The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-11

40. And the child grew and waxed
strong in spirit, filed with wisdom, and
tie grace Of God was upon Him." In our
recent Christmas lesson, which must still
be quite fresh In our minds we had the
wondrous story Of His birth and were
trust, proflted by the faith and testimony
Of the shepherds. Then followed the visit
Of the wise men, the presentation In the
temple, the flight into Egypt and return
TO Nazareth. After which we know moth
| ing OF Him till His baptism at the age Of
30 beyond what Is recorded In this verse
and In this lesson. In the quiet retirement
OF Nazareth He grew both In physical and
In spiritual stature ana lived In the favor
of God He had a body OF flesh and blood,
such rs we have (Hcb. ii, IA, but He had
no sin (Ieb. Vii, 20; III Cor. v, ED.
Al. "Now His parents went TO Jerusalem
every year at the feast OF the passover.
While only the males were commanded 10
| attend the feasts lex. xiii, I7) IL would
| seem that women also went To the feast Of
| the passover CT sam. l. -. When we come
| to passover story, il Is always well to
think Of the safety Of those who are under
| the blood and the fellowship of those who
obcdiently feed upon the Lamb. Salvation
depends upon the blood alone, but fellow
ship and growth depend upon our eating
Him continually by whose blood we arc re-
deemed. His own testimony Is ''He that
cateth Me- even he shall live by Me" (.Iohn
vi, 90.
AZ. "And when He was ~ years old,
| they won't up to Jerusalem, after the Gus.
tom Of the feast" We would like TO know
His thoughts concerning this His first
visit TO the Holy City. We may imagine
that as He was not taken up with seeing
| the city when He got there, so He was not
overmuch occupied with sights along the
way. Whatever of Old Testament story
was associated with the places they would
pass through we may be sure He would
think and perhaps talk Of there, for He
was well versed in the Scriptures
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 It," Jerusalem Is
called the Holy City, and the City Of the
Great King tMath. Nv, o; V, 35); by its great
sin 1t is called the city where our Lord was
crucified (Rev. ri, 81, but 1t shall yet be
called City of Truth, and the Throne of
the Lord Czech. viii, B; .Jer. Iii, 10. That
Lord shall prove TO be none other than this
same Jesus without whom Joseph and
Mary started from Jerusalem for Nazareth
Did they think enough of Himg
Al but they, supposing Him to have
been in the company, went a days jour
ney." Supposing and wondering are not
the roads to peace and assurance and are
apt to cause us many sorrows. Just think
what dismay ii might work II we should
attempt to travel by train or steamer sup
posing that we knew the time of starting
Let no one in matters eternal rest In any
thing short of an assurance well founded
as. "And when they found Him not,
they turned back again 10 Jerusalem, seek
ing Him." Any one who has ever had
child stray away for Il longer or shorter
time can sympathize somewhat with Mary
in this experience. Did they confess to
God their negligence and ask Him to guide
them. Did they rsmcmbe Ps xxxii, s.;
lisa. xxx, 81, and Ps. |, 10 Perhaps they
will tell us abont it ,n n,s 4 az,
% fleAyp fAb If ffI IN in tho tcm if,er three
seeing the sights Of the great city, but IN
| His Fathers house at "A Bible study. We
may safely think Of Him ~ saying TO these
| teachers, "What is writteng How read
est thous' TO JOSEPH and Mary ono
hours neglect had bro' ght three days
| anxiety To many an hours neglect has
| often brought life long sorrow. To neg
lect the souls wclfars will bring eternal
sorrow See job xxxvi, Is; Heb. ii, 3
| AZ. "And all that heard Him were as
tonished at His understanding and an
swers" If John the Baptist was filled with
the Spirit from his birth, how much more
must Jesus have been so nlledl And will
not the phrase Jesus knew from the be.
ginning" (John vi, 64) reach back to this
stage of His life as well as to the begin
ming of His ministry He would under
stand the Scriptures better than those who
questioned Him, and many would doubt
less receive some new light'that day as
they heard the Scriptures quoted in all
their simplicity and beauty.
AS. "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with
usg Behold Thy father and have sought
Thee sorrowing." This was His mother
greeting after the three days search. He
might have replied, Why did you go with
out Me, parents, look after children, not
children after parents In chapter Of the
Song of Solomon the loved one has sor-
rowful search because sne did not care
enough for her Beloved to let Him in
promptly when He called.
40. "How is 1t that We sought Mes Visit
We not that l must be about My Father $
| business" This is His answer. The re-
yised version gives Tin My Fathers
house." or "in the things Of My Father. I"
Thus early in life did He understand and
speak of His great mission.
| so. "And they understood not the say
ing which He spake unto them" They
did not know Him, even His mother did
not understand Him, and just before He
died He had to say to one of the twelve
"Have been SO long time with you and
vet hast thou not known me, Philip
John xiv, %. Unknown and misunder-
stood as a boy and as a man, how strange.
ly lonely was all His life. Docs any boy or
girl, young man or young woman, feel in
them moyings OF the Spirit which even IA
ther and mother cannot recognize, think
of Jesus and wait Gods time. Blessed are
they that wait for Him lisa. Xxx, is)
| 81. And He went down with them and
came to Nazareth and was subject unto
them" And this covers tho next Is years
Where are the young men and women OF
today who are thus cheerfully subjocts
Where are the older ones who are always
cheerfully subject to all oub heavenly Fa-
theirs plans and appointmentsS Blessed
are all such, for they are In the greatest
mission on oarth--that Of submission.
SO. "And Jesus increased In wisdom
and stature and in favor with God and
man." Almost the same words are used
of Samuel Il sam. II, 26), and we think Of
David of whom 1t Is written that David
went on and grew great (going and grow
ing. margin), and the Lord God OF Hosts
was with him" (II Sam. v, l0) The
words OF Eek. xii. Z, oft come to mind In
reference to the daily life, for we read
there of an charging and a winding about,
but IL Is always "still upward, " and "by
the midst may "still upward be our