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The Desire of Ages
His own life. New impulses were awakening within Him. Silent and
absorbed, He seemed to be studying out a great problem. The mystery
of His mission was opening to the Saviour.
Rapt in the contemplation of these scenes, He did not remain beside
His parents. He sought to be alone. When the paschal services were
ended, He still lingered in the temple courts; and when the worshipers
departed from Jerusalem, He was left behind.
In this visit to Jerusalem, the parents of Jesus wished to bring Him
in connection with the great teachers in Israel. While He was obedient
in every particular to the word of God, He did not conform to the
rabbinical rites and usages. Joseph and Mary hoped that He might
be led to reverence the learned rabbis, and give more diligent heed to
their requirements. But Jesus in the temple had been taught by God.
That which He had received, He began at once to impart.
At that day an apartment connected with the temple was devoted to
a sacred school, after the manner of the schools of the prophets. Here
leading rabbis with their pupils assembled, and hither the child Jesus
came. Seating Himself at the feet of these grave, learned men, He
listened to their instruction. As one seeking for wisdom, He questioned
these teachers in regard to the prophecies, and to events then taking
place that pointed to the advent of the Messiah.
Jesus presented Himself as one thirsting for a knowledge of God.
His questions were suggestive of deep truths which had long been ob-
scured, yet which were vital to the salvation of souls. While showing
how narrow and superficial was the wisdom of the wise men, every
question put before them a divine lesson, and placed truth in a new
aspect. The rabbis spoke of the wonderful elevation which the Mes-
siah’s coming would bring to the Jewish nation; but Jesus presented
the prophecy of Isaiah, and asked them the meaning of those scriptures
that point to the suffering and death of the Lamb of God.
The doctors turned upon Him with questions, and they were
amazed at His answers. With the humility of a child He repeated
the words of Scripture, giving them a depth of meaning that the wise
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men had not conceived of. If followed, the lines of truth He pointed
out would have worked a reformation in the religion of the day. A
deep interest in spiritual things would have been awakened; and when
Jesus began His ministry, many would have been prepared to receive
Him.
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