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Chapter 7—The Child Jesus
This chapter is based on
Luke 2:39, 40
.
The childhood and youth of Jesus were spent in a little mountain
village. He passed by the homes of wealth and the renowned seats
of learning to make His home in despised Nazareth.
“The child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom:
and the grace of God was upon Him.” In the sunlight of His Father’s
countenance, Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor
with God and man.”
Luke 2:52
. His mind was active and penetrating,
with a thoughtfulness and wisdom beyond His years. The powers
of mind and body developed gradually, in keeping with the laws of
childhood.
As a child, Jesus manifested a loveliness of disposition, a pa-
tience that nothing could disturb, and a truthfulness that would never
sacrifice integrity. In principle firm as a rock, His life revealed the
grace of unselfish courtesy.
The mother of Jesus watched the unfolding of His powers, and
sought to encourage that bright, receptive mind. Through the Holy
Spirit she received wisdom to cooperate with heavenly agencies
in the development of this child who could claim only God as His
Father.
In the days of Christ the religious instruction of the young had
become formal. Tradition had in a great degree supplanted the
Scriptures. The mind was crowded with material that would not be
recognized in the higher school of the courts above. Students found
no quiet hours to spend with God, to hear His voice speaking to the
heart. They turned away from the Source of wisdom. That which
[41]
was regarded as “superior” education was the greatest hindrance to
real development of the youth. Their minds became cramped and
narrow.
The child Jesus did not receive instruction in the synagogue
schools. From His mother and the scrolls of the prophets He learned
39