meanings. What would your name be if you were living when Jesus did? This activity will show you the meanings and history behind not only your own name, but Jesus’ name, as well!

Preparation: For this activity, you will need a location with wireless Internet and, ideally, three devices to access the Internet (computers, tablets, smart phones, etc.). Ask each participant to bring a Bible and a concordance, if possible. Write the following on separate cards:

English: behindthename.com

Greek: behindthename.com/names/translate

Hebrew: my-hebrew-name.com

A whiteboard and marker should be available.

Action: Begin with prayer. Choose three participants to be the researchers. Give each researcher one of the cards and ask them to find the listed website.

The one finding the English names should type the name of someone in the group in the search box, click the search icon, and then read the meaning and other information

about the name. (For some names, it may be necessary to click on the root name to get the meaning.)

The researcher assigned to Greek should type in the par-ticipant’s name; select “Greek” and the person’s gender on the dropdown boxes; and click “Search.”

The one assigned to Hebrew should type in the name, select the gender, and click “Search.”

Ask someone to write these names on the board, showing how they would be written in the respective languages. Continue with the name of each participant in the group. Note: The Greek and Hebrew researchers will need to use the back arrow to continue with another participant. Also, not all names will have Greek and/or Hebrew equivalents.

Application: Use Strong’s Concordance to look up the meaning of Jesus’ name. What does that tell you about the detail with which God planned Christ’s mission? As a group, how many other names for Christ can you find? What do they mean? Finish by reading Psalm 72:17; then sing a song about Jesus’ name, such as “Take the Name of Jesus With You.”

Happy Sabbath!

An activity for a joyful Sabbath afternoon.

Part 2

Days of Darkness

Even a church becomes a force for evil when the Bible is not its guide. Without the light of

God’s Word, the members begin trusting in the traditions of men—with disastrous results.

This was the condition of the Church when Ulrich Zwingli was born. When Ulrich’s parents attended religious ser-vices, the priests did not read from the Bible or even refer to it. Instead, they mumbled through the mass,1 with an occasional fable or humorous tale. Many priests had never seen a Bible, much less studied one. Instead, they told their con-gregations that the Bible was a dangerous Book that could confuse them and keep them from Heaven. Because of this, the priests said almost nothing about such topics as justice, mercy, humility, or kind-ness. The important thing, they assured the people, was to bow down before images and relics,2 purchase indulgences3 to cover their sins, suffer through long, difficult pilgrimages, and—always—to pay a great deal of money to the Church. There was no other way, they claimed, to gain favor with Heaven and avoid the tor-tures of everlasting hell.

Money, in fact, seemed to be what kept Rome strong. Infants must be christened, marriages blessed, and the sick prayed for. For the priests to do these things required money. And when a person died, his family believed that he would suffer in the raging flames of purgatory4 unless someone paid for masses to bring him out. Those who could afford it—and it cost a great deal—also paid to have their loved ones buried under the floor of the church. They believed that if a person rested in such holy ground, God would be much more likely to hear the prayers that were offered for them. Alas! The Church seemed little different from any other market. The man who came to it with money could have all he wanted; but he who came without money was turned away empty-handed.

Church leaders themselves were in a miserable condition. Many led lives of ter-rible impurity, drunkenness, and violence. “It is plain they have neither honor nor conscience,” citizens complained. “They are not restrained by the fear of either God or man.”

Corrupt as it was, the people dared not rebel against the Church. One of the most fearful punishments imaginable was to be

What’s happening: In 1484, Ulrich Zwingli is born in a mountain village in Switzerland. As he grows up, his heart burns with the dream of someday defending his country on the battlefield. Meanwhile, his country is being devoured by a danger greater than any earthly army: a terrible ignorance of the Word of God.

16 Volume 29, Number 28

The Story of Ulrich Zwingliby J.A. Wylie with Nicole Crosier Parker

People’sPriest

excommunicated, or cut off from Church membership.

They would be denied the sacra-ments,5 public services and prayers of the Church, a church burial, a fair trial, and, perhaps worst of all, the right to any sort of normal relations with members of the Church. This included having conversa-tions, exchanging letters, praying together, doing business together, and even eating together.6 A servant did not have to obey an excommunicated master, and a husband or wife was free to leave their excommunicated spouse. If a person died under excommunication, his corpse could not even be buried!

All citizens, rich or poor, lived in terror of being excommunicated. No one dared to stand up against the priests, with their terrible power to destroy a person’s life by pronouncing a sentence of excommunica-tion. And so the darkness grew deeper and the priests’ power ever stronger.

Who could have known that God’s eye was even then on a peasant boy from the mountains of Switzerland? Who could have predicted that this lad would some-day be an instrument to end the long days of darkness?

(To be continued.)

1. A Roman Catholic ceremony where wafers and wine are declared to be the actual body and blood of Christ.2. An article associated with a saint or martyr, such as a piece of clothing, a lock of hair, or a bone. It could also be some object the holy person used or touched, such as a nail or even a sliver of wood.3. A promise of cancellation of the penalty for sins, past, present, or future. To obtain an indul-gence, the person usually had to pay a large sum of money or perform some difficult penance.4. A place not mentioned in the Bible where, according to the Catholic Church, the dead pay for their sins by suffering.5. The excommunicated person was not allowed to take part in the ceremonies of the Church that were said to bring grace.6. From The Catholic Encyclopedia.

At Mass

Art: Heidi Reinecke

Young Disciple 17

MightyMaryby Virgil E. Robinson

Dreams of Africa

After selling the furniture and paying their debts, the Sles-sors had barely enough money

left to purchase train tickets for the trip to Dundee. The family, particularly the children who had never been on a train before, enjoyed the trip. Even Mrs. Slessor began to think that perhaps the worst of her troubles were past. If only her hus-band could shake off his love for rum, all would be well. He had not taken any now for at least two weeks. That was a long time for him.

He’ll never do it in his own strength, the mother said to herself. If only he would turn to God for help!

Arriving in Dundee, the family stayed in a cousin’s home while Mr. Slessor looked for a house. Eventually he found a small but comfortable cottage on the outskirts of town, and rented it. Both parents secured jobs in one of the textile mills. Again Mary’s duty was to care for her sisters and also her younger brother. She thoroughly enjoyed doing so. On warm summer days she often led them to the country, where they climbed the

hills, rolled in the grass, and picked large bouquets of wildflowers to take home with them.

A garden in the front yard of their home greatly delighted Mary. She would dig in it during the long summer after-noons and plant the flower seeds that generous neighbors gave her. Her father likewise took an interest in the garden, but his chief interest lay in raising veg-etables to help feed his hungry family. It hurt Mary to see her father out digging on Sunday mornings when she and mother and the other children left for church. The neighbors would surely be shocked to think that Mr. Slessor didn’t love God—which, unfortunately, was true.

For about three months he maintained his resolution not to drink again. But when he became better acquainted with the workmen in the factory they laughed at him for drinking water with his meals. Soon he began drinking again. It was not long before he was heading for the tavern on Saturday nights just as he had in the bad days back in Aberdeen. Mary learned the most deserted way to the Dundee

The Story of Mary Slessor

What’s happening: Mary Slessor is born in 1848 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Her father spends most of his salary on drink and her mother becomes discouraged and bitter. From a young age, Mary has a great desire to be a missionary to Africa, especially after both her brothers die of tuberculosis. When Mary is nine, her father loses his job and decides to move to Dundee.

18 Volume 29, Number 28

Part 2

pawnbroker. The old struggle had begun again.

The more Mr. Slessor drank, the worse he felt and the less work he was able to do. Once, when he was very sick, his wife asked if he would not give his heart to God and ask for strength to overcome his weakness. But he simply turned his face to the wall and refused to speak.

The struggle continued for two more years. Robert Slessor’s tired body finally gave up the struggle. Mary never forgot the moment when she saw her father’s thin pale face for the last time. Her hatred of drink became stronger than ever. Had it not killed her own father?

Eager learnerMary began working in the cotton

mill with her mother. The factory whistle would send out its shrill call at five o’clock every morning, and by six everyone was to be present and ready to start the day’s work. At first, 11-year-old Mary was badly frightened by the roaring machinery all around her. She knew she must be care-ful or her hand or arm could be caught

and crushed. Back and forth she flew, watching the flying spindles, tying threads together when they broke, and never having a minute to sit down and rest.

Mrs. Slessor was determined that all her children attend enough school so they could read and write. When the factory whistle blew at noon, it was the end of Mary’s workday. She ate a quick lunch and ran three blocks to “afternoon school” which was taught especially for children working in the mill. School kept her until half past four.

She learned to read very rapidly, and it became her favorite pastime. She read all the time—while walking to work in the summer, while eating her lunch, and again at night. Like David Livingstone, her hero, at work she would prop a book open against the factory window to read a few lines now and then as she hurried about her duties. Of the books at home, she loved the Bible most. She memorized whole chapters. Years afterward in Africa, she would quote them to herself as she worked.

Art: Heidi Reinecke

Young Disciple 19

One afternoon a friend handed Mary a book called Sartor Resartus, a long essay written by Thomas Carlyle. Seated at the kitchen table with a feeble coal oil lamp, she began to read it. She found it very interesting, although few children today would agree with her. She read on and on. Just as she finished the last chapter the factory whistle blew. It was five o’clock; she had been reading all night!

Devoted daughterMary continued her Sunday afternoon

rambles in the country, walking for miles barefooted along the roads that wound in and out over the Scottish hills. Sometimes she had friends with her, for she was a merry child and other children enjoyed being with her.

One afternoon as she was returning home, she got a mischievous idea. Run-ning up a path she knocked loudly at the door of a cottage, then turned and ran away as fast as she could. The girl with her scolded her and said it was a naughty thing to do. Laughing, Mary replied, “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”

The Slessors attended the Presbyterian church. Little by little Mary began to understand what the preacher was talk-ing about. One day, walking home from church, she told her mother that she had given her heart to Jesus and would be His child. “I’ll try, Mother, to be a good girl and a comfort to you.”

Of course mother was happy to hear this. “God bless you, my child, and make you one of the lambs of His pasture,” she answered.

As in Aberdeen, it was a high day when the Monthly Record was distributed, and the family could read about the work of missionaries in various parts of the world. Mary always wanted to read everything in

it about Africa first. That was the land that captured her heart and dream.

When Mary was just 14, Mrs. Slessor told her that her school days were over and that she must begin to work full time in the mill. With Father gone, there wasn’t money enough to buy food and clothing for the family. In the cold winter the chil-dren needed extra blankets for their beds, and they must have coal for the fire that burned most of the day. Susan, Mary’s sister a year younger than she, took over the care of the younger children.

So Mary and her mother set off each morning for the great mill. They worked sixty hours each week. It was a thrilling day for Mary when she brought home her first full week’s wages, amounting to three dollars, and laid them in her mother’s lap. Mrs. Slessor cried as she counted the money, put it in a wooden bowl, and hid it high in the cupboard.

Valiant volunteerMary was so happy to have Jesus for

her friend that she wanted to tell other children about Him. On the streets of Dundee there were many boys and girls who came from homes where neither the father nor mother went to church.

Mary went to the Sunday School superintendent and asked if she could teach a class. He gladly accepted her offer and gave her a group of boys and girls to teach. They were nice, well-dressed, and well-behaved children, and it was easy to teach them. But she was eager to bring in some of the street children. She began to talk with them and invited them to her church. A few accepted her invitation, but most laughed and called her a goody-goody. Some even threw mud balls at her. She refused to become discouraged and continued to invite them. Sometimes when they attended all they wanted to do was make noise and break up the meeting.

20 Volume 29, Number 28

They were wild and unruly and knocked over the tables. Afterwards they followed her home insulting her by calling her bad names, and throwing sticks and dirt at her.

One day Mary stayed late in the hall talking with the superintendent. When she came out, it was already dark. As she hurried through the narrow cobblestone streets, she sensed that she was being fol-lowed. Suddenly a big boy stepped out of a darkened doorway directly into her path. She tried to go by. He blocked her way.

“You’re going to get hurt unless you leave us alone,” he snarled. “We don’t want none of your meetings, and we ain’t going, so you might as well quit right now. Do you understand?”

Mary was small for her age. Her heart pounded. She breathed a prayer for help and looked straight at the big bully. “I’m not going to give up, and you can do what you like.”

“All right. I’ll show you.”Out of his pocket he took a large lump

of lead to which was fastened a bit of stout string. He began swinging this round and round, gradually drawing closer and closer to the girl’s head. She refused to back away, or even duck her head, but calmly waited for it to hit her and prob-ably knock her down. Then came a swing that brushed against her hair. She shut her eyes and waited for the blow. It didn’t

come. The boy jerked in his ball of lead and put it back into his pocket.

“She’s game, boys, we can’t do anything with her.”

“That means you are coming to Sunday school next week, doesn’t it?” she asked eagerly.

“All right, we’ll go just once to see what you do.”

Next Sunday, come they did. And the leader of the gang, the one who had threatened her, came regularly afterwards.

Some of the others from the street gave in only much later. One afternoon as she neared the meetinghouse, Mary saw a boy holding a whip standing by the door. The children were afraid to enter, fearing that he would hit them. But she refused to be frightened. Walking up to him, she invited him to come in to the meetings.

He looked at her and laughed. Mary wasn’t discouraged. “Suppose we

changed places, what would happen?” “Why, I suppose you would lay this

whip across my back.”“Well, you can lay it across my back if

you will only come to the meeting.”“Do you really mean that?”“Surely I do. Here, hit me, and then

come inside.”The boy threw down his whip and went

inside. That same afternoon he was con-verted. Later he became a Sunday school teacher himself.

Ardent desireThe years passed and other Slessor

children got work at the mill. Their com-bined wages made it possible for them to live better. Mary found more time to visit among the poor people in the city. She was always a welcome visitor. Some-times she would read the Bible or sing the Psalms of David she had learned in Sunday school.

As Mary hurried through the narrow cobblestone streets, she sensed that she was being followed.

Young Disciple 21

One Sunday when Mary was twenty-five years old, the minister seemed unusually sad as he stood in his pulpit. He seemed to be searching for the right words. Then, very simply, he told them. “We have received word that David Liv-ingstone is dead. His body was carried from somewhere in Africa to Zanzibar, and it is being brought to England for burial. He did a great and noble work in Africa. God rest his soul.”

“Mother,” Mary asked, as they walked home from church that day, “who is going to do the work Livingstone was doing in Africa?”

“Oh, there are other men who will take his place.”

“Do you think they would accept me as a missionary?”

“I don’t know. I have always hoped that one of my children would take the gospel to heathen lands. First I thought Robert and then John. But they are both gone. It would almost break my heart to have you go so far away, but if God is calling you, I’ll not say a word.”

Time of waitingOn a never-to-be-forgotten Sunday, a

woman visitor came to Mary’s church. Mr. Logie, one of the members of the Scotch Foreign Missionary Committee, came with her and introduced her as a missionary from Calabar, West Africa. Mary’s heart pounded with excitement.

The missionary told a tragic tale of dreadful conditions in West Africa. It was truly a land of darkness, superstition, and cruelty. The only mission in Calabar, now Nigeria, was at Duke Town on the coast. Just a few miles away in the interior, slaves were being bought and sold, and people ate their enemies.

When a chief died, his wives and hundreds of his slaves would be killed to accompany him into the spirit world.

Twin babies were still being thrown into the jungle and the poor mothers driven from their villages in disgrace to perish or to be captured and sold as slaves. The talk ended, and the people left the church. But Mary sat still, too stunned for words. The missionary was talking with Mr. Logie. When they had finished, Mary walked up to them. She could feel her hands trem-bling. “Mr. Logie, I’d like to volunteer for mission work in Calabar.”

He looked her up and down. She wasn’t very big, and she didn’t look very strong, but her eyes burned with desire to go and fight and dare and work for God. “Let me have your name,” he said, taking out his notebook.

Mary eagerly gave him the requested information.

“If we can collect funds enough to send out another worker, you should be hear-ing from me,” he said as he slipped his notebook back into his pocket.

Every day for a year, Mary waited for that letter. Every night she prayed for the work in Calabar and asked God to send her to do it.

Early in 1876, the letter finally came. With trembling fingers Mary tore open the envelope and read the brief message. She was to join the Andersons at their mission in Duke Town, Calabar!

Tears filled Mother Slessor’s eyes. “Well, Mary, my lass, here it is. I don’t know whether to be glad or sorry. But since the Lord is leading, I will send you with my blessing. I’ll surely miss you.”

Mary kissed her mother. “Thank you, dearest Mother. God will take care of you, and He will take care of me.”

Mary was twenty-eight years old.(To be continued.)

Copyright ©2000 by TEACH Services, Inc. and used with permission. Located on the web at http://www.teachservices.com.

22 Volume 29, Number 28

Editor: Janet Evert Designers: Heidi Reinecke Rafael Kopke Copyeditors: Michelle Walters Kelly Plank Proofreaders: Elisabeth Hirtzinger Lilienne Stafford YAB coordinator: Harmony Muehlhauser

Youth Advisory Board: Robert Allan, Ashley Angeles, Luke Arthur, Caleb Evert, Hannah Evert, Karise Francis, Abigail Hess, Isabelle Ingelse, Ophelia Ingelse, Katya Jones, Matthew Kimbley, Connor Lindeman, Jonah Lory, Samantha Marable, Macy McIntosh, Ellie Morgan, Nathan Morgan, Seth Morgan, Nilah Pennington, Richard Ramont, Abigail Ratliff, Michael Ratliff, Isabelle Thiltgen, Samantha Thiltgen, Malia Usher, Susan Windels

Young Disciple Ministries: Tony Evert, Executive Director; Ted Evert, Director of Operations; Jessica Pendleton, Director of Finance.

CONTACT & SUBSCRIPTIONS: Young Disciple magazine PO Box 400, Inchelium, WA 99138 Internet: www.youngdisciple.org Email: orders@youngdisciple.org Phone: 509-722-4300 One year subscription, US $51.95. Standing orders available. Call for information.

Young Disciple magazine (ISSN 1062-8479).

Volume 29, Number 28 Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.

COVER: Art by Heidi Reinecke

Dear Young Disciples,

Last fall, when I realized I needed to replace the crankshaft position sensor on my car, my brother offered to help me. I thanked him but told him that I thought I could handle it myself. After all, the sensor is held in place by only one small bolt. I bought the new part, drove my car up onto ramps, crawled underneath the engine, and began removing the bolt.

Because the bolt is so deep within the engine com-partment, the only way to reach it is to stick one’s right arm in between the drive shaft, the exhaust, and the engine. I could barely reach through the tight space to access the bolt with a small wrench, but I finally man-aged. Everything went well until the head of the bolt broke and plunked off into my hand. I was stumped: I had neither the skill nor the necessary tools to extract the broken bolt.

When I called my brother and explained what had happened, he didn’t get mad or tell me it served me right for being so confident. He simply offered to help me fix it. The repair took a lot of time and energy to fix. But he kept working on it until the new part was in place.

There was no fanfare or public applause for the humble, dirty task of repairing my dreadful mistake. In fact, hardly anyone even knows about it. Even so, I count it as one of the nicest, kindest things anyone has ever done for me.

This reminds me of Jesus and the incredible sacrifice He made when He agreed to come to this earth and rescue humanity in a quiet, simple way. I’m so thankful He was willing to give up so much just to help us out of the sinful predicament we’ve fallen into!

Your friend,

I thought I could handle it myself.

Young Disciple 23

The mystery

Himself

of the

humanity of

Christ,

that He sunk

into our

flesh,

is beyondall human understanding.

—Martin Luther