The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-10
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JANUARY IL.
Lesson Text: t'The Boy jesus" Luke
H., 4O-52--GoIden Text: Luke
H., 52.-Commeutary.

Christmas lesson, which must still be quite
fresh in our minds we had the wondrous
story of His birth aud were. trust. profited
by the faith and testimony OF tho 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 nothing Of Him till His baptism ut
the age Of thirty 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 and lived IN
the favor OF God He hai ~ holy Of flesh
and blood, such as we have tHeb. H.. 14,
but He had no sin (Heb vii, &c; III Cor. v,
2D.
Al. "Now His parents went to JerusnIcm
every year ut the feest OF the passover"
While only the males were commanded to at
tend tho feasts (Ex xiii. 17) il would seem
that women also went to the feast OF the pas
sover I Sam. ~. When we come to Il pas
Sover story, 1t is always well TO think OF the
safety of those who under the blood and
the fellowship of those who ohcaicntly iced
upon the Lamb. Salvation depends upon
the blood alone. but fellowship and growth
depend upon our eating Him continually by
whose blood we are redeemed. His own tes-
timony is, she that cateth Me. oven he shall
live by Me- (John vi. sly.
A. And when He was twnive wears old.
they went no to Jerusalem after the custom
of the feast" We would like to know His
thoughts concerning rhis His nrst visit Nv
tho Holy City. We may Imagine that us He
was not taken up with seeing the city when
no got tneTe so no WAS HOT oNtTmlli'u OCCU-
pied with sights along the wav Whatever
OF Old Testament story was associated with
tho places they would pass through we may
be sure He would think aud perhaps telk OF
them, for He was well versed in the Scrip
lures
4S. And when they hal fulhlledth days,
as they returned the child Jesus tarred be-
hind In Jerusalem, and Joseph and His
mother knew not OF it,. Jerusalem Is called
the HOLY City. aud the City of tho Great
King (Math. iv., 5; ". 35l; by its great sin
it is called the city where our Lord was
cruciaed (Rev. XII. 81, but it shalt yet be
called a City OF Truth. and the Throne OF the
Lord (Zech. viii, 3; Jer. ill.,, ~. 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?
Al. "But they. supposing Him ID have beAn
in the company, went IL days journey" Sup
posing and wondering are not The roads to
peace and assurance and ara apt to cause US
many sorrows. Just think what Gismay il
might work il we should attempt to travel
by train or steamer suppos nG thut we knew
tho time OF starting. Let no ono in matters
eternal rest in anything slort OF an assur-
ance we'll founded.
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 longer or shorter time can
sympathize somewhat with Mary in this ex-
penence. Did they confess to Col their
negligence and ask Him to guide them? Did
they remember Ps. XXXii.. s. Isa. xxx.. u.
and Ps. J.. Is? Perhaps they will tell us
about it some day
AZ. "And it came to pass that after three
days they found Him in the tsmp'e." Not
seeing the sights ofthe great CITY, but in His
Fathers house at a Bihle study. We may
safely think of Him as wing TO these teach-
ers. what is writtenY" "How readest thou?"
TO oseph and Mary one hours neglect had
brought three days anxiety To many an
hours neglect has often brought a lifelong
sorrow. To neglect the souls welfare will
bring eternal sorrow. SEQ Job XxXvi., 18;
Hob. ILL.,, 3.
At "And ali that heard Him were aston-
ished at His understanding AMI answers"
III John the Baptist was filled 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 ~
we'll as to the beginning of His ministry? He
would understand tho Scriptures better than
those who questioned Him. and many would
doubtless receive some new light that day
as they heard tho Scriptures quoted in all
their simplicity and beauty.
4S. "Son. why hast Thou thus dealt with
us? Behold, Thy father and have sought
Thee sorrowing.' This was His mothers
greeting after the thrco days search. He
might have replied Why did YOU go without
Me; parents look after children. not chill
dren after parents In chapter 8 OF tho Song
of Solomon the loved one has a sorrowful
Sclrcn becuuSe Snc ulu not cara enough Tor
her Beloved to let Him in promptly when Ho
called
40. ''How is it that ye sought Me? Wist
yc not that must be a'out My Fathers
Dusncss?' This is lIisanswcr The revised
version gives Gin My Fathers house. or .in
the things of My Father Tnus carly in lfo
did He understand and speak OF His great
mission.
90. And they understood not the saying
which He spak" un'o tbcm." They did not
know Him !iiI /
stand Him, and Just before II" did He had
to say to one of tho twelve. ''IIave been 50
long time with you and yet hast thou not
known Me, rhilir?' John xiv, 81. Un-
known and misunderstood as u boy and as
II man. how strangely lone.v was nll His life
Does any boy or girl, young man or young
woman. feel IN them movinSS OF the Spirit
which even ia;hrr and mother cannot recog-
niHe think OF Jesus aud wat Gois time.
Blessed are they that wait for Him lisa.
xxx. 49,
-. And H. went down w.th thon. and
cam" t" Nazareth AMI was subject unto
them. AMI TINS covers ;h" next eighteen
wears. Where ar" the young men and
women ot t"-tay WHO are thus ciiurruily
sunlcc;? Wnrrc are ,nc Older ones who arc
always cnccriuily subject to all our Hcry-
Gny isth"rs plans and appointments?
B!cSSei nrp all SUch. ior they arS in tho
greatest mission On earth that of submis-
sion.
%. "And Jesus increased IN wisdom ant
H'itIHrc "hh an laNOT WiIh GOi and man.
Almost the same words are uSri oi Samuel
Il sam. H., 26). and wa think Of David Of
whom it is written that ''Davd went on and
grew great (gpius ana growing margin),
anu inc Lpri tbd Oi Hoses was with him
Gil Sam. v. lO). The words of Eek xii,
Z. OF come % mind in rcl"rcnco to the daily
lie, Tor we rca there oi an charging and u
winding about, hut it Is always still up
ward. aud "by tho midst" may still up
ward DE our motto and ''JcsEs in tho
midst our Inspiration. Lesson Helper.
Earliest Vegetables Always Paw.
That's so. the clitor bo,ra Mr MorIof