50
The Desire of Ages
communion with heaven in song; and as His companions complained
of weariness from labor, they were cheered by the sweet melody from
His lips. His praise seemed to banish the evil angels, and, like incense,
fill the place with fragrance. The minds of His hearers were carried
away from their earthly exile, to the heavenly home.
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Jesus was the fountain of healing mercy for the world; and through
all those secluded years at Nazareth, His life flowed out in currents
of sympathy and tenderness. The aged, the sorrowing, and the sin-
burdened, the children at play in their innocent joy, the little creatures
of the groves, the patient beasts of burden,—all were happier for His
presence. He whose word of power upheld the worlds would stoop to
relieve a wounded bird. There was nothing beneath His notice, nothing
to which He disdained to minister.
Thus as He grew in wisdom and stature, Jesus increased in favor
with God and man. He drew the sympathy of all hearts by showing
Himself capable of sympathizing with all. The atmosphere of hope
and courage that surrounded Him made Him a blessing in every home.
And often in the synagogue on the Sabbath day He was called upon to
read the lesson from the prophets, and the hearts of the hearers thrilled
as a new light shone out from the familiar words of the sacred text.
Yet Jesus shunned display. During all the years of His stay in
Nazareth, He made no exhibition of His miraculous power. He sought
no high position and assumed no titles. His quiet and simple life, and
even the silence of the Scriptures concerning His early years, teach an
important lesson. The more quiet and simple the life of the child,—the
more free from artificial excitement, and the more in harmony with
nature,—the more favorable is it to physical and mental vigor and to
spiritual strength.
Jesus is our example. There are many who dwell with interest
upon the period of His public ministry, while they pass unnoticed
the teaching of His early years. But it is in His home life that He
is the pattern for all children and youth. The Saviour condescended
to poverty, that He might teach how closely we in a humble lot may
walk with God. He lived to please, honor, and glorify His Father in
the common things of life. His work began in consecrating the lowly
trade of the craftsmen who toil for their daily bread. He was doing
God’s service just as much when laboring at the carpenter’s bench
as when working miracles for the multitude. And every youth who