The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-01-08
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY II.
Lesson Text: s.The Boy Jesus. !" Luke
H., 4O-52 Golden Text: Luke
H., 81 Commentary.

40. "And the child grew and wsxed strong
In spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace
of God was upon Him." In our RECENT
Christmas lesson. which must still be quite
fresh In our minds. we had the wondEous
story Of His birth aud were. trust, proflted
by the faith AID testimony of the shepherds.
Then followed the visit OF the wise men. the
presentation in the temple. the fight into,
Egypt and return to Nazareth. After which
we know nothing of Him till His baptism at
the age OF thirty beyond what Is recorded In
this verse and in this lesson. In tbe quiet
retirement Of Nazareth he grew both IN
physical and in spiritual stature and lived In
the favor Of God. he had a body OF flesh
and blood. such as we have (Heb. H.. 14,G
but He had no sin (Heb. vii, 26; II Cor. ",
21). NJ ,}ls h .lyl
A., "Now His parents went to Jerusalem
every year at the feast Of the passover"
While only the males were command ed to at.
tend the feasts eek. xxiii.. I'D 1t would seem
that women also went to the feast OF the pas
sover (I Sam. l., y. When We come to pas
sover story, 1t Is always well TO think OF the
safety Of those who are under the blood and
the fellowship of those who obediently feed
upon the Lamb. Salvation depends upon
the blood alone, but fellowship and growth,
depend upon our eating Him continually by !
Hmony is, she that eateth Ne. even he shall
live by Me- (John vi, 50. Y:
AZ. "And when He was tw elve years old. 4
they went no to Jerusalem after the custom
Of tine feast" We would like to know His
thoughts concerning this, His first visit to Z
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 occu-
pied with sights along the way. Whatever
- Tast okN Tod 1ryskl Il
the places they would pass through we may
be sure He would think and perhaps talk Of
them, for He was well versed in the Scrip
lures NJ.
4S. "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." Jerusalem iscalled
the Holy City. and the City Of the Great
King (Math. w., 8; ", $50; by its great sin 1
it Is called the city where our Lord was
erucif1ed (Rey. d.. 81, but it shall yet be
called City of Truth. and the Throne OF the
Lord Czech. Will, 8; Jer. ILL.,, 1D. That Lord
shall prove to be none other than this same
Jesus without whom Joseph and Mary start
ed from Jerusalem for Nazareth. Did they
think enough Of Him? sl r. y ~ -
A. "But they. supposing Him TO have been
in the company, went days journey Sup
posing and wondering are not the roads to
peace and assurance and are apt to cause US
many sorrows. Just think what dismay It
might work If we should attempt to travel
by train or steamer supposing that we knew
the time of starting. Let no one In matters
eternal rest in anything short OF an assur-
ance we'll founded. ~ 5
As. "And when they found Him not, they
turned back again to. Jerusalem, seeking
Him." Any one who has ever had child
stray away for q longer or shorter time can
sympathize somewhat with Mary in this e1-
perience.. Did they confess to God their
negligence and ask Him to guide them2 Did
they remember Ps. xxxii., g; lisa; Xxx; q,
and Pa. l.. Is? Perhaps they will tell us
about It some day. i
48. Sand 1t came to pass that after three
days they found Him In the temple.' Not
seeing the sights ofthe great city, but in BIS
Fathers house at q Bible study. We may
safely think Of Him as saying to these teaoh-
ers, ,hWhat Is written2" 'How readest thou?"
i To oseph and Mary one hours neglect had
brought three days anxiety. To many On
hours neglect has often, brought lifelong
sorrow. To neglect the SOULS welfare will
bring eternal sorrow. See Job xxxH., 1S;
Heb. H., 8. 81
4. 4T Hind all that heard Him were aston
ished at his understanding and answers" !"
II John the Baptist was filed with the Spirit
: from his birth. how much more must Jesus
have been so filed And will not the phrase
& Jesus knew from the beginning John vi,
64) reach back to this stage Of His life as
we'll as to the beginning Of His ministry2 He
would understand the Scriptures better than
those who questioned Him, and many would
doubtless receive some new light that day
as they heard the Scriptures quoted In all
their simplicity and beauty.
4S. "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with
us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought
Thee sorrowing." This was his mothers
greeting after the three days search. He
might have replied, Why did you go without
Me; parents look after children, not chill
|, dren after parents In chapter 5 Of the Song
Of Solomon the loved one has q sorroYfut
search because she did not care enough for
her Beloved to let Him In promptly when BE
called .
4s. isHow is It that ye sought Me2 Wist
We not that must be about My Fathers
business2" This Is His answer. The revised
version gives s.in My Fathers house, or Tin
the things of My Father" Thus early IN life
did He understand and speak OF His great
mission.
80. s.And they understood not the saying
which He spake unto them" They did not
know Him. even His mother did not under
stand Him, and Just before He died he had
to say to one OF the twelve "Haye been 50
long time with you and yet hast thou not
known Me, Philip" (John dv., q. Un-
known and misunderstood as q boy and as
a man. how strangely Lonely was all His life.
Does any boy or girl, young man or young
woman, feel in them movings OF the Spirit
which even father and mother cannot recog-
nize, think Of Jesus and wait Gods time
Blessed are they that wait for Him llsa.
81. "And He went down with them and
came to Nazareth and was subject unto
them And this covers the next eighteen
years. Where are the young men and
women of to-day who are thus cheerlully
subject? Where are the older ones who are
always cheerfully subject to all our Heav-
emily Fathers plans and appointments!
Blessed are all such, for they are in the
greatest mission on earth-that OF suomis-
sion. fr.
SO. "And Jesus increased in wisdom AMI
stature and in favor with God and man.
Almost the same words are used nf Samuel
G SAM H.. 26), aud wa think OF David, OF
whom it is written that David went on and
grew great (g9ng and growing margin) ,
and the LORD God Of Hosts was with him.
III Sam. w.. 1O) The words OF Eek. Kill,
I. oft come o mind in reference to the daily
life, for we read there OF an enIarging and Il
win6ing about, but it Is always still ip-
ward" and ,.by the midst" may ''still up.
ward" be our motto and Jesus IN tnh
halr