the desire of ages-第13节

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gnificance　to　the　Son　of　God！

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For　the　first　time　the　child　Jesus　looked　upon　the　temple。　He　saw　the　white…robed　priests　performing　their　solemn　ministry。　He　beheld　the　bleeding　victim　upon　the　altar　of　sacrifice。　With　the　worshipers　He　bowed　in　prayer；　while　the　cloud　of　incense　ascended　before　God。　He　witnessed　the　impressive　rites　of　the　paschal　service。　Day　by　day　He　saw　their　meaning　more　clearly。　Every　act　seemed　to　be　bound　up　with　His　own　life。　New　impulses　were　awakening　within　Him。　Silent　and　absorbed；　He　seemed　to　be　studying　out　a　great　problem。　The　mystery　of　His　mission　was　opening　to　the　Saviour。

Rapt　in　the　contemplation　of　these　scenes；　He　did　not　remain　beside　His　parents。　He　sought　to　be　alone。　When　the　paschal　services　were　ended；　He　still　lingered　in　the　temple　courts；　and　when　the　worshipers　departed　from　Jerusalem；　He　was　left　behind。

In　this　visit　to　Jerusalem；　the　parents　of　Jesus　wished　to　bring　Him　in　connection　with　the　great　teachers　in　Israel。　While　He　was　obedient　in　every　particular　to　the　word　of　God；　He　did　not　conform　to　the　rabbinical　rites　and　usages。　Joseph　and　Mary　hoped　that　He　might　be　led　to　reverence　the　learned　rabbis；　and　give　more　diligent　heed　to　their　requirements。　But　Jesus　in　the　temple　had　been　taught　by　God。　That　which　He　had　received；　He　began　at　once　to　impart。

At　that　day　an　apartment　connected　with　the　temple　was　devoted　to　a　sacred　school；　after　the　manner　of　the　schools　of　the　prophets。　Here　leading　rabbis　with　their　pupils　assembled；　and　hither　the　child　Jesus　came。　Seating　Himself　at　the　feet　of　these　grave；　learned　men；　He　listened　to　their　instruction。　As　one　seeking　for　wisdom；　He　questioned　these　teachers　in　regard　to　the　prophecies；　and　to　events　then　taking　place　that　pointed　to　the　advent　of　the　Messiah。

Jesus　presented　Himself　as　one　thirsting　for　a　knowledge　of　God。　His　questions　were　suggestive　of　deep　truths　which　had　long　been　obscured；　yet　which　were　vital　to　the　salvation　of　souls。　While　showing　how　narrow　and　superficial　was　the　wisdom　of　the　wise　men；　every　question　put　before　them　a　divine　lesson；　and　placed　truth　in　a　new　aspect。　The　rabbis　spoke　of　the　wonderful　elevation　which　the　Messiah's　coming　would　bring　to　the　Jewish　nation；　but　Jesus　presented　the　prophecy　of　Isaiah；　and　asked　them　the　meaning　of　those　scriptures　that　point　to　the　suffering　and　death　of　the　Lamb　of　God。

The　doctors　turned　upon　Him　with　questions；　and　they　were　amazed　at　His　answers。　With　the　humility　of　a　child　He　repeated　the　words　of

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Scripture；　giving　them　a　depth　of　meaning　that　the　wise　men　had　not　conceived　of。　If　followed；　the　lines　of　truth　He　pointed　out　would　have　worked　a　reformation　in　the　religion　of　the　day。　A　deep　interest　in　spiritual　things　would　have　been　awakened；　and　when　Jesus　began　His　ministry；　many　would　have　been　prepared　to　receive　Him。

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The　rabbis　knew　that　Jesus　had　not　been　instructed　in　their　schools；　yet　His　understanding　of　the　prophecies　far　exceeded　theirs。　In　this　thoughtful　Galilean　boy　they　discerned　great　promise。　They　desired　to　gain　Him　as　a　student；　that　He　might　become　a　teacher　in　Israel。　They　wanted　to　have　charge　of　His　education；　feeling　that　a　mind　so　original　must　be　brought　under　their　molding。

The　words　of　Jesus　had　moved　their　hearts　as　they　had　never　before　been　moved　by　words　from　human　lips。　God　was　seeking　to　give　light　to　those　leaders　in　Israel；　and　He　used　the　only　means　by　which　they　could　be　reached。　In　their　pride　they　would　have　scorned　to　admit　that　they　could　receive　instruction　from　anyone。　If　Jesus　had　appeared　to　be　trying　to　teach　them；　they　would　have　disdained　to　listen。　But　they　flattered　themselves　that　they　were　teaching　Him；　or　at　least　testing　His　knowledge　of　the　Scriptures。　The　youthful　modesty　and　grace　of　Jesus　disarmed　their　prejudices。　Unconsciously　their　minds　were　opened　to　the　word　of　God；　and　the　Holy　Spirit　spoke　to　their　hearts。

They　could　not　but　see　that　their　expectation　in　regard　to　the　Messiah　was　not　sustained　by　prophecy；　but　they　would　not　renounce　the　theories　that　had　flattered　their　ambition。　They　would　not　admit　that　they　had　misapprehended　the　Scriptures　they　claimed　to　teach。　From　one　to　another　passed　the　inquiry；　How　hath　this　youth　knowledge；　having　never　learned？　The　light　was　shining　in　darkness；　but　〃the　darkness　apprehended　it　not。〃　John　1：5；　R。　V。

Meanwhile　Joseph　and　Mary　were　in　great　perplexity　and　distress。　In　the　departure　from　Jerusalem　they　had　lost　sight　of　Jesus；　and　they　knew　not　that　He　had　tarried　behind。　The　country　was　then　densely　populated；　and　the　caravans　from　Galilee　were　very　large。　There　was　much　confusion　as　they　left　the　city。　On　the　way　the　pleasure　of　traveling　with　friends　and　acquaintances　absorbed　their　attention；　and　they　did　not　notice　His　absence　till　night　came　on。　Then　as　they　halted　for　rest；　they　missed　the　helpful　hand　of　their　child。　Supposing　Him　to　be　with　their　company；　they　had　felt　no　anxiety。　Young　as　He　was；　they　had　trusted　Him　implicitly；　expecting　that　when　needed；　He　would　be　ready　to　assist　them；　anticipating　their　wants　as　He　had　always　done。　But　now　their　fears　were　roused。　They　searched　for　Him　throughout　their　company；　but　in　vain。　Shuddering　they　remembered　how　Herod　had　tried　to　destroy　Him　in　His　infancy。　Dark　forebodings　filled　their　hearts。　They　bitterly　reproached　themselves。

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Returning　to　Jerusalem；　they　pursued　their　search。　The　next　day；　as　they　mingled　with　the　worshipers　in　the　temple；　a　familiar　voice　arrested　their　attention。　They　could　not　mistake　it；　no　other　voice　was　like　His；　so　serious　and　earnest；　yet　so　full　of　melody。

In　the　school　of　the　rabbis　they　found　Jesus。　Rejoiced　as　they　were；　they　could　not　forget　their　grief　and　anxiety。　When　He　was　with　them　again；　the　mother　said；　in　words　that　implied　reproof；　〃Son；　why　hast　Thou　thus　dealt　with　us？　Behold；　Thy　father　and　I　have　sought　Thee　sorrowing。〃

〃How　is　it　that　ye　sought　Me？〃　answered　Jesus。　〃Wist　ye　not　that　I　must　be　about　My　Father's　business？〃　And　as　they　seemed　not　to　understand　His　words；　He　pointed　upward。　On　His　face　was　a　light　at　which　they　wondered。　Divinity　was　flashing　through　humanity。　On　finding　Him　in　the　temple；　they　had　listened　to　what　was　passing　between　Him　and　the　rabbis；　and　they　were　astonished　at　His　questions　and　answers。　His　words　started　a　train　of　thought　that　would　never　be　forgotten。

And　His　question　to　them　had　a　lesson。　〃Wist　ye　not；〃　He　said；　〃that　I　must　be　about　My　Father's　business？〃　Jesus　was　engaged　in　the　work　that　He　had　come　into　the　world　to　do；　but　Joseph　and　Mary　had　neglected　theirs。　God　had　shown　them　high　honor　in　committing　to　them　His　Son。　Holy　angels　had　directed　the　course　of　Joseph　in　order　to　preserve　the　life　of　Jesus。　But　for　an　entire　day　they　had　lost　sight　of　Him　whom　they　should　not　have　forgotten　for　a　moment。　And　when　their　anxiety　was　relieved；　they　had　not　censured　themselves；　but　had　cast　the　blame　upon　Him。

It　was　natural　for　the　parents　of　Jesus　to　look　upon　Him　as　their　own　child。　He　was　daily　with　them；　His　life　in　many　respects　was　like　that　of　other　children；　and　it　was　difficult　for　them　to　realize　that　He　was　the　Son　of　God。　They　were　in　danger　of　failing　to　appreciate　the　blessing　granted　them　in　the　presence　of　the　world's　Redeemer。　The　grief　of　their　separation　from　Him；　and　the　gentle　reproof　which　His　words　conveyed；　were　designed　to　impress　them　with　the　sacredness　of　their　trust。

In　the　answer　to　His　mother；　Jesus　showed　for　the　first　time　that　He　understood　His　relation　to　God。　Before　His　birth　the　angel　had　said　to　Mary；　〃He　shall　be　great；　and　shall　be　called　the　Son　of　the　Highest：　and　the　Lord　God　shall　give　unto　Him　the　throne　of　His

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father　David：　and　He　shall　reign　over　the　house　of　Jacob　forever。〃　Luke　1：32；　33。　These　words　Mary　had　pondered　in　her　heart；　yet　while　she　believed　that　her　child　was　to　be　Israel's　Messiah；　she　did　not　comprehend　His　mission。　Now　she　did　not　understand　His　words；　but　she　knew　that　He　had　disclaimed　kinship　to　Joseph；　and　had　declared　His　Sonship　to　God。

Jesus　did　not　ignore　His　relation　to　His　earthly　parents。　From　Jerusalem　He　returned　home　with　them；　and　aided　them　in　their　life　of　toil。　He　hid　in　His　own　heart　the　mystery　of　His　mission；　waiting　submissively　for　the　appointed　time　for　Him　to　enter　upon　His　work。　For　eighteen　years　after　He　had　recognized　that　He　was　the　Son　of　God；　He　acknowledged　the　tie　that　bound　Him　to　the　home　at　Nazareth；　and　performed　the　duties　of　a　son；　a　brother；　a　friend；　and　a　citizen。

As　His　mission　had　opened　to　Jesus　in　the　temple；　He　shrank　from　contact　with　the　multitude。　He　wished　to　return　from　Jerusalem　in　quietness；　with　those　who　knew　the　secret　of　His　life。　By　the　paschal　service；　God　was　seeking　to　call　His　people　away　from　their　worldly　cares；　and　to　remind　them　of　His　wonderful　work　in　their　deliverance　from　Egypt。　In　this　work　He　desired　them　to　see　a　promise　of　deliverance　from　sin。　As　the　blood　of　the　slain　lamb　sheltered　the　homes　of　Israel；　so　the　blood　of　Ch