When the time was fulfilled, Christ was born in a stable, and cradled in a manger, surrounded by the beasts of the stall. And is this indeed the Son of God, to all outward appearance a frail, helpless babe, so much resembling other infants? His divine glory and majesty were veiled by humanity, and angels heralded his advent. The tidings of his birth were borne with joy to the heavenly courts, while the great men of the earth knew it not. The proud Pharisees and scribes, with their hypocritical ceremonies, and apparent devotion to the law, knew nothing of the Babe of Bethlehem. They were ignorant of the manner of his appearing, notwithstanding all their boasted learning and wisdom in expounding the law and the prophecies in the schools of the prophets. They were devising means to advantage themselves. Their study was as to the most successful manner to obtain riches and worldly honor, and they were wholly unprepared for the revelation of the Messiah. They looked for a mighty prince, who should reign upon David's throne, and whose kingdom should endure forever. Their proud and lofty ideas of the coming of the Messiah were not in accordance with the prophecies which they professed to be able to expound to the people. They were spiritually blind, and were leaders of the blind.

Når tiden var fuldbyrdet, blev Kristus født i en stald, og lagt i en krybbe, omgivet af staldens dyr. Og er dette i virkeligheden Guds Søn, som i det ydre udseende er en skrøbelig og hjælpeløs baby, der ligner andre børn lige så meget? Hans guddommelige herlighed og majestæt blev opsløret af menneskelighed, og engle bebudede hans komme. Efterretningerne for hans fødsel blev frembåret med engle til de himmelske sale, medens jordens store mænd ikke vidste det. De stolte farisærere og skriftkloge, med deres hykleriske ceremonier, og tilsyneladende helligelse til loven, vidste intet om Betlehems lille barn. De var uvidende om den måde han viste sig på, på trods af deres pralende lærdomme og visdom i at udlægge loven og profetierne i profetskolerne. De var midler der hjalp sig selv. Deres studie var at de på den mest succesrige måde kunne opnå rigdomme og verdslig ære, og de var helt uforberedte på Messias åbenbaring. De så efter en mægtig fyrste, som skulle regere på Davids trone, og hvis rige skulle vare for evigt. Deres stolte og ophøjede ideer om Messias’ komme var ikke i overens stemmelse med de profetier de vedkendte at kunne udlægge for folk. De var åndeligt blinde, og var den blindes leder.