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.
[70] Their minds became cramped and narrow.
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
As a Child 47
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 prayer develops the mental and moral faculties, and the [71]
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
48 The Desire of Ages
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
[72] was our Saviour.
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.
As a Child 49
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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 every faculty. All should find
something to do that will be beneficial to themselves and helpful to
others. God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent worker
finds the true glory and joy of life. The approval of God rests with
loving assurance upon children and youth who ch
