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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
Temple? We are not told. There Is no suggestion, as is fancied by the Church of Rome and in the apochryphal Gospels, that He worked any miracles or con ducted Himself any differently from the manner of hoys of His age. (1) THE PROGRESS OP CHILD HOOD, ys . 40-42. “ The child grew.” The Book says He grew, waxed strong, was filled with wisdom. God’s grace was upon Him. He grew natur ally, normally. You can readily imag ine Him, when at twelve years of age He became a Jewish citizen, tarrying at the Temple. He had been taught the law of God by His mother and had had the instruction which it was customary for a devout Jewish mother to give her children, and no doubt with a thorough ness not accorded to every Jewish child, for to Mary had been revealed the fact that this Child was to be the fulfillment of prophecy (Luke 1:30-35; 2:19, 33-38). The Jewish mother told her children the Bible stories and filled their young lives with love for their country and for God. (2 Tim. 3:15) (iAnd that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures.” At the door of the house would be a box with the word “ Mazazah” , (Most High) containing Deut. 6:4, 9-11, 13-21. On the phylacteries of the father, which he wore on his forehead and left hand when he read the Bible, would be Ex. 13:1-16. The mother would go over the feasts and teach the children the significance of each. Each home possessed a por tion of Scripture, and the home of Jesus no doubt had the whole Book. Think of the happy childhood days spent in the home with such a mother! It must be borne in mind, in studying the childhood of Jesus, that while He grew and developed normally and nat urally in His humanity, yet He was
truly God from IJis birth, though the manifestation of the power and glory of the Godhead was veiled so that to human eyes and human consciousness He was a perfect boy and perfect man. This is the “ mystery of godliness” of which Paul speaks in 1 Tim. 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, be- lieved on in the 'world, received up into glory.” (2) THE PERPLEXED PARENTS, vs. 43-45, 48-50.* “ And they sought him.” If possible, every male among the Jews went up to Jerusalem three times a year to the three principal feasts, the greatest feast of all being that of Pass- over. Jesus may have gone up to Jerusalem to attend the feasts with Joseph and Mary before.. We do not know. He was now twelve years of age when, ac cording to Jewish usage, He became a “ son of the law” and could incur legal obligations, would begin to learn a trade and take a special course of train ing. Who can tell with what emotions He looked upon the sacred scenes en acted during the seven days of this Passover Feast? (Ex. 12:15.) Thou sands of lambs would be slain, and He, (the Lamb of God) with His own fam ily would gather around the paschal lamb and the bitter herbs.' The parents had not been over careful of Jesus. They did not miss him till night, and then they spent three days looking for Him. Parents who miss their children now for three days, may find them in mischief, for many a lad and lassie have been lost because the parents supposed they were in the right company, but did not concern themselves sufficiently to make sure. Christians often lose sight of Jesus, thinking He is “ with the company” ; then how many weary steps must be retraced before they find Him again.
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