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hood of the Lord Jesus; we are only told that after Joseph and his mother settled at Nazareth,

LUKE II. 40. "The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon

him."

We learn from this, that he, like other children, grew in strength of body and in stature; but there was this difference between him and other children, that the Godhead was in him, instead of our sinful nature; so that instead of sin showing itself as he grew older, all holy affections and dispositions showed themselves as "he waxed strong in spirit." Like other children, his mind grew more able to think and understand; and then, instead of the folly of youth it was filled with heavenly knowledge and wisdom. It is a great mystery, a thing impossible for us quite to understand, how far the human mind of Christ was like other minds; but we know that though He was completely man, He was at the same time completely God; and that He felt himself and knew himself to be God, living in the body of a man, and using both the limbs of his body and the powers of his human mind as instruments to fulfil the work He had undertaken to do. We ought to think about this, for unless we do, we cannot in reading the life of our Lord and Saviour, rightly feel how greatly He humbled himself in taking upon him the nature of a man.

We may have read the life and death of Christ many hundred times over, and have even thought a great deal about it, but till we consider what is the utter helplessness of an infant, we cannot at all understand that our Saviour's submitting to the weakness of infancy and childhood was indeed humbling himself almost as much as the death of the cross. When we watch a baby in its complete helplessness, feeling every want, yet not able to do the least thing for itself, not even able to carry any food to its little mouth, and think that the Lord of glory, the

King of heaven and earth, whom angels worship, He by whom God the Father has created the world, and for whom all things are created; * when we think that He has put himself into the body of such a helpless, feeble infant for our sakes, that He might feel all the weakness of our nature, that he might grow up, suffer and die, in order that we might live in his own bright happy kingdom after our lives here are done, then we seem better able to understand the greatness of his love for us, and better able to feel how entirely our own lives ought to be given up to him.

There is nothing more said of the childhood of our Lord till He was twelve years old, when He was taken by Joseph and his mother to Jerusalem, where they went every year to the feast of the Passover, which was a time of solemn religious service among the Jews.

Verses 42-44. "And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

The people in the eastern countries do not travel as we do, a man going by himself to the place where he has business, and when he has finished it, returning as he came; the different sort of country requires a different sort of plan. There are dangers in the way there, of which we know nothing. Dangers from robbers, always on the watch, against which one man alone would have no chance; dangers from wild beasts, and dangers from losing the way in the great sandy deserts and wildernesses, where there are no roads; and because of all these, people always travel in large parties, so that they may help

* Hebrews i. 2, 3.

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each other if any thing happens. These parties are called caravans. Now it was a law among the Jews, that every man should go up to Jerusalem every year to keep the solemn Feast of the Passover, in remembrance of God's goodness to his people, when in the land of Egypt he passed them over when he killed the first-born in every house of the Egyptians, and so saved them alive; and when they went they often took their families with them, so that a number of neighbours and relations from one town or village went together.*

In this way Joseph and Mary went from Nazareth to Jerusalem. On their return they did not at first observe that their precious charge, the child Jesus, was not with them. They thought that he had joined himself to some of the families of their neighbours or relations who were travelling with them, and it was not till night came-and most likely each family before going to sleep gathered all together-that they found he was missing. In great fear and anxiety they returned to Jerusalem.

Verses 45-47. "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished both at his understanding and answers."

It was the custom for the doctors of the law, that is, the learned men whose duty it was to explain the law to the people, to teach publicly in the temple at the time of the great religious meetings, when Jerusalem was filled with people.

All who chose might come to them to hear them, and to ask them questions for instruction; these men were accustomed to this, but for any one of twelve years of age to shew such under

* Exodus xii. 21-30.

standing, and give them such answers as the child Jesus, filled them with surprize.

He had no need to be taught by them, and most likely the questions he asked them, were such as made them think more than they had ever done before of the true meaning of the prophecies.

Verse 48. "And when Joseph and his mother saw him, they were amazed and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing."

Though they were very happy at having again found him, they were full of surprise to find him in such a place and employed in such a manner.

Mary for a moment felt as any other mother would feel ; vexed at the fright that had been given her, and asked what could be his reason for behaving so. It is quite plain that while seeking for him, she had been so anxious about him that she had forgotten the great difference there was between him and any other child. We see this from her calling Joseph his father. Our Lord's answer was in few words, but they were full of meaning

Verse 49. "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”

Had Mary forgotten all that the angel had said to her, that his name was Jesus because He was to save his people from their sins; this was the work his Father had given him to do; and had she forgotten that He was "the Son of the highest," "the Son of God." How then did she call Joseph his father? Why did she wonder to find him in the house of God, about the business which he had come into the world to do?

Neither Joseph nor Mary at the time, quite understood the meaning of his answer, but

Verses 51, 52. "Mary kept all these sayings in her heart, and pondered them (that is thought of them, not only then, but all the time he remained with her,) for he went down with them when they returned to Nazareth, and was subject to them."

He showed this example to all sons; and surely if He who was in himself above all that are in heaven and in earth, Lord over all, if He submitted himself to his mother, and even to his mother's husband, there can be no excuse for one of us to disobey or to shew want of respect in any thing to our parents.

It sometimes happens that children are better educated than their parents, that as they grow up, from one reason or another, they are better off, or more thought of, than their parents-let them remember the example of their Lord. At the very time He reminded his parents that He was in truth the Son of God, come into the world expressly to do a great work, He yet returned with them to their cottage, lived with them, and submitted himself to their will. He even-there is little doubthelped the husband of his mother, labouring with him at his work as a carpenter; for we shall find that the Jews long after, when they saw the wonderful works that He did, said, “Is not this the carpenter ?" Wonderful! most wonderful that He should so humble himself; and yet in the mind of God things are only great or mean as they are good or bad.

To do the will of his Father, Jesus made the worlds; * and it was to do his Father's will that He now wrought with his hands in the humble employment of a carpenter.

Need we any of us care that we have to work for our living, or to support our parents? Should we not rather be glad to be made so like our blessed Lord and Saviour?

No more is said of the youth of the Lord Jesus, except this short sentence

* Hebrews i. 2.

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