Child Life of Jesus
15
Jesus did not go to these schools, for they taught many things that
were not true. Instead of God’s Word, the sayings of men were studied,
and often these were contrary to that which God had taught through
His prophets.
God Himself by His Holy Spirit instructed Mary how to bring up
His Son. Mary taught Jesus from the Holy Scriptures, and He learned
to read and study them for Himself.
Jesus also loved to study the wonderful things which God had
made, in the earth and in the sky. In this book of nature He saw the
trees and plants and animals, and the sun and the stars.
Day by day He watched them, and tried to learn lessons from them,
and to understand the reason of things.
Holy angels were with Him, and helped Him to learn from these
things about God. Thus, as He grew in height and strength, He grew
also in knowledge and wisdom.
Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. We should spend
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our time in learning only that which is true. Falsehood and fables will
do us no good.
Only the truth is of any value, and this we may learn from God’s
Word and from His works. As we study these things the angels will
help us to understand.
We shall see the wisdom and goodness of our heavenly Father. Our
minds will be strengthened, our hearts will be made pure, and we shall
be more like Christ.
Every year Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem, to the feast of
the Passover. When Jesus was twelve years old, they took Him with
them.
This was a pleasant journey. The people traveled on foot, or rode
on oxen or asses, and it took several days to go. The distance from
Nazareth to Jerusalem is about seventy miles. From all parts of the
land, and even from other countries, the people went to this feast,
and those from the same place usually traveled together, in a large
company.
The feast was held near the close of March or the beginning of
April. This was springtime in Palestine, and the whole land was bright
with flowers, and glad with the song of birds.