“JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE.”
-JAN. 14.-LUKE
2:41-52.-
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
man.”
MUCH peculiar
speculation has been indulged in respecting the childhood, boyhood and young
manhood of our Lord Jesus, with which we have no sympathy whatever. The Bible
student should confine himself to the Bible record, and not give loose rein to
imagination and speculation more likely to be untrue than correct. Had the
Lord foreseen necessity for information respecting this period of our Savior’s
career he undoubtedly would have provided for it in the inspired record. This
does not imply that there was nothing noteworthy or commendable in our Lord’s
earlier life, but rather that by comparatively ignoring this the Lord would
point us more particularly to the three and a half years of public ministry
following his baptism, in Jordan, and by the holy spirit. In a word, the Lord
thus points out that it was not the man Jesus whose words and acts were
valuable to us and lessons for our emulation, but the words and acts of Christ
Jesus, the Anointed Jesus-Jesus after he had been anointed with the holy
spirit without measure. Nevertheless, keeping strictly within the lines of the
little that is written in the Scriptures we may draw some valuable and helpful
lessons from the boyhood and young manhood of our Master.
Nothing is known respecting the first twelve years of our Lord’s life,
except that under divine direction his mother and foster-father took him down
into Egypt, out of the reach of Herod, where they remained with him for a few
months until after Herod’s death, returning then to their home city, Nazareth
in Galilee. It will be remembered that the occasion of the flight into Egypt
was Herod’s fear that a king should arise in the family of David, in harmony
with the Jewish traditions, and that thus Herod’s own family would be ousted
from the kingly position. Herod was not of the family of David, nor a Jew at
all-he was of the family of Esau, Jacob’s brother. The story of the wise men
coming from the East seeking a new-born king of the Jews will be remembered,
and now Herod, learning of their mission, urged that when they had found the
infant they sought they should inform him, Herod feigning that he also desired
to do homage to the new king. But the wise men, under divine direction,
ignored Herod’s request. Subsequently, learning some of the particulars
respecting the birth at Bethlehem, Herod caused the death of the male-children
of that city of two years old and under-thus endeavoring to insure the death of
the newborn king. It is not at all probable that the number of babes
slaughtered under this decree was great; as the population of Bethlehem was
small the number of male children of such an age would necessarily be few.
The Golden Text informs us that Jesus grew like any other boy-that his
development was gradual, both as respects physical and intellectual stature.
We are not, therefore, to think of Jesus in boyhood’s days as a sage a teacher,
a healer, etc., as we find him subsequent to his anointing with the holy
spirit. Nevertheless, we may properly suppose that the perfect boy would
in many respects be keener and brighter than the average boy who inherits
sundry imperfections from the fall.
The testimony respecting Mary and Joseph leaves no doubt that they were
pious people, and this is confirmed by the first verse of this lesson, which
informs us that it was their custom to go every year to the Feast of the
Passover: this requirement of the Law was observed by the most devout Jews
only. It is as unnecessary as it is improper for us to go beyond the
Scriptural declarations on this subject, and to assume, as some do, that Mary
herself was miraculously conceived and born free from sin. Indeed, if we had
no record testifying to Mary’s piety the fact that she was honored by the Lord
above all other women, in that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus
according to the flesh, would prove her nobility of character and purity of
heart;-for it is not even supposable that the Lord would so specially honor,
bless and use any other than a noble character. Whom the Lord uses we may
safely esteem honorable.
Although the Jewish Law does not so stipulate, tradition informs us that
it was the custom to consider every boy who had fulfilled his twelfth year as
“a Son of the Law,” and to a certain extent from that age amenable to the
requirements of the Law: and the narrative of our lesson seems to confirm this
tradition, telling us that when Jesus was twelve years of age (in his
thirteenth year) he accompanied the family to the Passover Feast at Jerusalem.
Is there not a lesson here for all godly parents, suggesting that the training
of the infancy period should be of such a character as to prepare the child for
the consideration of sober and religious matters at the very threshold of
boyhood? We think there is. And we think it a serious mistake made by some
well-intentioned parents when they conclude that their children of twelve years
have sufficient mind to have grasped the elementary principles of a secular
education and to be prepared for higher studies of a secular character, but
unfit for higher religious studies. The children who are ready at that age for
higher secular studies have already been carefully instructed along elementary
lines; and if any are unprepared for higher studies in religious matters it is
at least possible that their elementary religious training may have been neglected
by their divinely appointed instructors-their parents. No Christian parent can
avoid this his natural responsibility toward his children-in moral and
religious training as well as in the secular and physical.
The Feast of the Passover continued seven days, but it was the custom for
many of the pilgrims from distant parts to remain over only two days, until
after the principal ceremonies. It is probable that Joseph and Mary, in
company with their kinsfolk, started on the return journey on the third day of
the feast. It was customary for the women of a caravan to move on ahead, the
men coming after, and a boy of Jesus’ age might be with either of the parents
and not be missed until nightfall; and so it seems to have been in this case.
As one day had been spent in the journey, so another day was spent returning,
and a third day in searching throughout the city; finally they found Jesus in
the Temple, sitting with the teachers of the Law, the “Doctors.” This was not
so unusual as might at first appear; for at that time information was gained
less from books and more from oral teaching, and the Doctors of the Law were
supposed to be ready to instruct all who desired information, especially during
the holy Passover week. Many young men availed themselves of such
opportunities, and the custom seems to have been for the Doctors to sit on a
special semi-circle of seats, while before them were low benches for the older
students: the younger boys sat on the ground, literally “at their feet.” Thus
Paul, as a youth, was a pupil to Gamaliel, or, as the record reads, “sat at the
feet of Gamaliel,” to learn of him. Gamaliel was one of the chief Doctors of
the Law in his day.
We are not to understand that the boy Jesus was bold, and that he went
before the learned men of his day to denounce them as ignorant and as incapable
teachers, and to show himself off, as some precocious but ill-trained youth of
today might attempt to do. On the contrary, we are to suppose the boy Jesus to
have a well-balanced mind, which probably recognized the fact that he had lived
but few years in the world and had comparatively small experience in life, and
that he by no means knew all, but recognized many questions upon which he would
like to have further information, and that he asked his questions honestly,
with a desire and hope of obtaining satisfactory answers from the teachers who
“sat in Moses’ seat.”
The nature of the questions is not stated, but the time and surroundings
would seem to indicate that they were of a religious character, and that the
mind of Jesus was already grappling with the great questions which properly
belonged to him as a member of the Jewish race to which God had made certain
great and precious promises as the Seed of Abraham;-promises of divine blessing
under Messiah, of exaltation to be the chief nation of the world, and of the
subsequent privilege of blessing all nations and of being the mediaries through
whom all mankind might be brought to the knowledge of God and to his service.
From what we know of the operations of our own minds at the age mentioned, we
may presume that Jesus was brimful of questions respecting the hopes of Israel,
and no doubt from his mother he had received some intimation at least that
divine providence had indicated that he himself was to bear some important part
in connection with the fulfillment of the Scriptures; and he was seeking to
know the part marked out for him by the Heavenly Father in the testimony of the
Law and the Prophets.
Although he did not have a Bible in his home, that he could consult
respecting the divine testimony, he did have the common privilege of the youth
of his day of attending meetings in the one little synagogue of Nazareth, which
was but a small country town. There, from Sabbath to Sabbath, he heard the Law
read and to some extent commented upon, sometimes also the psalms and
prophecies. With these sources of information the eager mind of the boy had
grappled, and now, on the occasion of his first visit to the great city of
Jerusalem, nothing attracted him so much as the Temple and its symbolical
services, and happening upon a court or chamber in which the great questions of
the Law and the Prophets were being discussed by the ablest teachers of the
time, Jesus became so deeply interested and enthused in the Bible study that
seemingly he forgot all earthly things, so intent was he in studying about the
Heavenly Father’s business-the plan of God, in which he himself was to be so
principal an actor.
Naturally his questions would be deeper and more logical than those of
other boys of his age, and naturally the Doctors of the Law would be deeply
interested in him because of this in conjunction with the modesty which we may
be sure accompanied it. And as during these feasts great hospitality was
exercised, especially toward strangers from a distance, Jesus was probably
entertained by one and another of these new-found friends.
The narrative records that, when found by Joseph and Mary, Jesus was both hearing
the Doctors and asking them questions. There is a valuable lesson here
for all young persons respecting their conduct toward their elders and
instructors. How different the thought we get from this statement than we
would have gotten had it read that they found Jesus instructing the
Doctors, or attempting to teach them. We do not doubt for a moment that the
Doctors were as much instructed by Jesus as he was by them, possibly more so on
some points at least; nor do we doubt that if they were truly great men they
would be humble-minded enough to receive instructions from any one-even from a
child; and it is even intimated in the context that they asked Jesus certain
questions, “and were astonished at his understanding and his answers.”
In both cases the proceeding was that of deference to the other, as implied in
the asking of the questions: Jesus having deferred to the Doctors and asked
them questions which manifested his depth of mind and clearness of
understanding and logical reasoning, led them in turn to ask questions of him.
This question plan we commend to all of the dear friends of the truth as a
wise and proper one, no less to us of today than to the boy Jesus and to the
Doctors of the Law. We have seen instances in which some
of the Lord’s dear people have greatly injured their influence in the truth by
display of too large a degree of self-confidence, self-assurance, in
speaking of the divine plan to others-especially to the learned. Meekness is a
jewel wherever found, and is especially desirable as an adjunct and sling for
the truth. Let the truth be shot forth with all the force it can carry,
but always with meekness and humility; and the question form of suggesting
truth will often be found the most forceful.
Naturally Joseph and Mary were astonished to find their little son
in the company of and receiving consideration from the greatest teachers of
their day, and probably nothing was said to Jesus publicly respecting their
disappointment and their subsequent search for him: probably when alone Mary
upbraided him for his neglect to be with the caravan: yet she did this in a
very kind and moderate manner, which seemed to indicate that it was a very
unusual occurrence, which in turn speaks to us of parental obedience on the
part of Jesus.
Mary’s expression, “Behold, thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing,” has been questioned by some as being a confession that Joseph was
the father of Jesus, but we answer, Not so; it would be unreasonable to
suppose (1) that Luke would particularly trace the genealogy of Jesus through
Mary, and ignore Joseph, and subsequently imply that Joseph was the father of
Jesus; (2) Joseph having accepted Mary, accepted also her son, Jesus, and
became his foster-father, and under just such circumstances today the child
would be taught to consider such an one a parent, and to call him “father.”
(3) It is not at all probable that the story of the immaculate conception of
Jesus was ever made known to any but the closest members of the family, and it
is highly improbable that the subject had ever been discussed with the boy
Jesus, only twelve years of age,-nor would it have been proper to do so. Mary’s
language, therefore, is entirely consistent with all the facts set forth in the
Gospel narrative.
Quite possibly the mind of the boy Jesus, while investigating the subject
of his own responsibilities toward the Heavenly Father and his plan, had
wondered whether or not his mission might not in some degree begin with his
thirteenth year, since at that time he was recognized as a “son of the law.”
Quite possibly some of his questions before the Doctors of the Law were along
this line, and quite probably he had finally about reached the conclusion that
the types of the priestly office indicated clearly that his mission would not
begin until he was thirty years of age. His reply to Mary’s chiding was along
this line: Did you not expect me to be about my Father’s business? Did you not
know that I had reached the age when I am a “son of the Law,” and that
therefore certain responsibilities have come upon me in respect to the Heavenly
Father and his Word and his plan? And then, as though remembering the
conclusion that he had just reached in discussing the subject with the Doctors,
he broke off the conversation, yielded himself to their wishes, and accompanied
them to Nazareth, making (so far as recorded) no further suggestion of any
other than the ordinary course of life until he had attained the age of thirty
years. This is expressed in the words, “And he was subject unto them.”
Joseph and Mary realized clearly that the boy was more than ordinary, very
extraordinary indeed, yet they did not fully comprehend the situation nor fully
grasp the import of his words. Nevertheless, Mary treasured this with the
other peculiar testimonies respecting him in her heart, and doubtless it was
from her lips that Luke received the information contained in our lesson.
Tradition declares that Joseph died while Jesus was yet young, and that
the latter took up the carpenter’s trade and became the support of the family.
This finds some support in the Scriptural testimony where Jesus himself is
called a carpenter, and his mother and brethren are mentioned, but Joseph is
ignored. (Mark 6:3.) Furthermore, no reference is made to Joseph in connection
with our Lord’s ministry, though his mother and his brethren are several times
mentioned. It is quite probable, then, that the long period of eighteen years
of our Lord’s life, from the time of the incident of this lesson to the time of
his baptism, was spent in the performance of the ordinary duties of life. What
a thought this gives us with respect to our Lord’s development of patience-patiently
waiting until the Father’s time should come and he should begin his ministry;
patiently studying meantime, as best he could, to know more and more of the
Father’s will and plan; patiently waiting for the baptism of the holy spirit,
which would enable him to fully comprehend the situation and his own personal
relationship to it. What a lesson there is here for all his followers, and
everyone of us may well realize the truth of the words, “Ye have need of
patience,” and again, “Let patience have her perfect work.” What a lesson
there is for us also in the thought that we are not to attempt to hasten the
divine plan, but to wait patiently for its unfolding-not to attempt to begin
any work for the Lord unless we are sure that his time has come, and that he
has called us to do it; then, like our Lord, to be instant in season and out of
season, when convenient and when inconvenient, under favorable and unfavorable
conditions; to do with our might what our hand has found to do,-what the Lord
has called us to do. And we gather the further thought that the most humble
forms of labor are honorable when they are ours in harmony with God’s
providence.
Happily for us, we are not born under the Law nor under the limitations
which hinder us from receiving the call and responding to it before thirty
years of age. On the contrary, under the New Covenant of grace it is
our privilege to present our bodies living sacrifices to the Lord’s service at
as early an age as our knowledge of divine things and our enlightened judgments
will permit. We, instead of waiting to grow to the fullness of stature mental
and physical, are permitted to begin at once, as members of the Royal Priesthood,
and to be growing at the same time we are serving. But let us not forget the
necessity for growth,-adding to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to
knowledge self-control, and to self-control patience, and to patience
godliness, and to godliness brotherly-kindness, and to brotherly-kindness
love.-2 Pet. 1:5-8.
“In malice be ye children, but in understanding be ye men.”-1
Cor. 14:20.