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LESSON IV.—SABBATH, JANUARY 28, 1899

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 11, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 2.

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LESSON IV.—SABBATH, JANUARY 28, 1899.

RETURN TO NAZARETH, AND VISIT TO JERUSALEM.

B.C. 4 to A.D. 8.
Lesson Text, Matt. 2:19-23; Luke 2:39-52, R.V.
19 "But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord 20 appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead that sought the young Child's life. 21 And he arose and took the young Child and His mother, and 22 came into the land of Israel. But when He heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God 23 in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that He should be called a Nazarene." 39 "And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40 "And the Child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. 41 "And His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast 42 of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they 43 went up after the custom of the feast; and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the Boy Jesus tarried 44 behind in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not; but sup- posing Him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for Him among their kinsfolk and acquaint- 45 ance; and when they found Him not, they returned to 46 Jerusalem, seeking for Him. And it came to pass, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions; 47 and all that heard Him were amazed at His understanding 48 and His answers. And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said unto Him, Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I sought 49 Thee sorrowing. And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought Me? wist ye not that I must be in My Father's 50 house? And they understood not the saying which He 51 spake unto them. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He was subject unto them; and His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 "And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. When and where did the Lord next appear to Joseph? Matt. 2:19. Note 1.
  2. What did the Lord then say to Him? Verse 20.
  3. Upon reaching the borders of Palestine, what did Joseph hear? Verse 22.
  4. In his fear and perplexity how was he again enlightened?
  5. Into what part of Palestine did the family then go? Verse 23. Note 2. (Luke 2:39.)
  6. What was to be fulfilled by going to Nazareth? Note 3.
  7. After the return to Nazareth, what is recorded of the Child Jesus? Luke 2:40. Note 4. (Luke 1:80; John 3:34.)
  8. What was the yearly custom of the parents of Jesus? V. 41. (Ex. 23:15; Deut. 16:1.)
  9. At what age did Christ first attend the annual feast with His parents? Verse 42. Note 5.
  10. When the parents started to return home from the feast, what did Jesus do? Verse 43.
  11. What caused this seeming neglect of the parents for the Child Jesus? Verse 44.
  12. Upon missing Him at nightfall, where did they look for Him?
  13. Not finding Him in the company, what did they next do? V. 45.
  14. After an anxious search in Jerusalem, where did they finally discover Him? Verse 46.
  15. How did Jesus' words seem to affect those around Him? Verse 47. (Matt. 7:28; Mark 1:22; John 7:46.)
  16. How were His parents affected by the sight? Verse 48.
  17. With what words did the mother chide Him?
  18. What answer did she receive? Verse 49. (John 2:16.)
  19. How did the parents receive this saying of Jesus? Verse 50. (Luke 9:45; 18:34.)
  20. Notwithstanding the reply of Jesus on this occasion, how did He regard His parents' wishes? Verse 51. Note 6.
  21. What is the further record of Jesus' early life? Verse 52. (1 Sam. 2:26.)
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," pp. 66-96.

NOTES.

1. When Herod was dead.—Some have placed the death of Herod the Great in A.D. 2. That would make the sojourn of the Saviour in Egypt six years. This hardly seems probable. In a foot-note on page 54 of Hanna's "Life of Christ," he says: "It has been accurately ascertained that Herod must have died between the 13th of March and the 4th of April 750 A.U.C. [after the building of the city, i. e., of Rome]." "Hale's Chronology," vol. 1, pp. 85, 96, gives strong arguments in favor of that date. This would set the date of Herod's death in the early part of B.C. 4, and would make the stay in Egypt cover but the period of a few weeks at most. 2. Galilee.—It was natural for the parents of Christ to turn, on this occasion, to Mary's old home among the hills of Galilee. Surrounded by prominent elevations, the little village of Nazareth was practically shut away from the world. The place was so insignificant historically that no mention of it occurs in the Old Testament. Even a Galilean felt justified in asking, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" John 1:46; 21:2. It was seventy miles north of Jerusalem, and six west of Mount Tabor. 3. Nazarene.—The word "Nazarene" was a term of contempt. The name Nazarene was derived from the Hebrew netser, meaning sprout, or shoot, and suggested insignificance. "The name is prophetically given to the Messiah (Isa. 11:1). . . . 'There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse, and a twig from his roots shall bear fruit.' As David sprang from the humble family of Jesse, so the Messiah, the second David, shall arise out of great humiliation. The fact that Jesus grew up at Nazareth was sufficient reason for His being despised. He was not a lofty branch on the summit of a stately tree, not a recognized and honored son of the royal house of David, now fallen, but an insignificant sprout from the roots of Jesse; a Nazarene of an upstart sprout town."—Vincent. "Whenever men spoke of Jesus as the Nazarene, they either consciously or unconsciously pronounced one of the names of the predicted Messiah, a name indicative both of His royal descent and His humble condition."—Smith. 4. "The Child grew, and waxed strong," etc. This is the record of the first twelve years of Christ's life. It tells much in general, but nothing in detail. Beyond the veil of the Child's gentle, sunny home life of obedience, we may not obtrude vain curiosity. 5. Twelve years old.—According to Jewish reckoning, the age of twelve was the time when a boy passed from childhood to youth, and took the name of "son of the Lord." At that age he was supposed to begin attendance at the annual feasts. At that point also he was given over to the school of the rabbis, when destined for the priest's office, in order to begin the instruction necessary to fit himself for that position. 6. Subject.—Knowing that the full time for His public ministry to begin had not yet come, Jesus became subject to His parents for eighteen years longer, doing nothing to betray His divinity, but living so naturally at home that even His brethren in all those years discerned in Him no mark of His calling. John 7:5. So little was He known that Nathanael, living but a few miles away, in Cana, had never heard of Him until Philip pointed Him out as the Messiah. John 1:45. What a lesson of cheerful, gentle patience! This was truly emptying self. In our daily life let us look to Jesus of Nazareth for a pattern, as well as to the suffering of the cross.