The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10


"Hoso Gs tt that re sought MeH Visit ye not
that I must be about Ny Fathers bms4
Hess4''-F 10.
The wonderful babe of Bethlehem
grew and waxed strong, filled with
wisdom; and the grace of God was
course far in advance of imperfect
children. The schooling privileges to
today were unknown. The education
CLEANED by the masses came to them
chiefly through contact with their
elders; history itself being handed
down from generation to generation,
except for the scholarly.
Few had more opportunities than
this-few were able to read; but Jesus
was amongst those feW-nOt because
but because of His brilliant mind,
which retained everything that came
to it.
The superiority of the abilities of
Jesus are attested by the fact that
when He entered the synagogue of His
home city, Nazareth. His talent as a
reader and exponent was SO generally
recognized that the service was usual
ly turned over to Him. (Luke iv, 16.)
Yet the people narvelled, saying, How
comes it that Jesus is a man of let
tiers, having never gone to school2
And they all bare Him witness and
wondered at the grace of His speech.
duke iv, 22.) The explanation is
Him were imperfect.
Our lesson relates particularly to an
incident which occurred when Jesus
was twelve years old His parents
obeyed the Mosaic Law by attending
the Feast of Passover at Jerusalem
every year, and on this occasion Jesus
was with them. The expression, par
ents," does not imply that Saint Luke
supposed Joseph to be the father OF
Jesus any more than that Mary so
consfd cred the matter when she spoke
of Joseph as being His father" He
was the foster father of Jesus. The
language is in exact harmony wit
what we would use under such cir
cumstances today
Jesus knew of His peculiar birth and
of the great prophecies which conferred
in Him, related by Gabriel to His moth
er, and He was on the alert to fulfill
Father He surmised that since at II
years of age Jewish boys came under
the requirements of the Law Covenant
this arrangement might possibly have
been made as an lnQlcaClOn OF HIS pro-
per course.
Therefore He resolved to consult the
very highest authorities respecting the
TEACHINGS of the Law on this subject
He sought intercourse with the learned
Scribes and PhariSees and Doctors
During a considerable part of the time
of the Passover Feast the great men
of His nation were engaged In pubic
functions, and hence His best oppor-
tunity for conference with them was
at the close of the feast, and whe1
ever He could gain their attention.
When the time came for the return
journey He had not finished His lnves-
LEGATIONS of the Scripture teachings on
this point His parents. thinking that
He was in the company with some or
their relatives, went a days journey
homeWard before they ascertained that
He was not in the company. Then
they returned and sought Him ard
finally found Him in the temple dis
cussing the question which to Him was
the all-important one CT the hour-the
time at which public ministry mighr
be begun, according to the Law. Evil
IDENTIFY He had just finished His quest
became amenable to the Law, none
could enter upon q teaching or preach
ing service until 80 years of age.
Jesus Increased in Wisdom.
In the last verse OF our study we
read: Jesus increased in wisdom and |
stature. and in favor with God and |
men," 1t was not boy who was to |
be the Redeemer, even as it was not |
a boy who had sinned. Jesus. there |
fore, to be a corresponding price" for |
Father Adam and the race which lost /
life in Him, needed first to be devel- |
1ped into manhood.
For Is years He kept growing in Wis 4
lom and il grace of character. He did |
lot grow in the Fathers favor in the /
sense of becoming less sinful and more |
righteous, but in the sense of becorn-
ng eveloped-reaching human perfec-
ion. Just so a piece of fruit in grow /
ng may be as perfect of its kind at |
he beginning as at the end, but it |
grows in size and IN richness of flavor |
md therefore in the appreciation OF
he owner
So with Jesus. The perfect babe be