Middletown transcript., 1899-12-16

luke t1s O&-OOnUnGhtAEy AEGVAEC1
by the Rev. ID. M. Stearns.
copyright, 1899, by D. NJ. steaTns.l
Al. "Now His parents went to Jerusa-
lem every year at the feast of the Pass
over" We are to have the whole of this
year on the life of our Lord Jesus, and
here we are at only the second lesson, and
how much we have had to omit; but, dear
fellow teachers, do not let us omit any
part Of it in our meditation and teaching,
and may we know Him this year as we
never knew Him before. Get full Of Ga
briefs visit to Zacharias and to Mary,
Mary's visit to Elizabeth, the song Of
Mary, the birth Of John, the prophecy Of
Zacharias and all the incidents in connec-
ton with the birth of Christ, the story of
Simeon and Anna and the wise men and
the fight to Egypt as well as the angel
and shepherd story Of last week. The
previous verse Of our chapter today (40)
gives in sentence about all we know Of
His childhood and might be in large
measure true Of every child Of godly par
ents. Let the question come to each
heart, Am I growing strong in spirit,
filed with wisdom, and is the grace of
God manifest upon me? If not, why not?
There is no restraint with God. In con-
hection with this verse dwell as fully as
possible upon the first Passover story
with all its present application and fu-
ture outlook.
AZ. The law said, Three times in the
year all thy males shall appear before
the Lord God (Ex. xiii, 10, and the
context tells the occasions. That women
were not excluded is seen in Sam. j. This
would be in the life of our Lord great
event, His first visit to the Holy City,
where He was to be crucifed as our
Passover and where He shall vet reign
as King Of Israel and King of kings. The
number of His years suggests the story
Of the sick woman and the little girl of
Luke viii, ~, 43; Mark V, 25, AZ, for in
each case there was after II years de-
velopment of life hitherto inexperienced.
43. The Passover and feast of unleav-
ened bread covered eight days Lev. xiii,
6-S). 1t seems to have been the custom
to come and 60 in companies. Many
from the same town would go together
and be Joined by others as they jour
neyed. It is little difficult to under
stand how Mary could be willing to be sep
arated from this Child for many moments.
Some day she will tell us how it was.
A. They of course supposed that he
was with the other boys who would
doubtless be in their company, but the
difficulty is how could they be content
with a supposition? 1t must have been
with anxious hearts they sought him that
evening. I have read somewhere that it
was the custom to leave the city late in
the day and make but short journey the
first day, so that if anything had been for
gotten they might the more easily return
for it. In our Christian life let us never
be content with a supposition where there
can be a certainty.
As. "And when they found Him not
they turned back again to Jerusalem,
seeking Him" 1t is not pleasant retrac-
ing steps that might have been saved or
need not have been taken. A little in
Quiry beforehand saves many step and
worry. Let US not be content to part
company with Him for moment, and
then we will avoid many sorrow. Once
we lose fellowship it is not easily re-
gained.
46. After three days they found Him
in the temple. Had He been there each
day? Where did He spend His nights
Who took care of Him? We shall know
some day If necessary. Why did they
not go at once to the temple to look for
Him? Did they not know who their
Child was and where they would be most
likely to find Him? Did they forget to
ask Him, who is perfect in knowledge,
to guide them? Job xxxvi, 4; Prov.
lii, 81.
Al. We may imagine how He would
ask these men such questions as He aft
erward did, "What is written? How
readest thou? Have ye never read?'
tChapter K, 26) And, comparing Scrip
ture with Scripture, He would show
them the simplicity of the Scriptures and
their superiority over all tradition. Even
at the age Of II the wisdom of God was
seen In Him.
48, 40. "How is it that ye sought me
Wist We not that must be about my
1 Fathers businessT' The r. v. says "In
my Fathers house." or in the margin "In
| the things Of my Father" They should
have known just where to find Him and
/ what he would be doing. 1t will be inter
| esting to ask Mary, some time in the
| glorious future, more about His child
| hood, His conversations, His studies, His
manner of life, and yet may we not be-
| lieve that what it was in fullness in His
/ public life it was also in all His private
| life, for He was ever controlled by the
same Holy Spirit. He was on earth in
/ no sense for Himself, but always and
wholly for God, whether in His 80 years
at Nazareth or In His public ministry
/ This, His first recorded utterance, would
be a splendid motto for every believer
about my Fathers business" Consider
/ His other first words of conservation tC
| Office, victory over the tempter, to the dis
| ciples, at the first miracle, to the temple
rulers and to the people (Math. iii, 10; iv
4; John /, 8s; Il, 4, 16; Math. iv, I'D.
30. 'They understand not" If Mary
| understood not, we can hardly be surpris
| ed at the disciples not understanding
I CMark viii, IL, 21; John xiv, 81. The only
| way to understand is to believe; the one
| thing He asks us to do is to receive His
word John xvii, 8; Heb. xi, g..
81. He went cheerfully with them and
/ was subject unto them. 1t has been said
| that the highest mission on earth is sub
mission, and that one is not fit to be g
foreign missionary or a home missionary
| who has not learned the grace of sub
/ mission. It is sometimes a very hard
lesson, as in Gen. xvi, 8, but we cannot
be pleasing to God until we have learned
to say Even SO, Father" He learned
obedience by the things which He suf
fered (Heb. v, 81, and there is for us M
other way.
81. His mother kept in her heart Hi.
sayings even IL she did not understand
them (verses 10, 50), and we can do the
same. This last verse covers years ~ t.
30, as verse 40 covered years / to u
David went ON going and growing dl
Sam. Y. 10, margin). There may be many
winding about in our life. but il IL
Is ever In the midst. there will ever bt
an enlarging, and 1t viii be .stiil up
ward" tEzek. XII, %.