work. He bowed with the worshipers as they knelt to pray, and
His voice joined in the songs of praise.
Every morning and evening a lamb was offered upon the altar. This
was to represent the death of the Saviour. As the child Jesus looked
upon the innocent victim, the Holy Spirit taught Him its meaning. He
knew that He Himself, as the Lamb of God, must die for the sins of
men.
With such thoughts in His mind, Jesus wanted to be alone. So He
did not stay with His parents in the temple, and when they started for
home He was not with them.
In a room connected with the temple there was a school taught by
the rabbis, and to this place after a while the child Jesus came. He sat
with the other youth at the feet of the great teachers, and listened to
their words.
The Jews had many wrong ideas about the Messiah. Jesus knew
this, but He did not contradict the learned men. As one who wished to
be taught, He asked questions about what the prophets had written.
The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah speaks of the Saviour’s death, and
Jesus read this chapter, and asked its meaning.
The rabbis could give no answer. They began to question Jesus,
and they were astonished at His knowledge of the Scriptures.
They saw that He understood the Bible far better than they did.
They saw that their teaching was wrong, but they were not willing to
believe anything different.
Yet Jesus was so modest and gentle that they were not angry with
Him. They wanted to keep Him as a student, and teach Him to explain
the Bible as they did.
When Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem on their journey
32
toward home, they did not notice that Jesus stayed behind. They
thought that He was with some of their friends in the company.
But on stopping to camp for the night, they missed His helpful
hand. They looked for Him throughout the company, but in vain.
Joseph and Mary were in great fear. They remembered how Herod
had tried to kill Jesus in His infancy, and they were afraid that some
evil had now befallen Him.
With sorrowful hearts they hastened back to Jerusalem; but it was
not till the third day that they found Him.
Great was their joy at seeing Him again, yet Mary thought that He
was to blame for leaving them. She said:
“Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I
have sought Thee sorrowing.”
“How is it that ye sought Me?” Jesus answered. “Wist ye not that
I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:48, 49.
As He spoke these words, Jesus pointed upward. On His face was
a light at which they wondered. Jesus knew that He was the Son of
God, and He had been doing the work for which His Father had sent
Him into the world.
Mary never forgot these words. In the years that followed, she
better understood their wonderful meaning.
Joseph and Mary loved Jesus, yet they had been careless in losing
Him. They had forgotten the very work which God had given them to
do. By one day’s neglect they lost Jesus.
In the same way today many lose the Saviour from their company.
When we do not love to think about Him, or pray to Him; when we
speak idle, unkind, or evil words,
33
we separate ourselves from Christ. Without Him, we are lonely and
sad.
But if we really desire His company, He will always be with us.
With all who seek His presence, the Saviour loves to stay. He will
brighten the poorest home, and gladden the lowliest heart.
Though He knew that He was the Son of God, Jesus went home
to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary. Until thirty years of age He was
“subject unto them.” Luke 2:51.
He who had been the Commander of Heaven was on earth a loving
and obedient son. The great things brought to His mind by the service
of the temple were hidden in His heart. He waited until God’s time to
begin His appointed work.
Jesus lived in the home of a peasant, a poor man. Faithfully and
cheerfully He did His part in helping to support the family. As soon as
He was old enough, He learned a trade, and worked in the carpenter’s
shop with Joseph.
In the coarse dress of a common laborer He passed through the
streets of the little town, going to and from His work. He did not use
His divine power to make His life easier for Himself.
As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, He grew strong in body
and mind. He tried to use all His powers in such a way as to keep them
in health, that He might do the best work in every line.
Whatever He did was done well. He wanted to be perfect, even in
the handling of tools. By His example He taught that we ought to be
industrious, that we should do our work carefully and well, and that
such work is honorable.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
34
All should find something to do that will be helpful to themselves and
to others.
God gave us work as a bl
