the desire of ages-第11节

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Wonderful　in　its　significance　is　the　brief　record　of　His　early　life：　〃The　child　grew；　and　waxed　strong　in　spirit；　filled　with　wisdom：　and　the　grace　of　God　was　upon　Him。〃　In　the　sunlight　of　His　Father's　countenance；　Jesus　〃increased　in　wisdom　and　stature；　and　in　favor　with　God　and　man。〃　Luke　2：52。　His　mind　was　active　and　penetrating；　with　a　thoughtfulness　and　wisdom　beyond　His　years。　Yet　His　character　was　beautiful　in　its　symmetry。　The　powers　of　mind　and　body　developed　gradually；　in　keeping　with　the　laws　of　childhood。

As　a　child；　Jesus　manifested　a　peculiar　loveliness　of　disposition。　His　willing　hands　were　ever　ready　to　serve　others。　He　manifested　a　patience

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that　nothing　could　disturb；　and　a　truthfulness　that　would　never　sacrifice　integrity。　In　principle　firm　as　a　rock；　His　life　revealed　the　grace　of　unselfish　courtesy。

With　deep　earnestness　the　mother　of　Jesus　watched　the　unfolding　of　His　powers；　and　beheld　the　impress　of　perfection　upon　His　character。　With　delight　she　sought　to　encourage　that　bright；　receptive　mind。　Through　the　Holy　Spirit　she　received　wisdom　to　co…operate　with　the　heavenly　agencies　in　the　development　of　this　child；　who　could　claim　only　God　as　His　Father。

From　the　earliest　times　the　faithful　in　Israel　had　given　much　care　to　the　education　of　the　youth。　The　Lord　had　directed　that　even　from　babyhood　the　children　should　be　taught　of　His　goodness　and　His　greatness；　especially　as　revealed　in　His　law；　and　shown　in　the　history　of　Israel。　Song　and　prayer　and　lessons　from　the　Scriptures　were　to　be　adapted　to　the　opening　mind。　Fathers　and　mothers　were　to　instruct　their　children　that　the　law　of　God　is　an　expression　of　His　character；　and　that　as　they　received　the　principles　of　the　law　into　the　heart；　the　image　of　God　was　traced　on　mind　and　soul。　Much　of　the　teaching　was　oral；　but　the　youth　also　learned　to　read　the　Hebrew　writings；　and　the　parchment　rolls　of　the　Old　Testament　Scriptures　were　open　to　their　study。

In　the　days　of　Christ　the　town　or　city　that　did　not　provide　for　the　religious　instruction　of　the　young　was　regarded　as　under　the　curse　of　God。　Yet　the　teaching　had　become　formal。　Tradition　had　in　a　great　degree　supplanted　the　Scriptures。　True　education　would　lead　the　youth　to　〃seek　the　Lord；　if　haply　they　might　feel　after　Him；　and　find　Him。〃　Acts　17：27。　But　the　Jewish　teachers　gave　their　attention　to　matters　of　ceremony。　The　mind　was　crowded　with　material　that　was　worthless　to　the　learner；　and　that　would　not　be　recognized　in　the　higher　school　of　the　courts　above。　The　experience　which　is　obtained　through　a　personal　acceptance　of　God's　word　had　no　place　in　the　educational　system。　Absorbed　in　the　round　of　externals；　the　students　found　no　quiet　hours　to　spend　with　God。　They　did　not　hear　His　voice　speaking　to　the　heart。　In　their　search　after　knowledge；　they　turned　away　from　the　Source　of　wisdom。　The　great　essentials　of　the　service　of　God　were　neglected。　The　principles　of　the　law　were　obscured。　That　which　was　regarded　as　superior　education　was　the　greatest　hindrance　to　real　development。　Under　the　training　of　the　rabbis　the　powers　of　the　youth　were　repressed。　Their　minds　became　cramped　and　narrow。

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The　child　Jesus　did　not　receive　instruction　in　the　synagogue　schools。　His　mother　was　His　first　human　teacher。　From　her　lips　and　from　the　scrolls　of　the　prophets；　He　learned　of　heavenly　things。　The　very　words　which　He　Himself　had　spoken　to　Moses　for　Israel　He　was　now　taught　at　His　mother's　knee。　As　He　advanced　from　childhood　to　youth；　He　did　not　seek　the　schools　of　the　rabbis。　He　needed　not　the　education　to　be　obtained　from　such　sources；　for　God　was　His　instructor。

The　question　asked　during　the　Saviour's　ministry；　〃How　knoweth　this　man　letters；　having　never　learned？〃　does　not　indicate　that　Jesus　was　unable　to　read；　but　merely　that　He　had　not　received　a　rabbinical　education。　John　7：15。　Since　He　gained　knowledge　as　we　may　do；　His　intimate　acquaintance　with　the　Scriptures　shows　how　diligently　His　early　years　were　given　to　the　study　of　God's　word。　And　spread　out　before　Him　was　the　great　library　of　God's　created　works。　He　who　had　made　all　things　studied　the　lessons　which　His　own　hand　had　written　in　earth　and　sea　and　sky。　Apart　from　the　unholy　ways　of　the　world；　He　gathered　stores　of　scientific　knowledge　from　nature。　He　studied　the　life　of　plants　and　animals；　and　the　life　of　man。　From　His　earliest　years　He　was　possessed　of　one　purpose；　He　lived　to　bless　others。　For　this　He　found　resources　in　nature；　new　ideas　of　ways　and　means　flashed　into　His　mind　as　He　studied　plant　life　and　animal　life。　Continually　He　was　seeking　to　draw　from　things　seen　illustrations　by　which　to　present　the　living　oracles　of　God。　The　parables　by　which；　during　His　ministry；　He　loved　to　teach　His　lessons　of　truth　show　how　open　His　spirit　was　to　the　influences　of　nature；　and　how　He　had　gathered　the　spiritual　teaching　from　the　surroundings　of　His　daily　life。

Thus　to　Jesus　the　significance　of　the　word　and　the　works　of　God　was　unfolded；　as　He　was　trying　to　understand　the　reason　of　things。　Heavenly　beings　were　His　attendants；　and　the　culture　of　holy　thoughts　and　communings　was　His。　From　the　first　dawning　of　intelligence　He　was　constantly　growing　in　spiritual　grace　and　knowledge　of　truth。

Every　child　may　gain　knowledge　as　Jesus　did。　As　we　try　to　become　acquainted　with　our　heavenly　Father　through　His　word；　angels　will　draw　near；　our　minds　will　be　strengthened；　our　characters　will　be　elevated　and　refined。　We　shall　become　more　like　our　Saviour。　And　as　we　behold　the　beautiful　and　grand　in　nature；　our　affections　go　out　after　God。　While　the　spirit　is　awed；　the　soul　is　invigorated　by　coming　in　contact　with　the　Infinite　through　His　works。　Communion　with　God　through

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prayer　develops　the　mental　and　moral　faculties；　and　the　spiritual　powers　strengthen　as　we　cultivate　thoughts　upon　spiritual　things。

The　life　of　Jesus　was　a　life　in　harmony　with　God。　While　He　was　a　child；　He　thought　and　spoke　as　a　child；　but　no　trace　of　sin　marred　the　image　of　God　within　Him。　Yet　He　was　not　exempt　from　temptation。　The　inhabitants　of　Nazareth　were　proverbial　for　their　wickedness。　The　low　estimate　in　which　they　were　generally　held　is　shown　by　Nathanael's　question；　〃Can　there　any　good　thing　come　out　of　Nazareth？〃　John　1：46。　Jesus　was　placed　where　His　character　would　be　tested。　It　was　necessary　for　Him　to　be　constantly　on　guard　in　order　to　preserve　His　purity。　He　was　subject　to　all　the　conflicts　which　we　have　to　meet；　that　He　might　be　an　example　to　us　in　childhood；　youth；　and　manhood。

Satan　was　unwearied　in　his　efforts　to　overcome　the　Child　of　Nazareth。　From　His　earliest　years　Jesus　was　guarded　by　heavenly　angels；　yet　His　life　was　one　long　struggle　against　the　powers　of　darkness。　That　there　should　be　upon　the　earth　one　life　free　from　the　defilement　of　evil　was　an　offense　and　a　perplexity　to　the　prince　of　darkness。　He　left　no　means　untried　to　ensnare　Jesus。　No　child　of　humanity　will　ever　be　called　to　live　a　holy　life　amid　so　fierce　a　conflict　with　temptation　as　was　our　Saviour。

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The　parents　of　Jesus　were　poor；　and　dependent　upon　their　daily　toil。　He　was　familiar　with　poverty；　self…denial；　and　privation。　This　experience　was　a　safeguard　to　Him。　In　His　industrious　life　there　were　no　idle　moments　to　invite　temptation。　No　aimless　hours　opened　the　way　for　corrupting　associations。　So　far　as　possible；　He　closed　the　door　to　the　tempter。　Neither　gain　nor　pleasure；　applause　nor　censure；　could　induce　Him　to　consent　to　a　wrong　act。　He　was　wise　to　discern　evil；　and　strong　to　resist　it。

Christ　was　the　only　sinless　one　who　ever　dwelt　on　earth；　yet　for　nearly　thirty　years　He　lived　among　the　wicked　inhabitants　of　Nazareth。　This　fact　is　a　rebuke　to　those　who　think　themselves　dependent　upon　place；　fortune；　or　prosperity；　in　order　to　live　a　blameless　life。　Temptation；　poverty；　adversity；　is　the　very　discipline　needed　to　develop　purity　and　firmness。

Jesus　lived　in　a　peasant's　home；　and　faithfully　and　cheerfully　acted　His　part　in　bearing　the　burdens　of　the　household。　He　had　been　the　Commander　of　heaven；　and　angels　had　delighted　to　fulfill　His　word；　now　He　was　a　willing　servant；　a　loving；　obedient　son。　He　learned　a　trade；　and　with　His　own　hands　worked　in　the　carpenter's　shop　with　Joseph。　In　the　simple　garb　of　a　common　laborer　He　walked　the　streets　of　the　little　town；　going　to　and　returning　from　His　humble　work。　He　did　not　employ　His　divine　power　to　lessen　His　burdens　or　to　lighten　His　toil。

As　Jesus　worked　in　childhood　and　youth；　mind　and　body　were　developed。　He　did　not　use　His　physical　powers　recklessly；　but　in　such　a　way　as　to　keep　them　in　health；　that　He　might　do　the　best　work　in　every　line。　He　was　not　willing　to　be　defective；　even　in　the　handling　of　tools。　He　was　perfect　as　a　workman；　as　He　was　perfect　in　character。　By　His　own　example　He　taught　that　it　is　our　duty　to　be　industrious；　that　our　work　should　be　performed　with　exactness　and　thoroughness；　and　that　such　labor　is　honorable。　The　exercise　that　teaches　the　hands　to　be　useful　and　trains　the　young　to　bear　their　share　of　life's　burdens　gives　physical　strength；　and　develops　ev