The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14
Christ's Bovhood.

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And Jesus Increased, In wisdom, ana
In statue, and In favor both with God
and man."-St. Luke III, g. gi
AS Christians we think of our Lords
birth; and what more reasonable than
that we should go on and think OF our
Lords boyllood?
For If He were very and real man
He must have been also very and real
babe, very and real boy, very and real
youth, and at last q very and real full
grown man.
Yet this is not so easy to believe as st
may seem at first.
For many have stumbled at the birth
of our Lord; they have stumbled at the
manger in Bethlehem, as they do now
at the cross. They found 1t hard to be-
l!eve that our Lord grew up like any real
human child.
They would not believe that He went
down to Nazareth and was subject to His
Father and Master.
People believe generally now that our
Lord worked at His fathers trade, and
that He Himself handled tho carpenters
tools. We have no certain proof OF it,
but 1t is so beautiful a thought that one
hopes 1t is true.
What does the, Bible tell us? Very lit
tie. indeed. 1t tells us very little because
we were meant to know very little. Trust
your Bible always my friends. if 1t. were
good for you to know more, the Bible
would tell you more.
But 1t tells usasimply that Jesus grew
Just as a human child grows in body, soul
and spirit.
Then 1t tells us of one case-and only
one-in which He seemed to act without
His parents's consent. And as the say
ings: the exception proves tho rule. 1t
is plain that His rule was to obey: that
He was always subject to His parents. as
other children are. except on this one
occasion. And even in this case 1t is
expressly stated, that He went back with
them and was subject unto them.
do not pretend to explain WHY our
Lord stayed behind in the temple. can
not explain (who canT, the why and
wherefore of what see people do In
everyday common life. How much less
then can one explain why our Lord did
this, or that, when He was both God and
Man?
But one reason seems to be very plain
from ST. Luke's words: fIe stayed behind
to hear all He could from the scribes and
Pharisees. who were the Doctors Tor
teachers), OF the Law
He told the people many years after.
"rhc scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses's
seat. All therefore which they command
you that observe and do
He was n Jew Himself. and came to
fulfill all righteousness. Therefore He full,
filled such righteousness as was custo-
mary among Jews according to their law
and religion.
So to all children and young people ]
will say IL you wish really to think and
know what Christ has done for YOU, you
must remember that He was once real
human child. not different outwardly
from other children, except In being Il
perfectly good child, In all things like rs
wv Ga, IjuL WltilOus SlhA.
Then whatever happens to you you will
have the comfort of feeling-"Chrst un-
dcrstands this; Christ has been through
all this. Child, though am, Christ can
be touched with the feeling of my
weakness, for He was once child like
me-"
So.then, IL trouble, or sickness, or death.
come to your-and you all know that sor-
row, sickness and death must conae--yoi'
will be comforted, supported, nay even
cheerful If you will only try to BIO sucl,
children as Jesus was.
Obey your parents and be subject to
them as He was. None can learn to CONS
mand until he has first learned to obey.
Try to learn not only from your books.
but also from your teacher pastors, and
masters-aH Flo did. Pray to increase daily
in favor but with God and man. as He
did,
Then through llfe and all daily duties
and trials you Will be supported and led,
ind II death should come. you need y. no'
BIO afraid. for Jesus Christ rs With you
Your childish faults Will Ebe forgiven
for Jesus's sake. Your little deeds OF
love shall DO nccopted for Iesuss sake. 4
We must all become az little children
doing our work we'll whore God hns
placed us, humble, obedient and tract
able, winning love from: those arouna'
J and from God our rather IN Heaven, and and