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Christ’s Problems as a Child
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life bitter. He had to learn the hard lesson of silence and patient
endurance.
His brothers, as the sons of Joseph were called, sided with the
rabbis. They valued human instruction more highly than the Word
of God, and they condemned Jesus’ strict obedience to God’s law
as stubbornness. Yet the knowledge He showed in answering the
rabbis surprised them, and they could not help but see that He was
an instructor to them. They recognized that His education was of
a higher type than their own, but they did not realize that He had
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access to a source of knowledge about which they were ignorant.
How Jesus Respected All People Alike
Christ found religion fenced in by high walls of seclusion, as if
it were too sacred a matter for everyday life. Jesus overthrew these
walls. Instead of secluding Himself in a hermit’s cave in order to
show His heavenly character, He set to work earnestly for humanity.
He taught that religion is not meant only for set times and places.
This was a rebuke to the Pharisees. It showed that their self-absorbed
devotion to personal interest was far from true godliness. This made
them angry, so they tried to make Him conform to their regulations.
Jesus had little money to give, but He often denied Himself food
in order to relieve those who were more needy than He. When His
brothers spoke harshly to poor, degraded people, Jesus spoke words
of encouragement to them. To those in need He would give a cup of
cold water and quietly place His own meal in their hands.
All this displeased His brothers. They were older, and they felt
that He should have to obey their commands. They accused Him of
thinking that He was superior to them and setting Himself above the
teachers, priests, and rulers. They often tried to intimidate Him, but
He went right on, making the Scriptures His guide.
Jesus’ Problems With His Family
Jesus’ brothers were jealous of Him and showed determined
unbelief and contempt. They could not understand His conduct. His
life presented great contradictions. He was the divine Son of God
and yet a helpless child. As Creator, the earth was His possession,