56
Education
Christ came to demonstrate the value of the divine principles by
revealing their power for the regeneration of humanity. He came to
teach how these principles are to be developed and applied.
With the people of that age the value of all things was determined
by outward show. As religion had declined in power, it had increased
in pomp. The educators of the time sought to command respect by
display and ostentation. To all this the life of Jesus presented a marked
contrast. His life demonstrated the worthlessness of those things that
men regarded as life’s great essentials. Born amidst surroundings the
rudest, sharing a peasant’s home, a peasant’s fare, a craftsman’s occu-
pation, living a life of obscurity, identifying Himself with the world’s
unknown toilers,—amidst these conditions and surroundings,—Jesus
followed the divine plan of education. The schools of His time, with
their magnifying of things small and their belittling of things great,
He did not seek. His education was gained directly from the Heaven-
appointed sources; from useful work, from the study of the Scriptures
and of nature, and from the experiences of life—God’s lesson books,
full of instruction to all who bring to them the willing hand, the seeing
eye, and the understanding heart.
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“The Child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:
and the grace of God was upon Him.”
Luke 2:40
.
Thus prepared, He went forth to His mission, in every moment
of His contact with men exerting upon them an influence to bless, a
power to transform, such as the world had never witnessed.
He who seeks to transform humanity must himself understand
humanity. Only through sympathy, faith, and love can men be reached
and uplifted. Here Christ stands revealed as the master teacher; of all
that ever dwelt on the earth, He alone has perfect understanding of the
human soul.
“We have not a high priest”—master teacher, for the priests were
teachers—“we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted
like as we are.”
Hebrews 4:15
, R.V.
“In that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to
succor them that are tempted.”
Hebrews 2:18
.
Christ alone had experience in all the sorrows and temptations that
befall human beings. Never another of woman born was so fiercely
beset by temptation; never another bore so heavy a burden of the