The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-26

despised village John j. 46) Jesus must
| have pursued the course of training corr.
| mon to the boys at that time being
known as the son of a carpenter. Cdatt
| xiii. 55) At least nine full years elapsed
| between the entrance into Nazareth and
| the events of our present lesson: years
! of profound quiet they were, the inspired
penman having given no account of what
GRoWTH-Or those years of Jesus In
| his Nazareth home the f0rtieth verse OF
our lesson makes mention under four
to. his body. which. free from disease, un,
healthy child. He .'waxed strong IN
spirit: the faculties Of his mind mani
OF thought. He was filled with wisdom
! displaying sound judgment concerning
things about him. And best of all, the
grace Of God was upon him." the Holy
Spirit illuminated his mind and influenced
ms heart. These statements accorded with
the predictions concerning the Messiah.
Jesus was strictly human, like that or
John luke i. 10 and of the apostle
CActs v, 80 How. then. can the church
affirm that he was more than human?
Ihey who ask such questions forget that
Luke wrote history. He presented the boy
as he appeared to those about him. The
| divinity may not have been displayed M
| that early age, further than a remarkable
precoctty. 1t would be revealed in after
years and the record would be made ac-
| corqlngly. duke Y. 81
| FEAST-At least Jesus came forth from
! obscurity into brief public notice. II or.
| CURED when he was II years old at
| nave gained sufficient knowledge TO choose
| ana act for himself. when he was required
70 assume Obligations as a son of the law.
Up 70 th2t age Jesus had been Under In
| struction In the family of Joseph. accord
| ing TO the time-honored custom in Israel
ana lnft pious man had regularly per-
| formed ms religious duties for his entire
household. But. having passed his twelfth
birthday. he was allowed for the first time
| 10 so up to Jerusalem to the Passover
Indeed, this was his duty, for the law re-
| quired all males of accountable age TO APP
pear before the Lord. eek xiii, III
| The event was one of great interest be-
| cause of its commemorative C,xs xxiiI In
and typical character. u Cor. " - The
journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem a
! along valleys and over hills of historic re-
nown. destined to be the scenes of many
| wonderful deeds in the Savior's ministry.
TARRIED-Jesus came to the national
capital unannounced, attracting no more
attention than other lads of similar age
VINO entered the temple. We are not in
him while Joseph and Mary performed
| ire rites pertaining to the occasion. He
must have participated to some extent.
else the purpose of his visit would not
nave been gained. But Re was certainly
| allowed some liberty. appropriate to one
OF ms years. and must have moved about
| according to his pleasure, for he became
| separated from his mother. When the
days were accomplished, and all the du-
| lieS VI the great FEAST week were fully
met; Joseph set out for home. but Jesus
tarried in the city. What did that sig
nifty? Was he lost among the throngs that
filed the streets? Psalms cxxiI. ~ Had he
| Intentionally cast OFF parental author
| ity under the impulse of his dawn
ing manhood? Was he. charmed By the
/ of the larger world into which he had
come? The answers to these questions will
reveal his character and fix his place in
SEARCH-Many have wondered that
Mary left Jerusalem without her son, and
some have accused her of culpable neg
| lect 1t must be remembered that people
| went in caravans to the Passover. partly
for comfort and partly for protection
against robbers that infested the way.
| arrange themselves in groups, some walk
| ing some riding. The absence of an in
| dividual would not be noticed until at the
| close or day. the caravan halted and ar
engagements were made for the night.
Mary supposed Jesus was in the company
and gave no thought to him. but at the
| close of the day she was surprised on
learning that the kinsfolk knew nothing
OF him. Turning back, she made diligent
and anxious search for the missing boy.
Many fears must have been awakened
The people had begun to dispense, and he
may have been Joined to some other OUT
gong company. to be taken far away. Or
| may have befallen him. A true mother.
would surmise many things. -,
| FOUND-On the third day of the search
ocouS WeS luufll. w mere. AIIlld the gay.
who surrounded the Roman Government?
In the shops, where the rich fabrics of
damascus were displayed? In the market
pace, where men assembled for barter? In
the gates where Justice was administered
In the streets where boys were at play? .I1ls
the custody of officers whose duty it was
10 protect the unfortunate? Mary and
Joseph may have visited all these places
but in vain. They found MIN where they
least expected-in the temple, in one of
those spacious chambers set apart for IN
struction- He was sitting with the doc
Tors the wise men of the nation. many Of
them sray-headed. In the spirit OF HUI
tons. assuming the attitude of learner
HIS enthusiasm and wisdom awakened the
wonder and admiration of these doctors.
ushered into his presence, Mary. not Jo-'
seph, ventured to offer a gentle rebuke.
saying. why dost thou treat us thus?
Thy father and 1 have sought thee sor-
REPLY - The answer of Jesus to his
mother-his first recorded words-explains
his conduct and gives the key to his en-
tire after life. How is 1t that ye sought
me-" Put the emphasis on the pronouns
We and me. Why need you have any need
OF concern for me? He appeared to be
surprised that they should think 1t posi-
bic that he could be in danger of wrong
or needing their care; perhaps more sur
prised that they did not know where TO
find him. His next question throws light
on the first: "Wist we not that I must be
about my Fathers business? He recog-
n 9nss, himself as the son Of another; not
the son of the Highest 1t may have been
the first dawning OF consciousness of the
higher relation. With the sense of SON
ship came the sense of obligation There
was q holy impulse toward service The
magnitude of his Fathers business had
awakened his zeal and led him into his
Fathers house All this was an excuse
for temporary neglect of earthly ties The
nature and mission of the boy had been
misjudged.
SUBJECT-Having spoken and revealed
himself, his relation, his work, his mo-
tives. Jesus left the temple and returned
TO Nazareth as an Obedient son, under the
roor or his legal father. Why was this?
If SO earnest for work, why did he cut
snort MS laborS? Many answers have been
made to these questions Under the Jew
ish law a man might not enter the min
istry until the age of 30. and Jesus must
obey this law to secure a following. John
the Baptist must go before him and pre-
pare the WAY. else the prophecies would
nection be made between Judaism and
Christianity. The social order of that day
REQUIRED that Jesus must re-enter the
nome and sanctify 1t, as afterwards in his
first miracle he honored 1t. The spirit
which had directed him in all his career
now prompted toward the Galilean re-
treat until called permanently into public
service.
REFLECTIONS = This passage affords
only glimpse of the divine nature of
candid persons of its presence See him,
the boy-man. surrounded by schoars, re-
proved by his mother! Mediate on his
wo words, :, y,,,,I Fathers business Here
the boy in the temple is most conspicuous
and. perhaps. most instructive. He is a
good example to the young. who ought 10
employ their early years IN seeking the
elevating knowledge of sacred things. and
who ought to desire instruction that they
| may enter into the service OF God; but
lection to their own parents. The early
| impulses toward a high calling may be