p. 1 | THE YOUTH OF CHRIST by Ellen G. White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 4, 1877

THE YOUTH OF CHRIST.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Jesus, from childhood, conformed his life strictly to the Jewish laws. He manifested great wisdom in his youth. The grace and power of God were upon him. The word of the Lord by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, describes the office and work of Christ, and shows the sheltering care of God over his Son, in his mission to earth; that the relentless hatred of men, inspired by Satan, should not thwart the execution of the great plan of salvation:

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.”

The voice of Jesus was not heard in the street in noisy contention with those who opposed his doctrine. Neither was his voice heard in the streets in prayer to his Father, to be heard of men. His voice was not heard in sounds of mirth, nor was it raised to exalt himself, and to gain the applause and flattery of men.

In his later life, when engaged in teaching, he withdrew, with his disciples from the noise and confusion of the city, to some retired place, more in harmony with the lessons of humility, piety, and virtue, which he sought to impress upon the minds of his followers. He avoided human praise, and preferred quiet and retirement to the busy scenes of mortal life. His voice was often heard in earnest petitions to his Father; but for these exercises he chose some lonely retreat, where he would frequently spend whole nights in prayer for strength to sustain him under the temptations he must meet in the accomplishment of his mission. But notwithstanding his labor of soul during the night, he ceased not his labor during the day. In the morning he quietly resumed his work of mercy and benevolence.

The Lord, through his faithful prophet, shows the life of Christ in marked contrast to that of the hypocritical priests, scribes, and Pharisees. They prayed in the most public places; not only in the crowded synagogues, but in the corners of the streets, that their devotion might be seen and praised of men. Their voices were heard in the streets, not only in exalting themselves, but in contention with those who differed from them in doctrine. Their acts of charity were done in the most public manner, for the purpose of attracting the attention and admiration of the people to themselves. They were resentful, unforgiving, proud, haughty, and bigoted.

The parents of Jesus, in accordance with the Jewish law, yearly visited Jerusalem. When Jesus was twelve years old he accompanied them upon one of these annual visits. In returning to their home, after they had gone a day's journey, they missed him from their company. He had not been seen by them since they left Jerusalem. In returning, with the crowd, the minds of the parents had been engrossed with talking and visiting, and Jesus was forgotten for an entire day. Joseph and Mary had been honored of God in a special manner, in being intrusted with the responsible charge of the Saviour. Angels had heralded his birth to the shepherds, and God had directed the course of Joseph, to preserve the life of the infant Saviour. But the confusion of much talk had led to the neglect of their sacred trust; and Jesus was not brought to mind for an entire day, by those who should not have forgotten him for a moment.

Inquiry and search were made among their acquaintances and relatives for their much-loved son; but no trace could be found of him. They hastened back to Jerusalem, their hearts heavy with sorrow. For one day of neglect they lost their son, Jesus, from their company, which cost them three days of anxious search, with sorrowful hearts, before they found him. This should be a lesson to those who are following Christ. If they neglect watchfulness and prayer, and become careless, they may, in one day lose Christ; but it may take many days of anxious, sorrowful search to find him again, and to enjoy the peace of mind and consolation of his grace that they lost through vain talking, jesting, joking, and evil speaking, or even through neglect of prayer.

The doctors and expounders of the law taught the people in public on special occasions. It was on one of these occasions that the parents of Jesus entered Jerusalem in search of their son. While they were seeking him they saw large numbers of people flocking to the temple; and as they entered it, the well-known voice of their son arrested their attention. They could not get sight of him for the crowd; but they knew that they were not mistaken, for no voice was marked like his, with such a solemn melody. The parents gazed in astonishment at the scene. Their son, in the midst of the grave and learned doctors and scribes, was giving evidence of superior knowledge by his discreet questions and answers. The people were more surprised, because the earthly parents of Christ were poor, and he had not received the advantages of education. The question passed from lip to lip, Whence has this youth such wisdom, having never learned?

His parents were gratified to see him thus honored. But the mother could not forget the grief and anxiety she had suffered because of his tarry in Jerusalem, and she, in a reproving manner, inquired why he had thus dealt with them, relating her fears and sorrow on his account.

Said Jesus, “How is it that ye sought me?” This pointed question was to lead them to see that if they had been mindful of their duty, they would not have left Jerusalem without him. He then adds, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” While they had been unmindful of the responsible charge intrusted to them, Jesus was engaged in the work of his Father. Mary knew that Christ did not refer to his earthly father, Joseph, but to God. She laid these things to heart, and profited by them.

They had lost Jesus by allowing their minds to be occupied by vain and frivolous interests. Their anxiety and grief, upon discovering his absence from them, was intense; and they had returned, sad and fearful to Jerusalem. They apprehended that harm had come to him; for the terrible massacre of innocent children by the cruel Herod, in hope of destroying the King of Israel came to their minds.

When their anxiety was relieved by finding Jesus, they did not acknowledge their own neglect of duty, but the words of Mary reflected on Christ—“Why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Jesus, in most respectful language, inquires, “How is it that ye sought me?” These words merely reflect back the censure upon themselves, in reminding them that, if they had not permitted themselves to be engrossed with matters of no special importance, they would not have had the trouble of searching for him. He then justifies his course: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” While he was engaged in the work he came to the earth to perform, they had neglected the work his Father had specially intrusted to them. They could not fully comprehend the words of Christ; yet Mary, in a great measure, understood their import, and laid them away in her heart to ponder over in the future.

It was so natural for the parents of Christ to look upon him as their own child, as parents commonly regard their children, that they were in danger of losing the precious blessing which daily attended them in the presence of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world. As Christ was daily with them, his life in many respects resembling that of other children, it was difficult to keep before them his sacred mission, and the daily blessing of having committed, for a while, to their parental care, the Son of God, whose divinity was veiled by humanity. His tarry in Jerusalem was designed as a gentle reminder to them of their duty, lest they should become indifferent in a greater degree, and lose the sense of the high favor God had conferred upon them.

Not one act of Christ was unimportant. Every event of his life was for the benefit of his followers in future time. This circumstance of his tarry in Jerusalem teaches an important lesson to those who believe on him. Many had come a great distance to keep the passover, instituted that the Hebrews might keep in memory their wonderful deliverance from Egypt. This ordinance was designed to call their minds from their world-loving interests, and from their cares and anxieties in relation to temporal concerns, and to review the works of God. They were to call to mind his miracles, his mercies and loving-kindness, to them, that their love and reverence for him might increase, and lead them to ever look to him, and trust in him in all their trials, and not turn to other gods.

The observance of the passover possessed a mournful interest to the Son of God. He saw in the slain lamb a symbol of his own death. The people who celebrated this ordinance were instructed to associate the slaying of the lamb with the future death of the Son of God.

The blood, marking the door-posts of their houses, was the symbol of the blood of Christ which was to be efficacious for the believing sinner, in cleansing him from sin, and in sheltering him from the wrath of God, which was to come upon the impenitent and unbelieving world, as the wrath of God fell upon the Egyptians. But none could be benefited by this special provision, made by God for the salvation of man, unless they should perform the work the Lord left them to do. They had a part to act for themselves, and by their acts to manifest their faith in the provision made for their salvation.

Jesus was acquainted with hearts. He knew that, as the crowd returned in company from Jerusalem, there would be much talking and visiting which would not be seasoned by humility and grace; and the Messiah and his mission would be nearly forgotten. It was his choice to return from Jerusalem with his parents alone; for in being thus retired, his father and mother would have more time for reflection, and for meditation upon the prophecies which referred to his future sufferings and death. He did not wish the painful events which they were to experience, in his offering up his life for the sins of the world, to be new and unexpected to them. He was separated from them in their return from Jerusalem, after the celebration of the passover; and they sought him sorrowing three days. When he should be slain for the sins of the world, he would also be separated from them for three days. But after that time, he would reveal himself to them, and be found of them; and their faith would rely upon him as the Redeemer of the fallen race, the advocate with the Father in their behalf.

Here is a lesson of instruction to all the followers of Christ. He designed that none of these lessons should be lost, but be written for the benefit of future generations. When Christians are associated together, they should be careful of their words and actions, lest Jesus be forgotten of them, and they pass along careless of the fact that he is not with them. When they are aroused to their condition, and discover that they have journeyed without the presence of Him who could give peace and joy to their hearts, days are occupied in returning, and searching for him whom they should have retained with them every moment. Jesus will not remain in the company of those who are careless of his presence, and who engage in conversation having no reference to their Redeemer, in whom they profess their hopes of eternal life are centered. Jesus shuns the company of such, so also do the angels who do his commands. Neither are the heavenly messengers attracted to those whose minds are diverted from heavenly things. Those pure and holy spirits cannot remain in the company where the presence of Jesus is not desired and encouraged, and his absence is not marked. For this reason, great mourning, grief, and discouragement exist. Through lack of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, people lose the divine rays of light emanating from Jesus. They are enshrouded in gloom, because their careless, irreverent spirit has separated Jesus from their company, and driven the ministering angels from them.

Many who attend meetings of devotion, have been instructed by the servants of God, and have been greatly refreshed and blessed in seeking Jesus, have returned to their homes no better than they left them, because they did not feel the importance of praying and watching thereunto, as they returned to their homes. They frequently feel inclined to complain of others, because they realize their loss. Some murmur against God, and do not reproach themselves as being the cause of their own darkness, and sufferings of mind. But the fault is in themselves; they talked and jested, and trifled away the heavenly Guest, and are themselves to blame for his absence. It is our privilege to retain Jesus with us. To do this, our words must be select, seasoned by grace, and the thoughts of our hearts must be disciplined to meditate upon heavenly and divine things.