The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-08-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON V, THIRD QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, JULY 2e.

Verses, 46-4e-Golden Text, Luke H. 81.
Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ stearns.
20. And the child grew and waxed
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and
the grace of God was upon Him. The
previous verse says that after all things
written in the law had been performed for
the child they returned to Nazareth This
first verse of our lesson may be said to con-
tain all we know of the first IL years OF
His life. Since John the Baptist was flle,
with the Holy Spirit from his birth duke
1, 15) we cannot think otherwise Of Jesus,
and that would explain His being strong
in spirit and filed with WISDOM
Al. Now, His parents went TO Jerusa-
lem every year at the feast OF the passover. 4"
Three times year all men in Israel were
commanded to appear before the Lord In
Jerusalem (Ex. xiii, II; Deut. xvi 16),
at the feast OF the passover, the feast Of
weeks and the feast of tabernacles and
none were to appear empty. The time is
coming when all the nations of the earth
shall be represented in Jerusalem once a
year to worship the Lord Czech. xiv, 49,.
AZ. And when He was 12 years old they
went up to Jerusalem after tho custom of
the feast. 4" It would be journey of two or
three days as they Travelled then from MAJ
areth to Jerusalem, but nothing is said of
the incidents of the journey.
AZ. And when they had fulfilled the
days, as they returned, the child Jesus tar
ried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and
His mother knew not of 1t" He does not
appear to have been the prodigy which the
Apocrypha would make Him out 10 be, but
probably a quiet, thoughtful boy whose
mind was more in Heaven than on earth,
yet not so absentminded as to be at any
time or in the least degree disrespectful
disobedient for He never sinned in
thought, word or deed Oh Cor V, eD.
A But they, supposing him to have
been In the company, went days Jour
ney, and they sought him among their
kinsfolk and acquaintance. Had he been
the wonder working boy of the Apocrypha,
they would hardly have left Him out Of
their sight and great would have been the
commotion in Jerlisalem concerning Him.
AS 1t is, they actually lose sight OF Him
for whole day.
10. And when they found Him not
they turned back again to Jerusalem seek
ing Him" While they had sacredly exclud
ed all leaven from their food for days past,
they would now think that they had not
excluded all evil from their hearts and
lives else they might have been spared
this retracing of their steps. Satan would
be very busy at such time suggesting oil
manner of doubts and fears, and we may
imagine Mary full of upbraidings. His
presence is peace and fullness Of JOY. Let
US never lose 1t.
46. And 1t came TO pass that, after
three days, they found Him in the temple
sitting in the midst of the doctors, both
hearing them and asking them questions. "
Not one nor two but three days of sor
row had they experienced because of Him
and their neglect of Him, but over go
years after this Mary had three days deeper
sorrow through no fault of hers. Where
had He spent the days? Who had fed and
lodged him? These and other questions
we must walt to have answered. But we
see the bent of His mind in the place and
company and occupation In which He was
found.
AZ. And all that heard Him were aston
ished at His understanding and answers. >
He could say then in at least some meas
ure as He did later The words that
speak unto you I speak not of Myself"
(John xiv, 10) We may also suppose that
his questions would be in the line of press
ing Scripture hard upon the precepts of
man. such as What Is written in the
law?'' How readest thou?" duke K, 26.)
His own answers would doubtless be in the
very WOrUS OF scripture.
48. And when they saw Him they were
amazed, and His mother said unto Him:
Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us?
Behold, Thy father and 1 have sought
Thee sorrowing." They had learned that
misunderstanding from the sanctuary
causes loss of Jesus-that is, communion
and one days neglect had caused three
days anxiety. How often 1t is so in the
spiritual life-a forgetfulness CT Him for
an hour OF not responding the moment He
calls may lead to much an xious seeking for
Him. See S. of Sol. iii, IA; V, 6, T.
40. And He said unto them How is 1t
that yc sought Me? Visit yc not that l
must be about 'iy Fathers business2"
People today seek Him everywhere but in
the one place where He is to be found.
He will always be found In the sanctuary;
not necessarily in SO called place of wor-
ship, though He should be found there,
but always in His word. Contrast His
My Father with her Thy Father"
This is the first My Father" of human
lips used in reference to God, and the
words of this verse are the first recorded
words of Jesus.
80. And they understood not the say
ing which He spake unto them If even
Mary understood not, what wonder that
the apostles afterward understood not?
How utterly helpless we all are, apart from
the Holy Spirit, to understand the things
of God! The things of God knoweth no
man but the Spirit of God Il Cor. ii, IL
All the wisdom of Egypt and of Babylon
could not interpret the dreams of their re-
spective kings. None but Joseph and a
Daniel filled with the wisdom and the
Spirit of God could do it,
81. And He went down with them and
came to Nazareth and was subject unto
them, but his mother kept all these say
ings in her heart" Verse 40 covers tho
first 10 years of His life, and this verse COW
ers the next Is years One has said that
submission is the highest mission on earth,
and we certainly see it in Jesus. He knew
who He was, whence He came and what
He came to do, yet for Is years after He
said He must be about His Fathers bust
ness He quietly submitted TO Nazareth,
and the carpenters shop, and the humble
home.
Thirty years. unknown, He trod
Galilee's requested sod,
But His life was known to God.
Daily work at Joseph's call,
Daily duties howe'er small,
Yet He the Lord of all.
SO. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and
stature and In favor with God and man.
Physically He grew as other boys; spir-
itually He became filled with wisdom from
above, like Joseph and Daniel, but in
greater measure. All who admired good
ness could not help looking favorably upon
Him ShiIe He did always thoss, things