The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-25
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JULY 20.
Lesson Text: "The Youth Of Jesus"
Luke H., 1852 - Golden
Text: Luke H., 81
Commentary.

20. "And the child grew and waxed strong
in spirit. filed with wisdom, and the grace
of God was upon Him. The previous verse
saws that after all things written in the law
had been performed for the child they re-
turned to Nazareth. This first verse may be
said to contain all we know otthe first twelve
wears of His life. Since John the Baptist
was filled with the Holy Spirit from his birth
Iuke j.. 15) we canuot think otherwise OF
Jesus. and that would explain His being
"strong in spirit and filled with wisdom"
Al. "Now. His parents went to Jerusalem
every year at the feast OF the passover
Three times a year all men in Israel were
commanded to appear before the Lord IN
Jerusalem (Ex. HXxiii.. IT Deut xvi, l6).
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 year to wor-
ship the Lord Czech. xiv, 16).
AZ. "And when He was twelve years old
they went up to Jerusalem, after the custom
of the FEAST It would be a journey oftwo
or three days as they travelled then from
Nazareth to Jerusalem, but nothing Is said
OF the incidents OF the journey.
49, "And when they had fulfilled the days,
as they returned. the child Jesus tarried be-
hind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and His
mother knew not Of it." He does rot ap-
pear to have been the prodigy which the
Apocrypha would make Him out to be. but
probably quiet. thoughtful boy whose mind
was more in Heaven than on earth. yet not
80 absentmnded as to be at any time or In
the least degree disrespectful or disobeiient,
for He never sinned in thought, word or
deed QI Cor. " 2D.
A. "But they, supposing Him TO nave
been in the company, went days Journey,
and they sought Him among their kinsiolk
and acquaintance. Had Hebeen 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
Jerusalem concerning Him. AS 1t is, they
actually lose sight Of Him for whole day.
As. "And when they found Him not they
turned back again to Jerusalem seeking
Him" While they had sacredly excluded
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 all manner Of doubts
and fears. and we may imagine Mary full OF
upbraidings. His presence is peace and full
ness of Joy. Let us never lose it.
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. No: one
nor two but three days OF sorrow had they
experienced because Of Him and their neglect
OF Him, but over twenty years after this
Mary had three days deeper sorrow through
no fault of hers. Where had He spent the
DAYS? Who had feed and lodged Him?
These and other questions We must wait to
have answered. But We see the bent OF His
mind in the place and company and occupa-
tion in which He was found.
Al. "And all that heard Him were aston
ished at His understanding and answers.
He could say then in at least some measure,
as He did later. "The words that l speak
unto you speak not Of Myself (John XIV,
10Y. We may also suppose that His ques-
tions would be in the line OF pressing Scrip
ture hard upon the precepts Of man. such as
"What is written in the law?" How read
est thou?" Guke K, 26). His own answers
would doubtless be in the very words OF
Scripture.
4s. sAnd when they saw Him they were
amazed, and His mother said unto Him
Son, why mast Thou thus dealt with US?
Behold. Thy father and have sought Thee
sorrowing" They had learned that careless
ness-going from the sanctuary-causes loss
Of Jesus-that Is, communion-and one
days neglect had caused three days anxiety.
How often it is 80 in the spiritual life-a for
getfulness of Him for an hour or not re-
spending the moment He calls may lead to
much anxious seeking for Him. See 5. OF
Sol. ill.,, IA V. 6, Z.
40. 'sAnd He said unto them: How is it
that ye sought Me? Wist ye not that I must
be about My Fathers business" People to-
day seek Him everywhere but in the one
place where he is to be found. He will al
ways be found in the sanctuary; not neces-
sarily In so-called place OF worship. 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.
so. "And they understood not the saying
which He spake unto them" II even Mary
understood not, what wonder that the apos-
ties afterward understood not? How utter
ly 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. H.. III. All the wisdom
OF Egypt and Of Babylon could not interpret
the dreams of their respective kings. None
but Joseph and Daniel filed 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 untot them.
but His mother kept all these sayings in her
heart" Verse 40 covers the first twelve
years of His life, and this verse covers tho
next eighteen years. Ona has said that sub
mission is the highest mission on earth. and
we certainly see it in Jesus. He knew who
He was, whence He came and what He cana
to do, yet for eighteen years after He said
He must be about His Fathers business He
quietly submitted to Nazareth, and the car
penter's shop, and the humble home.
Thirty years, unknown, He trod
Galilee sequested sod,
But His life was known to God.
Daily work at Josephs call,
Daily duties howe'er small,
Yet He was the Lord OF all.
So. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and
in statue and in favor with God and man."
Physically, He grew as other boys spiritual
Iy He became filed with wisdom from above,
like Joseph and Daniel, but in greater meas
ure. Ali who admired goodness could not
help looking favorably upon Him, while He
did always those things which pleased the
Father John viii. 29. The Scriptures were
His special and probably His only study and
the Holy Spirit His great teacher. See our
commands and privileges in Joshua l., 8;
Col. ill.,, 16; John xiv, 26; II Cor. iv., H.
Lesson Helper.
Returning to the Old Country.
Thousands OF emigrants are returning to
the old country. Seven steamships in one
waak alma toni awav from New York 265a