p. 3 | EDITORIAL by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 27, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 33.

EDITORIAL

By Editor

Among the Doctors

WE left our Lord, in our last article, as He was entering Jerusalem at the age of twelve, at His first Passover as a son of the law. We next find Him in a company of the aged men of the temple, listening to their instructions and asking them questions.

THERE were various events between the entering of Jerusalem and His presence with the great men of the temple. Some of these are not thought worthy of mention in the inspired record. He went through the usual forms of the Passover service with His parents. He witnessed the sacrifices, saw the cloud of incense arise, heard the chantings of the priests and the prayers of devout people. He probably saw its meaning in a deeper sense than did either parents or doctors, but in His human limitations He was still learning, yet His Teacher was God.

THE great day of the Passover was the first. After that, we are told, the people could properly return home, and many availed themselves of this privilege. Joseph and Mary may also have done this. In the vast number of Jews at Jerusalem there must have been much confusion. But uniting with some company northward bent, probably from Nazareth, the parents of Jesus take up their journey. Not until night are they aware that Jesus is not in the company. They suppose, doubtless, that He is with other boys, or talking in other tents, which would show that the Boy was normal in His associations.

BUT searching in their own company, among friends and acquaintances, with hearts growing more and more perturbed, they do not find Him. He is left behind in the great city, lost. How the mother's heart must have pained her for neglect of duty! How the words of the angel and prophet, spoken of her Child, must have come to her with added force! She had been derelict in duty, and the Boy was lost, left in Jerusalem by them.

THEY return, and seek a whole day in Jerusalem, three days including the first day's journey northward, the day in returning, and the whole day in Jerusalem. They find Him at last in a company or school of the teachers, or doctors, in the temple. He is listening to their instruction. After the custom of the times, He is asking questions, and His questions lead the learned doctors to question Him. They are amazed at the understanding revealed in His questions; they are amazed at His answers to their questions. Untaught in their schools, He has more knowledge and wisdom than they. The truth of Daniel's psalm is demonstrated in Him.

"O how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; For Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept Thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe Thy Word. I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances; For Thou hast taught me. How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Thy precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way."

IN that room of the sacred edifice, before those learned doctors, there was revealed the mighty truth, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments." The education of children which leaves God out, or which makes Him secondary, is bound to fail in accomplishing what ought to be the object of all true education,—the formation of right and enduring character, which is entitled thereby to everlasting life and immortality.

FINDING the Boy where they did, and as He was engaged, astonished the parents, but did not prevent the mild reproof and reproachful look of the mother: "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." There is a lesson here for us. How often we go a whole day without the known presence of Christ! We mean to do God's will. In

a general way we do no evil. We live on a sort of elevated, self-complacent plane, our own life, with our own immediate wants or environments, molding our conduct; and when night, or darkness, or trouble comes, we find that we have journeyed long and far without the Master, and tears are shed and hearts are broken before we find Him. The lesson is, Abide in Him. Let His words abide in you. Hold by living, constant faith His presence in your heart. Make it a part of character fiber by identifying yourself, your time, your interests, with Him.

His parents were not prepared for His answer to their question: "How is it that ye sought Me? knew ye not that I must be about My Father's business?"—literally, "in the things of My Father?" There had opened to the Boy more of the meaning of life. He had in those sacrifices and paschal offerings given Himself to God in a newer, fuller, more comprehensive meaning. Responsible to God as a Son, He gave to God full-hearted service. Henceforth He saw that His whole life must be "about His Father's business." Human inclination, desire for pleasure, fame, ease, emolument, all must not mold His life nor hinder His work. His Father's business and the things of His Father, in the Father's way, were henceforth His work of life.

But until God's time to call to the larger field, His work lay at home. His parents did not know what He meant. He must live the life with them and before them; He must live it for all the boys of this world who should come after; He must, in God's plan, be able to cover their failures, if they came to Him, and to set them a divine example by being subject, obedient, to His parents. Such purpose could have no other effect than resulting as the record tells: "And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." Luke 2: 52. W.