The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-02-07
Sunday School Column.
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils.
BY CHAS. K. MEYERS.

BY CHAS. X. MEYERS.
Feb. 1.-THE Boy Jesus in the Tenn
ple.-Luke 2, 1852.
We have this week most interest.
ing and instructive lesson. The few
things told us in the bible as to the
!. babyhood of Jesus are most precious
and have been the subject of much at
tention from the christian world. The
record says that the child Jesus grew,
waxed strong in spirit, filled with wis
dom and the grace of God upon him.
There has been a difference of opin-
ion as to whether Jesus knew, as a
child of ten and twelve, that He was
the Son of God and the redeemer OF
the world. Happily it is not thing
of great importance. 1t is sure that
when He began his ministry lie was
fully equipped for the work, His
words were the highest standards of
morality and justice, and in the end
His death on the cross redeemed from
sin all who believe in His name. 1t
has always seemed to us, however,
that as a chuld Jesus did not possess
supernatural power and was not
aware that He was the Son of God.
The work as the worlds redeemer
came to Jesus when He was baptized
by John in Jordan.
The child grew as should every
child brought up under right christian
influences. Gods grace is on every
child whose mind leans to Him, and
who wishes to know His will. Par
ents can we'll strive to have their chill
dren come up under this ideal method.
In the days of the boyhood of Jesus
in the village of Nazareth the entire
community was deeply religious. All
thought dwelt on the law of God and
how to observe it through forms and
ceremonial law. 1t was not strange
that when the parents of Jesus took
Him to Jerusalem where stood the
temple, and lived the learned ones OF
the Jewish church, that He took oc-
casiOn to learn all He could about re-
ligion. There were no books in the
hands of the people, and the only
means of being educated in the laws
of Moses and the words of the
prophets was to hear them from the
lips of the learned doctors of the
temple.
When found by His parents in the
temple He was surprised that they
should have been alarmed as to His
safety. From the point of view OF this
child, the chance to learn about Gods
law should be taken advantage of. He
was in deep earnest and considered
that one should be about the business
of learning of God and His will. That
It is said Jesus returned home and
was a good dutllul child, all expected.
There are many stories extant telling
of the supernatural things Jesus did
when boy, but these have no founda-
ton from the bible. 1t is worthy of
note that no record is made of miracles
performed in the childhood days of
the Christ.
The record says that Jesus grew
in favor with God and man. One who
does Gods will cannot help being
loved by all who know him. To do
Gods will requires kindness, gentle
ness, long suffering, patience, a forgiv-
ing spirit. With these qualities of life
one cannot help being loved and
esteemed.
The lesson, therefore, teaches US to
bring the children up from the begin
ming to love God and keep His COM
mandments. That it is praiseworthy
to look on God rs our father and to
use all opportunities to learn of His
will. This is done by reading the
bible, attending church services and
Sabbath schools. The age of twelve is
a most favorable time to urge the chill.
dren to make public announcement
that they belong to God and intend to
serve Him as their heavenly father
AS Jesus was obedient to his parents,
SO should the children be now. This
is indeed a beautiful lesson and can
be made of much benefit to the chill
dren and parents.