The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1906-01-19

familiar with Nature is shown by the
fact that the preaching and teaching
Of Jesus is full of illusions to nature,
to birds, plants, seeds, sheep, noun
tains, floods, fields, flowers, the sea-
sons, storms, sunshine, sunsets.
T. The Training in the Carpenters
Shop. Jesus learned the trade of a
carpenter from his father Matt. IL:
55; Mark GLIB. "There is a beauti-
full tradition that Joseph, his reputed
father, died while Jesus was a child
(not till after he was II years old,
and so he worked not merely to earn
his own living, but to keep the little
home together in Nazareth, and Mary
and the younger members of the fam
lily depended upon his toll" The neces-
sity of working for daily living is ''the
seed plot of the manly virtues" in
which grow skill, faithfulness, homes
ty, sobriety, self-denial. The spiritual
motive transfgures the lowliest toll,
when the smallest acts are done with
the highest motives, love, faith, truth.
service, devotion.
One of the greatest blessings that
can come to a child is the necessity
and privilege of taking part in the
daily home duties.
10. The Wide, Wide World. Jesus
lived in a village, which ito him was
like hermitage beside great cen
ter of life" There was plenty of evil
to test him and to train him by vic
tory. But it was also near the great
routes of travel, within hearing dis
lance, as the boy grew older, of the
luxuries of the rich, and the crimes of
Rome. THE perfection of his purity
and patience was achieved, not easily,
as behind a wide fence which shut the
world out, but amid rumor and scan
dial, with every provocation to unlaw-
full curiosity and premature ambition.
". A Distinct Era in the Life OF
the Boy.-Vs. 1850. Jesus had now
! come to that age when children feel
the STRINGS of larger life. He was
II years old, and developed mentally
and physically as much as a boy of
IA or Is years in this colder climate.
This was the age when, as kind of
turning point from childhood, Jew
ish boy became "son of the law" and
joined with his elders in religious
duties. Modern science shows that
this is the most hopeful age for bring
ing out the religious nature, and the
choice of the service of God.
81. His parents went to Jerusalem
every year." Like deeply and wisely
religious people they did not neglect
the great religious meetings. "At the
feast of the passover" The greatest
religious feast Of the Jews, common.
Grating the birth OF the nation. See
Eek. 12:13-2O; %; IS; Deut. 1916.
AZ. "They went up" Jesus being
included in the company.
43. And when they had fulfilled
the days" The seven days of the
Passover lex. 1915; Deut. 1879. "As
they returned" were returning. Knew
not of it," Showing the perfect trust
they had learned TO show their boy.
A. "In the company" with whom
they made the journey. And they
sought him." 1T was probably when
the caravan halted for the night that
he was first missed"
As. "They turned back again." A
single act. Seeking him." A con.
tinued act, lasting all the way to the
city.
46. after three days" Reckoned
from the departure of the caravan
from Jerusalem: one for the journey
4. Il 60 q ,aI
search in the city. They found him
in the temple" Not in the temple
proper, but in one of the porches or
chambers of the temple area, and be-
| longing to the temple. Sitting in the
midst of the doctors" The teachers,
eminent rabbis who at this season
would be discussing the great ques.
tons of the day. Hearing them, and
asking them questions" Very much
as in Bible class of to-day. He was
not putting himself forward, but was
doing what was natural and proper
for any boy.
AZ. "Astonished." Amazed, /. e.,
thrown into maze or labyrinth.
AS. And when they (Joseph and
NARY saw HlIl lucy were dmdICus
USED of glad amazement. "-Thayer.
They had not dreamed of such honor to
be given to their boy, or of such wis.
dom, such thoughts In the active,
obedient, modest, perhaps reticent boy
in their household.
40. And he said unto them, How
is it that we sought me? Why did
you go about the city searching for
me? why did you not come directly
here?" "Wist We not" Knew ye not.
THAT l must be about my Fathers
business?" In the Greek the noun
is omitted. "In the of my Father"
sin the affairs of my Father, and,
therefore, in the house OF my Father"
Exp. Greek Test.
The Child in Our Fathers House.
Every child should be trained to go
regularly to his Fathers house. as one