School Lesson Helps Allison Arrowood
In this scene, Jesus becomes a splendid example for young people. Before the doc tors in the temple, He in no wise mani fests impertinence or discourtesy. He lis tened to them and asked questions of them. They in turn asked questions of Him. He answered modestly and with so much wisdom that they were amazed. When Joseph and Mary found Him in the temple He uttered words that reveal that He knew exactly who was His Father and what was His responsibility, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Joseph was only His father in the legal sense. Jesus in the Home (Luke 2:51-52) This wonderful passage presents Jesus as an ideal son in the home. He was subject unto His parents. This is the teaching of both Old and New Testaments as to the relationship of children to their parents. See Eph. 6:1-3. Verse 52 shows that Jesus developed both mentally and physically as a normal boy should. Of course, there is involved in this the prob lem of our Lord’s self limitation. But it is clear that He was in right relationship with both God and man. Helps for the Children Boy of Nazareth Luke 2:41-52 MEMORY VERSE: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Every Jewish boy eagerly waited for the time when he was twelve years old so that he could go to the beautiful temple in Jerusalem with his parents. At last, the Lord Jesus, God’s Son, was old enough to go to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph. How eagerly they must have prepared for their journey from Nazareth to their holy city! Neighbors and friends would walk with them along the hot, dusty roads. Joyfully they sang some of the psalms found in our Old Testament. After the group had worshipped in the temple, they started on their homeward journey. Three days they walked before Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was not with them. As quickly as possible they re turned to Jerusalem and searched for the Lord Jesus. To their surprise, they found Him in the temple not only asking CONTINUED 37
believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Because God’s Son was bom as all children are bom—with the exception that He was bom of a virgin—and lived as a man, He can understand our joys, sorrows, hunger, thirst, and fatigue. When we pray to Him, He can share in our feelings and desires, for they are the same as He had when He was upon the earth. Truly, His coming has brought to the world good tid ings of great joy! Oct. 9, 1955 Boyhood of Jesus Luke 2:41-52 Pointers on the Lesson This week’s lesson deals with the only incident of the boyhood of Jesus recorded in the New Testament. It shows in a re markable way that at twelve years of age Jesus had a definite awareness of His re lationship to the Father. He knew He was from Heaven. Christ came to earth to be man’s Saviour, but He is also his example and there are many things from His childhood days that can teach parents and children today what is the proper rela tionship in the home. It will be remem bered that this same passage was used in the lesson of July 4, 1954 in the series on Growth in Christian Living. Jesus at the Passover (Luke 2:41-45) As was customary Jesus’ parents went yearly to Jerusalem for the feast of Pass- over (v. 41). The present visit to Jerusa lem was of special significance because Jesus was now twelve years of age. At this age Jewish lads became sons of the law. They were then expected to take a more vital part in the ceremonial ac tivities. Upon completion of the Passover experience Joseph and Mary started their way back to Nazareth “supposing him (Jesus) to have been in the company.” How often folks take- for granted the presence of Jesus, when He has no vital part in the life! It is easy to possess an outward form of religion and not really enjoy the throbbing joy of actual fellow ship with Him. Is He in your company in a vital way? Don’t go on merely supposing; make sure. Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:46-50)
believing emperor issued a decree that resulted in Joseph and Mary being in Bethlehem at the right time for the Sav iour’s birth. Verses 8-14 depict the angelic interest that was manifest in the birth of Jesus. It makes us think of 1 Pet. 1:12 where it is shown that angels have a “desire to look into” the things of the gospel. An angel announced to the shepherds the glad tid ings of Christ’s birth (w . 10-11). Then with the announcing angel there was a multitude of heavenly beings who joined in praise to God for what had just hap pened (w . 13-14). It is evident that heav en is far more interested in the facts of redemption than man is himself. Helps for the Children When Jesus Was Born Luke 2:1-40 MEMORY VERSE: . . Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10b). For hundreds of years the Jewish people had been looking for the Messiah Whom God had promised to send to them. They expected Him to appear as a great King before Whom everyone would bow. Lit tle did they realize that the tiny baby Who was bom in a stable to humble par ents was the wonderful Deliverer for Whom they had been waiting! Few believed that the new-bom Babe was the Son of God Who had taken human form to die upon the cross for their sins! Lovingly Mary, His mother, and Joseph took care of the Babe for the Heavenly Father! Carefully they observed the Old Testament laws given to the Jews to obey at the birth of their first born son. Before the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, an angel was sent to tell Mary that He was to be bom and that He was to be the Saviour of the world. Often she must have thought of the sacred promises made concerning her baby. As the child grew, He never disobeyed as did other children. In all things He pleased His mother and Joseph and His Father in Heaven. God’s Word says that as the Lord Jesus grew He was “filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40). God had given His only Son to the world in human form “that whosoever S E P T E M B E R , 1 9 5 5
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