Evening star., 1929-11-30
If the Christian home should disap-

II the Christian home should disap-
pear, the modern world would soon pass
away. The influence, instruction and
inspiration of the Christian homes have
contributed towards the advancement
and development of our modern civilt-
zation. In this age of rapidly develop
ing centers of population many critics
claim that the Christian home Is dlSap-
pearing. 1t Is true that old-time homes
are not found in our modern cities. The
homes may be more compact in our
growing centerS Of population, but these
changes in our modes of living have not
destroyed the atmosphere of love and
fidelity that makes home. No one can
build a home Of wood, brick, concrete,
stone 70 marble without the elements
that transform the buildings construct
ed of such material into home. 1t Is
more difficult to preserve the right at
moSphere of the home with love OF the
parents and children for one another in
modern society, so We are facing in
today's lesson one of the fundamental
problems of society.
In seeking to establish and preserve
for other ages the atmosphere of the
Christian home, We need no better ex-
ample than the Nazareth home, where
our Lord spent His boyhood, youth and
dent of that important period OF the
Masters life, which Luke has preserved
for us in connection with the experience
of the boy Jesus in the Temple. He
condensed all references to the Lords
childhood in one compact, concise, yet
comprehensive statement. It gives all
the information that we have after the
return Of the holy family from Egypt
upon the inauguration OF Archelaus as
King. Joseph selected Nazareth as the
place that promised him the best open
ing for the development Of his business
as builder and the establishment of q
home for his family.
The Lords Childhood.
We are told that "the child grew,
and waxed strong in the spirit, filled
with wisdom, and the grace of God was
upon Him" This concise record reveals
the fact that entering the race, as a
divine child, the development Of Jesus
was that of a normal child. 1t was four
fold, physical, mental, spiritual and So
cial.
In Christian home, the religious at
mosphere, like that which has charac-
terized the Jewish race, is absolutely
essential. Our mothers shape our life in
more ways than we are apt to reccg-
nize In no small way the life of Jesus
was nodded by His mother, whose influ-
ence, instruction and inspiration helped
mold the character of her son. With
out doubt Mary following the custom Of
all Jewish mothers, was the Masters
first teacher. She taught Him His first
prayer. She unfolded to his growing
mind the meaning of the Sabbath, syna-
gogues services and the Scriptures. She
taught Him to touch and kiss reverently
the fingers that touched the sacred
name of Jehova upon the MezuZa, that
was attached to the door post of their
home to teach all their absolute depend
ence upon God. The marvellous view
that one can get from the heights about
Nazareth helped Jesus to understand
the close relationship that existed be-
tween His country and Jehovah. The
environment of Nazareth, which was
"one of the great centers of Jewish
Temple life" where the priests assem-
bled to prepare for the sacred functions
and to go in companies to Jerusalem,
filled His growing mind with its religious
history. 1t was a commercial center,
being on trade routes of the caravans
that brought the civilization and cul-
ture to the world of Nazareth.
The education of Jesus was continued
in the local synagogue school. The He
breWS surpassed all other races and ma
tions in their principles and practice of
educational principles. They started the
education Of every child in their schools
at years Of age. Every home supple
mented the school in its teachings of
religion. Unless the modern homes sect
to it that their children are taught and
practice the preceptS and principles of
the Christian religion, the influence of
the modern life will fail in giving to the
modern world what God planned when
He established the home that 1t should
give.
Jesus revealed the marvellous knowl-
edge that He possessed concerning the
Scriptures when He went up to Jeru-
salem for the first time to attend the
temple services as Q son Of the law.
He waS.zl2 years OF age when He at
tended His flrst passover service. The