The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-02-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
AN INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
LESSON CONSIDERED.

found In Luke 2: 1922.
INTRODUCTORY.
We get here glimpse OF the youth OF
Jesus OF Nazareth glimpse. nothing
more. God did not. IL seems. intend that
the human development OF Christ should
engross the attention. and the silence re-
garding this growth and development efrec-
tually ebukes that conception OF Christi
anity which lays main stress upon the ex-
ample rather than the atonemont wrought
for us in the Christ-li life. And the effort OF
Cath Ollie tradition to I'LL up the hiatus and
supply the missing intelligence carries with
IL. when placed along side OF the simple.
lucid annals OF the gospels. its own and
sufficient condemnation. And yet as in the
case OF MARI the mother. whose enraptured
prayer forms her ample portrait. so here In
the brief sentences taat sketch the years OF
our Savior's youth. 10 gether with this incl
dent from their midst. there are hints and
suggestions that give us vivid and NOV
ing conception OF this lite at Naz areth. To
these limitations We address ourselves In
the lesson before us.
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
And. This brief reference to Christs
youth follows directly upon the account OF
Simeons and Annals recognition OF the in
FAINT Christ in the temple. The parents have
returned with Christ to their own city
Nazareth" ". 39).-Grew. The word
means. literally. to increase. Christ de-
veloped in his physical nature in general
as would any other child.-Waxed strong
The companion word with grew. That Is.
he grew in size and in strength. Such an
entry. simple and unportentous. as might
be found in any mothers Jou nal. In
spirit. Not found here in the Greek oil
Tischendorf. The special descent OF the
Spirit upon Christ was at his baptism In the
Jordan. John L. 32. Filled with wis
dom. Another expression indicating nor
mai development; literally. filling up with
wisdom. There was doubtless a gradual
and natural expansion OF all the powers OF
mind and soul.-Grace. God 3 free favor.
Christ put himself in his humanity in the
same lines of gracious bestowment from on
high as are open by faith TO all men.
His parents went. Imperfect tense. were
accustomed 10 go. II WAS a fixed habit oil
piety and obedi' nce.-To Jerusalem.
some seventy or seventy-flye miles no
incCnSderable distance TO travel in that
hilly country.-Eeast OF the passover.
Cele rated a, Jerusalem alone. begin
ming on the l4th Ms an. our March. The
other feasts were not 80 generally OBJ
served.
Twelve years old. The age when the Jew
ish youth began 10 take 70 NAL cog zance
of the Mosaic law. The phyiactery Was now
a sumed. After the custom OF the feast.
Christ's lie from first 10 last honOred the
law.
days journey As -avelers tell us. the
first days course was little more than
start upon the way. and sufficed 10 get the
caravan thoroughly organized for the long
The experiences OF the expedition would
naturally bring all into familiar footing OF
social Intercourse.
Turned back Now. dou tless. thorou Oh
~ aroused. The distance. however, was
probably but few miles. The expression
Is into Jerusalem. They may have but
gotten beyond the walls. as was frequently
the case. -Seeking him. The word means
literally to q ack. or to seek diligently. 1t
refers 10 "A determined $ arch which must
0nHlnU q. word II
used at Acts IL: 70. when BarnabaS departed
10 Tarsus for TO seek Paul.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
And the child grew. A mint regarding the
human evolution OF the Christ. He was
child and he passed through the ordinary
stages OF boyhoOd growth. Perhaps tnere
were marks upon the doorway at Nazareth
TO indicate how year by year the child born
SO strangely ut Bethlehem was securing
his normal growth. Doubtless he had his
childhood ailments. and probably the
parental hearts were often agitated regard
ing the slender thread by which his child
hood days were heightened out. He was
wholly man. he knew our frame; and the
years that touched his brow were the same
that come and go for the youth of to-day.
Let us value the days and hours all tho
more Tor what Jesus brought forth under
their sway.
Now his parents went 20 Jerusalem ev-
cry year. This suggests Christ's indebt-
edness 10 his parents. They were plous,
loyal couple. Every year they took the
Mains TO 20 up and fulfill their VOWS at Jeru-
salem, and that obedent spirit did not
;ount for nothing in the development OF the
Christ life. Christ was learning obedience
all the time, learning IL so that when his
time was come he could give II such speech
and expression as IL had never had before.
y, the power oil a go1ly parentage! The
thought OF family altar faithfully ob-
served; the recollection OF the Sabbath
visit TO he Lords house never inter- upted;
the remembrance OF the unfailing appoint
ment OF father and mother at the week night
prayer meeting, how blessedly these have
followed through the aiter-life Of the child
Alas that these secular modern days should
spoil the wholesome picture.
About my fathers business. II Is boy
answer. And yet is the word OF a boy with
growing consciousness Of divinity. Jesus.
a lad OF twelve. thoughtful. no doubt. be-
yond his years. but with youths enthu5i-
asms. is. presumably. on mis- first visit TO
the great city OF Jerusalem. He IL stirred
10 the depths of his child-soul as he
stands in the sacred temple of Israel. and
the opportunity given him by the presence
OF the learned doctors in the temple TO
weigh and answer the great questions that
have been revolving in his youthful mind
makes him forget for the nonce all else.
And Just here is the emphasis OF the narra-
tive. The boys heart has fastened at once
upon the deep things of God: he seems to
see or hear nothing else. and when at last
MS parents. lululilnH Nliu EeduN DltlNs Ous
also. no doubt with something Of perfume
torniness. the temple offices. have sought
him sorrowing. he looks up with a child's
deep simplicity TO say. as revealing the
inner currents OF his soul. -Wist ye not
that must be about my fathers BUSH
ness?- The consciou. OF his thean-
thropic nature and of his high vocation
"a the Son OF man Is growing upon him
with the apprehension Of LIES ordinary
verities.
In favor with God and man. Here at
Nazareth there were quiet hours when he
could commune with God upon the hillsides
and put his soul more aud more along side
OF Gods. Here. too. at busy Nazareth in
shop and street and homo he could put
himself in sympathy with man. Jesus was
no recluse. He studied the heart OF hui
manity. and he knew what was In man.
Here IL tho model preparation Tor ministers
Ing lay or clerical. Nearness TO God. near
ness to man. Get close 70 the divine heart
and also close 10 the human heart IN at
presently with all the gathered strength OK
the life the two may be brought as nearly
rs possible into oneness. Moody mentions
these two main requisites Of Christian
service: First. have ard know eternal life
that means favor with God second. use 1t.
let IL flow out TO others-that means favor
with men. Both together signify success
La winning souls.