Evening star., 1924-07-12

Nazareth has place in the worlds
| thought because it was the home OF
Jesus from the time of his return
from Egypt. shortly after the death
| Of Herod, up to His entrance upon
His public ministry. Luke's concise
record shows that the boyhood of the
Master was that of a normal Jewish
lad, living in a community that was
secluded by its position, and yet a
religious and commercial center. Dur
| ing those early days in Nazareth the
home synagogue and the school con-
nected with il would be the great
formative factors in helping to mold
the character Of Jesus.
Our Lords first teacher was His
blessed mother, who instructed Him
| concerning the significance of the
Sabbath. the synagogue services and
the Scriptures. She explained to Him
why they all touched the "Mezuzah,' :
which was attached to the door posts
of their home, so that He understood
that they revealed their trust in the
divine watch care by kissing the
fingers that had come In contact with
the sacred name of Jehovah written
early in life to pray to His Heavenly
Father and had Him commit portions
OF the Scripture to memory even be-
fore He entered the synagogue school
The Hebrews surpassed all other
nations in their educational princi-
Piles and practice. They combined the
essential principles that developed
mind, muscle and morals. Christ
commenced His thorough training
that made Him and every other Jew
ish student master of the Old TeSta-
ment with the study of Leviticus
cts and then the "Hagiographs.
which included all not counted in the
law and the prophets. This gave a
training in literature, history, philos-
ophy, science and religion that place
the Jewish people morally and intel
lectually above the Gentiles. 1t made
the Hebrews the greatest religious
nation in the world and filled them
all with patriotism and loyalty &c
God
From the heights about Nazareth
one of the most impressive and sug-
gestive views to be found in the world
is presented. More than once. nc
doubt, that scene must have helped
thrill Jesus as a boy. Before him
lay the great plain of Esd eIon. and
bout ii gathered some of the great
est events connected with the history
of the Jewish people. Yonder to the
southwest is the scene of Sisera's
overthrow and the River of Kishon
which swept away his army West
ward is Carmel, where Elijah put &c
shame the worshiperS of Baal. South
ward is Dothau, where Joseph was
sold. and farther, over the hilltops, is
Samaria, where Ahab and Jezebel
plotted evil. Farther eastward is
Mount Gilboa, the scene of the death
of Saul and Jonathan, and near by
(rIdann'S
is the Jordan Valley, and northward
the Sea of Galilee, the scene of much
of Jesus ministry, and still farther
northward the sun-kissed summit OF
Hermon. white with snow. To the
west the waters of the Mediterranean
with the ships of commerce, can be
seen in the vision of thirty miles thai
is visible from that lofty hill.
Nazareth was one of the centers
where the priest assembled to go ur
| in companies to Jerusalem. This
| brought to all the latest tidings from
| the capital and kept the communit,
| posted concerning the events anC
scandals connected with the court
life Of Jerusalem and the temple ir
| connection with the policies of tn,
Pharisees. Another source of knowi-
edge that would have given Chris
| a view of the outside world was the
| great caravans of commerce that
| crossed at the base of the hill be.
L
brought men from all ends of the
Roman empire into the streets OF
Nazareth that would have aroused his
interest in their countries and civili-
cation.
Only one experience in the boyhoo6
Of Jesus is recorded in the scriptures
| 1t is connected with probably his first
visit to Jerusalem. Every step OF
the way would be filled with historic
and religious interest to the boy, whe
had reached probably the age, wher
a jewish lad would become "a son OF
the commandant." From that period
| the boy was recognized as being re-
sponsible for his life and acts. The
| trip meant much to Jesus.
Jerusalem had always been the
place where he wished to go an6
| services, the center of Christ's
| thoughts "In the midst of the doc
tors" He found the opportunity that
| He desired. He learned mucn as He
| listened to their expositions and dis.
cussions concerning the law. He wei.
| coined the privilege that 1t gave Hin
| to ask questions of these religion!
| leaders concerning some Of the prob
| lens that already were commencing
| mind Evidently Jesus surpassed tn,
| ordinary youths in His knowledg,
| and interpretations for these doctor.
| of the law "were astonished at Hi.
| understanding and answers"
| Possibly in His zeal to know more
| Jesus had tarried in Jerusalem, while
1 the rest of the party had started
| tails of His being left behind. w.
| cannot imagine that His mother wa.
i careless or that Jesus was disobedi
ent. They supposing Him to be in tn,