T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S evidently had not been to school for they wondered a t His learning (Mark 6 :2 ) “ F r o m w h e n c e h a t h t h i s m a n th e s e th in g s ? a n d w h a t w is d o m is t h i s w h ic h is g iv e n u n to h im ? ” (John 7:15) “ H o w k n o w e th t h i s m a n l e t t e r s , h a v in g n e v e r le a r n e d ? ” H is home was no doubt H-is school, but when He began His m inistry it was evident th a t He was tau g h t of God, for “ never man spake like th is man.” We have no record of Joseph’s death, n o r any details of th e daily life of Jesus. To the world he was “th e car p en ter’s son”— a man from among the common people. (3) THE HILL OF THE CROSS. Jesus is dying on the cross. The crowded a s s e m b l y .is composed of all kinds of people,— the ru lers th a t hated Him; the people th a t had cast th eir clothes and branches of trees up on the road before Him in His tr i umphal entrance ju st a few days be fore. The crowd was g reat; th e excitement was intense in th e presence of th e th ree crosses. There was a little group of w itnesses described by John (John 19: 25-2.7) “ N ow th e r e s to o d b y th e c r o s s o f J e s u s h is m o th e r , a n d ' h is m o th e r ’s s is te r , M a ry th e w if e o f C le o p h a s , a n d M a ry M a g d a le n e . W h e n J e s u s th e r e f o r e s a w h is m o th e r , a n d th e d is c ip le s ta n d i n g b y , w h o m h e lo v e d , h e s a i t h u n to h is m o th e r , W o m a n , b e h o ld t h y s o n I T h e n s a i t h h e to th e d isc ip le # B e h o ld th y m o th e r ! A n d f r o m t h a t h o u r t h a t d is c ip le to o k h e r u n to h is o w n h o m e .” This is one of the most pathetic pic tu res in the whole New Testament,— a mother a t th e crucifixion of her son, in the m idst of a mob, and th a t son dying between two thieves! She has heard th e words of the thieves, and His reply, and now she hears Him com m it h er to His beloved disciple, John. He is to be a son to her, and she is to be as a mother to him. There are two other Marys there,— Mary, the wife of Cleophas (who may
720 wise men, the anger of Herod and his effort to destroy Jesus, the flight of Joseph and Mary to Egypt and th eir re tu rn and settlem ent in N azareth,— are all well known events and need not be dwelt upon in th is brief lesson. When Jesus worked His first m iracle we have a glimpse of Mary and of her a ttitu d e tow ard Him, and her words have become a source of power in rally ing th e people of God to service (John 2:5) “H i* m o th e r s a i t h u n to th e s e r v a n ts , W h a ts o e v e r h e s a i t h u n to y o u , d o it .” (2 ) THE HOUSE OF GOD. When Jesus was eight days old He was taken to th é temple in Jerusalem , and th ere presented to th e Lord. Mary offered her sacrifice of a p air of tu rtle doves, and Simeon, th e priest, took Him and blessed Him and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * * * for m ine eyes have seen thy salvation.” Again, when twelve years of age, He was tak en by Mary and Joseph to Je ru salem to attend th e Passover Feast, and again in th e house of God we find Him, sitting among th e doctors, “ h ear ing them and asking questions.” Mary was not required by th e Law to attend th is feast of the Passover, which was the g reat spring festival, bu t h er h eart was full of th e strange wonder of her call to be th e mother of Jesus and she was a joyful worshipper. Amazed a t His understanding and an swers, as He talked w ith th e teachers, Mary said, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt w ith us? Behold, th y fath er and I have sought thee sorrow ing.” Jesu s’ reply is full of deep meaning: “How is it th a t ye sought me? W ist ye not th a t I must be about my F a th e r’s business?” They did not under stand th is saying, but His mother “kept all these sayings in her h ea rt.” Nothing more is recorded of the home life for eighteen years, save th a t He was subject to His parents. He
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker