The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION
GEL
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for July
80. 1894. roe

School Lessen Appointed Tor July
80, 1894 roe
s7-.5
Subject: Christ's AsteHdance at the Passover
when IL Years old! st. Luz, 2: 41-52.
Zone reading thess notss should first carefully
study the paragraph FROM the Holy Scriptures al
Indicated above.I
/. INTRODUCTION.
1t is fortunate we have four Gospels. st.
Matthew mentions many facts omitted by
the other three Gospel writings. Each Cos
pei, in fact, has richness of its own adding to
our knowledge of the life of our Savior.
ST. Luke says nothing of the visit of the
Magi, nor of the flight into Egypt to escape
death at Herod's orders, nor of the return to
Palestine (Nazareth). ST. Matthew mentions
these details. Having given the particulars
as to Christ's presentation at the Temple
when He was 40 days old, he passes directly
to Nazareth, emitting any history lnterven-
ing between the ages of 40 days and IL
years in the life of Jesus. And st. Luke is
the only Gospel writer to give an account OF
the going of the Boy Jesus to His first Pass
over. Twice before this lesson the Child
had been subject to Jewish ceremonial law
circumcision when eight days old, presenta-
tion at the Temple when 40 days old. He
to another Hebrew ceremonial-first attend
ance as participant at the Passover. This
act made Him in formal way son of
the law"
One interesting fact is that the parents of
Christ were true to their religion. The
Child Jesus had favorable moral environ
ments. Then, the scene of His home was
advantageous This has something to do
with character. Between the Mediterranean
and the Galilean Seas, near the rich Jordan
Valley, in sight of mountain scenery most
inspiring, under the Palestinean sky, re-
moved from the excitements Of q capital,
surrounded by the quietude and beauty of
rich rural associations, the child grew to be-
come the thoughtful, vigorous, reverent
youth of IL Summers.
SUBJECT: CHESTS FIRST PASSOVER.
/. Preliminary.
We reach crisis in the life Of the Child
Jesus We learn something of the unique
ness of His career He must have been pecu-
liarIy related to God the Father. He showed
knowledge superior, it would seem, to the
merely human. At the same time, the words
which describe His growth il body and prog
TESS III IulHu SSetl qQllS wv EoH
get an idea of what normal development of
child-nature should be. We learn much as
to our relations to childhood and our duties
to it.
2. Verses 40, 81 and SO.
The account of Jesns being lost at Jeru-
salem and being found, in the Temple is as a
parenthesis between. 40 and 81, so. That
beautiful incident is an oasis in desert
with no cultivatable land for Is miles to the
east and 10 miles to the west 1t is all we
know of Christ from tile time he was two
years old until he was r. and from then on till
the end of his 30th year of age. 1t is the
choice valuable crystal within the huge
geode. .sg
All we know foras years of Christs life
outside of that parenshetic oasis reads:
The child grew and waxed strong in spirit
filled with wisdom and the grace of God
was upon him. ~ And he went down
with them lists. Mary and Joseph) and
came TO Nazareth, and was subject unto
them: but his mother kept all these sayings
in her heart. And Jesus increased in wis
dom and stature, and in favor with God
and man." The Incarnation could have
been in immediate adult form as Minerva
sprang into existence full-hedged. But
childhood would have missed much in Jesns
which new charms the young, and our Holy
religion would not have been characterized
by that beautiful simplicity which causes
many of its adult adherents to exhibit
certain of those qualities which we admire
so much ON children as, e. g., faith, trust,
dependence on the Heavenly Father.
We may suppose Verse 40 refers to Christ
until he was IL years old, ". ALL and
verses 81 and So relate to him from IL to 30
years of age. Thus we have wonderful
summarizing of history and fine illustra-
ton of st. John. 81 25.
Becoming incarnate, Christ subjected him.
self to all the laws which relate to the phys
ical-to growth, to hunger, to call for sleep,
etc. He not only became limited by hui
man body, but by human mind, and his
mind was subject to all the mental laws.
Said mind needed education and was cap
able of daily development. He grew in
body and mind. As capacity enlarged
know ledge increased. There is evident al
lusien in the word "wistiom to the religi-
Gus culture of Christ in childhood. There
is peculiar Biblical significance to the
word wisdom. prov, / 7; Is, II: 2, 81 He
increased in stature. We think he had .
good physique. He shared Gods grace or
favor. Providence presided over his birth
and development into manhood. God
blessed him. He was a model of all the in
carnated virtues, and would thus approve
himself TO all good men. His destined mis-
sion required saneness of mind in sound
ness of body. We presume he awaited HIM
self of all the means of education at hand
for Jewish children Of his rank in society.
We remember in his adult years he
astounded people by his peculiarly good
judgment. (St. Matt IS: Sd, So; st. Mark,
Ga, 3; st. John, Z: 15.)
:" He was subject unto them" He was a
ilial, obedient Child. He restrained inn
pulses (if he had any to leave home and
take part in religious discussions in public
way, as he had done in the Temple. But
His Blessed Mother never forgot the peculiar
incidents attending His birth and His inter-
view at the Temple with the Rabbi. She
apprehended some deep but inexplicable
significance in such supernatural manifes-
tiltions.
3. Suggestions
!. Seek religious wisdom. One consider
| ing the facts of life notices that amid the
! temporary, fuctuating, changing, there is
the stationary, reliable. True wisdom con-