The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-19

the w iSe Men, Tue iuto Ley anu
Return to Palestine. st. Matthew, on the
other hand, mentions those three facts, but
passes over the Temple incident, which we
now study. st. Mark omts all these child
hood circumstances and begins with the
ministry of st. John Baptist. And st. John
also omits any notice of the nativity and
early incidents in Christs life, and COM
menees his Gospel with account of the bap-
tizing by St John, son of Zaeharias. Ii is
singular that in n biography covering life
of only 80 years, 30 years are practically
biotted ont and unknown. But, after all,
we are interested in Christ mainly as our
Savior.
st. Luke, 2:41-5O, tells the story of the
Child Jesus and the Rabbi in the Temple.
2. Time.
The Passover in A. d. 8 began on April 9.
1t continued seven days (Lev., %: 5, 81
Say it closed on the 10th. The party may
have left for their homes in latter part
of the 10th day. They returned, and
on the third day found the Child. Or,
they may have left the city ON the 17lh.
Thus they found the Child on the 18th
or Goth of April. 1t was probable Jesus
was II years old on, we may say, Dec. Is
before. His age was therefore about twelve
and one-fourth years. That was to jew
ish youth period of great moment. 1t was
the time when the Hebrew father took his
son to the synagog and had him recog-
nized or duly enrolled " son of the law"
Then the boy began to wear phylacteries.
At the first opportunity thereafter the youth
was to repair to the Temple, and from then
on attend annually the three great religious
feasts. 1t was the dividing line between the
child and tile youth. 1t was then the boy
was put to learn trade. The service in the
Temple was like partaking for the first time
of the Holy Communion. 1t was similar in
bearing to the Confirmation Service of the
Roman Catholic and the Episcopal Churches.
1t is an age when one is competent TO act for
himself-to realize his own Individuality
to understand the significance of religious
duty. Teachers should make a special effort
TO interest in immediate religious concern
all youths of about IL years Of age. May
every child who studies his lesson decide at
once to become an active Christian-to 60
up to our Passover, the Holy Eucharist
3. Place.
The incident of special interest in the les
son took place at the Temple in Jerusalem.
That was SO miles south of Nazareth. There
were many departments of the Temple. Of
from different departments were various
rooms. In some of these the Rabbi met
scholars for instruction and conversation.
1t was in one such that the Child and the
Jewish doctors had interview.
d. Nazareth to Jerusalem.
This was Christ's second visit to the capi-
tai. When 40 days old he was taken there
for Presentation in the Temple. We do not
read that he went again till his visit as
stated in this lesson. How did SITS. Mary
and Joseph dare to take the Child Jesus TO
Jerusalem? Uu., 2:41-50.) We remem-
Der that when they returned from Egypt
they feared to go to Bethlehem on account
of the fact that Archelaus, the son of Herod
the Great, was in power. (St. Matt, 2:22.)
They went TO Nazareth on purpose to escape
his cruelty. But he ruled only seven years,
and was banished three years before this
lesson. Then, it is net likely the Holy
Family could be identified. It is possible
SITS. Mary and Joseph had before our lesson
been to Jerusalem several times to attend
the Passover, though in such cases perhaps
not taking the Holy Child. The parties
going to Jerusalem went afoot. Those Of
town formed special company or COM
panies, and travelled together, camping out
nights and living in picnic style. They
would not go more than, say, Is miles day,
thus taking about four days for the journey.
The Stay at Jerusalem.
The Passover lasted seven days. They
probably did not remain long after that
Each day they went twice to the Temple,
entering into the festivities and duties of
the Passover services.
6. The Departure for Nazareth.
AS they went in companies, so they proba-
bly, returned. Why not miss the Child till
evening? The city was all astir. Probably
100000 people attended the celebration.
Not only did the parties go in companies,
but more or less separate as to men and
women. Hence st. Mary thought the Child
with ST. Joseph, and st. Joseph supposed
him with st. Mary. At evening each family
tented together, and any absent member
would be sure to be missed.
Z. The Loss Discovered.
What dismay when the Child was missedl
Visions of the dangers threatening the In
FAINT in that very city II years before terri
fed them. They returned
8. The Finding.
After three days they found the Child.
One day may have been spent in return.
They passed the second searching for him
in the city. Next day they went to the
Temple. There he was holding serious dis
cussion with the Rabbi. SITS. Mary and Jo-
seph realized he was not wholly theirs. He
had relation to Deity. He had an indi-
viduality. We have reports of the first re-
corded words of Christ. Compare them in
spirit with his last. (Acts, III, g.
g. Suggestions.
l.. Attend church services. Take the
children. al, 42)
g Youths should be at home evenings.
(44}
g. Make a business of religion. (49)
a. Become commandments early in life.
(42.)
5. Teach by question and answer. Use
the catechism. (46.)
g. Parents should be profoundly anxious
for their sons and daughters. (48.)
Z. Children should, by propriety as such,
relieve fathers and mothers of sorrow. (48.)
8. In special, be present at the celebration
of the Holy Communion. ALI
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