October, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
363
IN T ERNATIO NAL LESSO N C om m en ta ry Outline and Exposition Blackboard Lesson Children’s Division Golden Text Illustration Object Lesson B y B. B. S utcliffe B y B essie B. B urch B y H elen G ailey B y A lan S. P earce B y E lm er L . W ilder Points and Problems B y A lva J. M c C l a in , Ashland Theological Seminary, Ashland, Ohio
attitude toward their “Father” and His business upon the earth. We should notice also our Lord’s use of the words, “my Father,” and remember that from this time onward, Joseph is obscured. 3. He responded to the will of God (v. 51). The Lord Jesus Christ was in subjection to His parents, even though He knew who and what He was. The patience He ex hibited during those eighteen years at Nazareth showed as great a trust in God as did the performance of any of the mir acles of later years. Patience is an uncom mon grace; it has been called the first sign of spiritual power. Jesus set an example for all Christians in the matter of growth, and we are told to “grow in the grace and knowledge” of Him (2 Pet. 3:18, R.V.). Wonderful results followed in the silent years at Nazareth. The Lord Jesus “in creased in wisdom,” mentally; in “stature,” physically; and in “favor with God and man,” spiritually (v. 52). This threefold development is true growth. II. T h e E xhortation of t h e H oly S pirit (2 Pet. 1 :5-8). We are to be “giving all diligence,” that is, to make haste, or to engage with eager ness, in this high pursuit of Christian growth. To grow in grace demands our full attention, for it is of supreme im portance in our lives. The “faith” referred to in'this passage is our belief in the revelation that God has given in His Word. We are to add to our faith certain other qualities (vs. 5-7). The “virtue” which is mentioned means the courage required to live out the truth which has "Been received. ' “Knowledge” means the expbrience' of the truth as it is lived out infour lives. “Temperance” (self- control) means poise in the experiences we encounter, and it comes from the Holy
NOVEMBER 4, 1934 CHRISTIAN GROWTH L u k e 2 :42-52 ; 2 P eter 1 :5-8
Golden Text: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). Outline and Exposition I. T h e E x am ple of J esu s (Lk. 2:42-52) 1. He sought to know the will of God (vs. 42-47). I n Deuteronomy 16:16 appeared the re quirement: “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.” After the establishment of the temple services, the place of the Lord’s appointment was Jerusalem. Many others accompanied the men on these pil grimages. It was also the custom that, at twelve years of age, boys were recognized as “sons of the law” ; that is, at that age, they took their places in relation to the law and from that time, forward were indi vidually responsible. These were the cir cumstances which brought Jesus, together with His parents, to Jerusalem at this time. After the completion of the celebratfcn of the feast, Joseph and Mary started for their home, supposing that Jesus was com ing with others in the group. But soon His absence was discovered, and His par ents returned to the city to seek for Him. They found Him in the temple with the doctors, or teachers. That He was disput ing in a critical sense is an idea received from the names of certain religious pic tures, such as “Jesus Disputing with the Doctors.” But this conception is wholly imaginary—one which must be guarded against lest a false view of this event be received. The Lord Jesus Christ recognized the teachers as God-appointed officers; and although, as God, He was omniscient, as Man, He was there to learn from them. In the midst of the scholars, Jesus was found “hearing” them (v. 46). He mani fested a keen desire to know the mind of God for Himself. Moreover, He was “ask ing them questions.” In this attitude He re vealed a humble and teachable spirit. His “understanding” was evident in His an swers (v. 47). All who heard Him were “amazed” at the quickness of His mind in grasping the truth. Little wonder, then, that He “grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (v. 40, R.V.). 2. He realized His responsibility to God (vs. 48-50). He answered His mother’s implied re buke in a peculiar manner—one which she and others did not understand. When she asked Him why He had remained behind when the family had left Jerusalem, He answered: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business ?” He had become a “son o f the law,” standing no
longer in the faith of Joseph, his supposed father. He now stood for Himself before God. In the significant phrasing of His reply, “my Father’s business,” is revealed the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ then knew the truth concerning Himself and His mission upon earth. Emphasis on the individual words of the answer of the Lord Jesus will help to bring out the truth of this passage. “Wist ye not that / . . Whatever others might or might not do, as for Himself, the Lord Jesus would be about the business which brought Him to earth. The Christian like wise has a work assigned by God, and every believer should say as Jesus said, “I must be about my Father’s business.” “I must be about my Father’s business.” In this absolute imperative there is com bined a solemn obligation and an acknowl edgment of responsibility. This “must” was the urge that characterized Christ all through His earthly life; and, humanly speaking, it accounts for His greatness as a Mali. It was His Father’s business in which He was engaged—whether He was making chairs or preaching sermons, whether fashioning tables of wood or mul tiplying loaves and fishes. The immediate occupation counted for little; the reason for it was all important. He must fulfill God’s purpose and plan for His life. If there were more of this “must” evident in the lives of Christians, there would be more Christian growth and enjoyment. “I must be about my Father’s business.” Christ’s life was active. All His time was occupied with His Father’s business. To Him, His “Father’s business” was the su preme interest in life. Well would it be if Christians today could be brought into this
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