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Even a Child Is Known, February 20
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and
whether it be right.
Proverbs 20:11
.
When Christ was yet a child, He was found by Joseph and His mother in
the temple among the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions.
By His questions He threw great light into their minds. On this visit to
Jerusalem He had a realization that He was indeed the Son of God, and that a
special work lay before Him.
When His mother said to Him, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing,” He answered, “How is
it that ye sought me?” Then with the light of divinity shining forth from His
countenance, He said in a most solemn manner, “Wist ye not that I must be
about my Father’s business?” (
Luke 2:48, 49
). And although after this He
returned to Nazareth, and was subject to His parents, yet He did not lose the
realization of His future work—the knowledge that He must labor to save the
lost. He knew that He must keep faithful watch over every faculty, that Satan
might not obtain one jot of advantage.
In all His actions He must be the Son of God, that He might dwell among
men as the representative of the Father. His work was to make others the
sons of God, and He must lose no opportunity for casting the leaven into the
meal, that other youth, and those of mature age might see that it is not safe to
neglect to become intellectually qualified to be coworkers with God. He must
teach His fellow men to labor to the full extent of their ability to become what
they would one day wish they had made themselves.
Christ was misunderstood by His brothers; for He was not like them. He
worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw, and He was always
successful. He had little money to give, but He often gave His own humble
food to those whom He thought more needy than Himself. His brothers felt
that His influence went far to counteract theirs; for when they spoke harshly
to poor, degraded souls with whom they came in contact, Christ sought these
very ones, and spoke words of encouragement to them. If when in the family
circle, He could do no more, He would as quietly and secretly as possible,
give the wretched beings He was trying to help, the cup of cold water, and
then place His own meal in their hands.—
Manuscript 22, February 20, 1898
,
“Christ, the Great Missionary.”
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