And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
After astonishing the teachers at Jerusalem at twelve with His understanding, Jesus returned to Nazareth and lived in subjection to His parents for about eighteen years until thirty, growing in wisdom and bodily stature and in favor with God and people through an ordinary faithful life as son, brother and laborer. Though He was the Son of God, His divinity was veiled and He developed gradually according to the laws of childhood and youth, perfect at each stage, sinless and in harmony with God, increasing in mind and body without dwarfing of spiritual, mental or moral power. He gained wisdom not from the rabbinical schools but from God through study of Scripture, early prayer and communion with His Father, instruction from His mother, faithful home work, and daily study of nature and life experience. His favor with God and man came from a sweet, unselfish, obedient and righteous character, never separating Himself from God by disobedience, showing kindness, sympathy and mercy to all while patiently enduring hardship and Satan's assaults without retaliation. His growth proves sanctification is continual increase in grace rather than the work of a moment, and stands as the pattern all children and youth may repeat by obedience, temperance, diligent study of God's Word and balanced training of body, mind and spirit toward the full stature of Christ.
Childhood Setting at Nazareth
At twelve years old, after tarrying in Jerusalem, Jesus sat among the doctors hearing them and asking discreet questions and giving answers that showed superior wisdom, penetration, mature judgment and understanding that astonished all who heard Him. The amazement was the greater because His parents were poor and He had not received advantages of education, so that men raised the question whence He had such wisdom having never learned, while His parents were gratified to see Him thus honored. After this He went down to Nazareth and was subject to His parents, and there continued to grow in wisdom and bodily stature and in favor with God and people. That growth stands in contrast to an education that elevated human traditions and ceremonies above Scripture and hindered true development.
The growth at Nazareth covers the secluded years at home, about eighteen years after recognizing He was the Son of God and thirty years in all living in subjection before beginning His public ministry at thirty. Through the whole thirty years He was humble, meek and lowly, advancing step by step with the Spirit of God upon Him and a living connection with His Father, giving evidence to all who knew Him that He lived to please, honor and glorify His Father in the common things of life. There He lived an ordinary faithful life, remaining with His earthly family, helping with their work, and fulfilling His duties as son, brother, friend and citizen while waiting for the appointed time to begin His public mission. The brief account describes Him passing through infancy, childhood and youth and growing in strength and wisdom under God's favor.
Though the Son of God, He lived as a human child and youth, and His divinity was veiled in humanity so that His daily life in many respects was like that of other children. He was born to a pure, pious virgin poor in earthly riches, with Joseph the carpenter as His earthly father, and grew as a child obedient to father and mother and as an industrious youth helping to support the family. He was a child like other children, growing up with the education of a child in order to give an example as a child, tempted in all points like humans are according to His strength at each stage, and yet without sin. Having lived through childhood and youth, He knows the trials and perplexities, temptations, weariness, joys and happiness of youth.
At Nazareth He learned the carpenter's or builder's trade from Joseph and worked with His hands with perfect labor, fitting His role as a character-builder. As He grew older and increased in wisdom and knowledge, His growing understanding of His divine mission did not make Him proud or exempt Him from humble work and ordinary duties. He obeyed His human guardians, supported His poor parents by daily work, shared the burdens of the family and of a peasant household faithfully and cheerfully as a loving obedient son. He did not use His divine origin to avoid temporal responsibilities but set an example of obedience for childhood, youth and adulthood, walking the streets in the simple garb of a common laborer.
He spent thirty years living unhonored and unknown in Nazareth, a place of comparative obscurity among peasants and laborers without recognition or honor. It was a town proverbial for wickedness and counted the worst in Palestine, where no good was thought possible, yet He began His great work of uplifting and regenerating the human soul there amid moral darkness and misery. By becoming its citizen and putting His feet on the paths the poor and neglected must tread, He poured contempt on human pride of place, station, honor and fame. He did not make His home in places of renown though He left the courts of heaven to live out a pure human character, and by dwelling among those far down in popularity and morality He demonstrated that any place, however hard and lowly, can be made honorable by fidelity when it is the post of duty, so that His followers compelled to live in lowly places would have no excuse for sin and rough, hard, discourteous character. His early life in retirement there teaches humble guarding against harmful social influences rather than assuming strength against them.
Gradual Balanced Human Growth
His development was gradual, following the natural, divinely ordered laws and stages of childhood and youth, perfect at every stage for that age. As a child He spoke and acted with a child's wisdom, honoring His parents and helping them according to a child's ability and carrying out their wishes, showing the simple, natural grace of a sinless life. From the first dawning of intelligence He continually grew in grace and in knowledge of truth, making the seed's gradual growth a picture of His own development.
He increased in wisdom and in physical stature, developing mind and body the way other children do, with simple and childlike ways. His mind was bright and active, penetrating and wise beyond His years, with quick understanding and thoughtfulness, and His intellectual powers were high and distinguished even in the morning of life. He lived temperately, wasting no time in dissipating pleasures, indolence, sensual pleasure, self-indulgence or unprofitable things, and so kept a truly healthy body and true powers of mind, with physical and mental powers that could be expanded and developed just as any youth's can. True growth is increase in wisdom and stature together with favor with God and man, calling all powers of mind and body into active exercise in obedience to the laws of nature which are the laws of God, so that eager effort for intellectual culture must not neglect physical and moral training.
His growth was balanced and well-rounded, never dwarfed in spiritual, mental or moral power. Through the whole thirty years He was humble, meek and lowly, advancing step by step with the Spirit of God upon Him and keeping a living connection with His Father at all times, giving evidence to all who knew Him that He lived to please, honor and glorify His Father in the common things of life. Education after this pattern cares for the body as well as the mind, combining physical training with study and habits of health, rest and moderation, developing physical powers and mental abilities with sound spiritual understanding into strong, well-balanced men and women.
From the first dawning of intelligence He continually grew in heavenly grace and knowledge of truth, growing strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, with the grace and power of God upon Him. Though He thought and spoke as a child, no trace of sin marred the image of God in Him, and His life was in harmony with God in perfect loyalty without sin, kept in keeping with the law and faithful in everything when He began His work. He passed through the stages of human life in a life without sin, making Him the ideal example for childhood, youth and adulthood.
Though perfect as a man He still grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people, which proves sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour or a day but a continual growth in grace. Even the most perfect Christian may and must increase continually in knowledge and love of God, with no stopping place where full attainment can be claimed. As He increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, the star of hope that rose upon the world at His coming grew brighter, giving growing hope to the world and provision for men and women to gain an experimental knowledge of the character and work of their Redeemer.
Sources of His Wisdom
His increase in wisdom came because God Himself was His instructor, not the schools of the rabbis or the schools of the prophets. Although He was regarded as uneducated and without formal advantages or training under the teachers of His day, those who heard Him were astonished at His knowledge of Scripture. That knowledge was the highest wisdom, learned from God through Scripture itself.
He increased in wisdom through diligent study of the Scriptures, faithful work at home, and early-morning prayer and communion with His Father. His lack of rabbinical schooling did not mean He could not read, for He gained knowledge through diligent study of Scripture joined to close observation of nature, learning from God's works as well as God's word.
Day by day He watched and studied the wonderful things God had made in earth and sky — trees and plants and animals, and the sun and the stars — trying to learn lessons from them and to understand the reason of things. Holy angels were with Him helping Him learn about God from nature, and He gained knowledge gradually by observing the lessons written in its living and nonliving works and thinking and seeking to understand their meaning. The meaning of God's word and works unfolded to Him gradually as He cultivated holy thoughts and communion, so that His spiritual nature grew strong and His life revealed God's wisdom and grace. This learning came through the ordinary surroundings of daily life, so that every child can likewise gain knowledge from nature and Scripture.
His mother was His first teacher, and from her lips and from the scrolls of the prophets He learned heavenly things, with study of the Scriptures and of nature and the experiences of life. His powers and character developed under His mother's attentive care, as she encouraged His receptive mind and through the Holy Spirit received wisdom to cooperate with heaven in the development of the child whose Father was God. His early life in the humble home at Nazareth exemplifies Hebrew home training, in which loving instruction about God and His dealings was woven into daily life.
His growth followed God's appointed laws and divine appointment that talents develop and faculties grow stronger through exercise. That exercise was with willing hand, seeing eye, and understanding heart, receiving education directly from Heaven-appointed sources — useful work, Scripture, nature, and life experience. His wisdom and knowledge amazed His parents, brothers, and learned teachers and rulers, and His questions and answers displayed wisdom and deep insight that taught them and opened new lines of thought about His mission. His knowledge came from access to the tree of life, a source of wisdom unknown to them and distinct from human schooling, and without pride or desire for greatness.
He did not seek the schools of His time, which magnified things small and belittled things great. Thus prepared by humble, obedient home life and practical training, He went forth to His mission as a genuine medical missionary, exerting upon every person He met an influence to bless and a power to transform. That blessing and transforming influence stood in marked contrast to a religion of outward show, pomp, and ostentation that measured value by display.
His growing understanding was pursued with the purpose of blessing others and supplied spiritual lessons and illustrations for His later teaching. As He grew He was often asked to read from the prophets in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and listeners heard familiar Scripture with new light. His sympathy drew their affection, and the hope and courage in His presence made Him a blessing in every home.
Character That Won Favor
Jesus was unlike other children, yet His childhood can be copied by every little child. In mind and body He developed the way other children do, with simple childlike ways, but His mind was bright and active, quick in understanding, thoughtful and wise beyond His years. In character He was always sweet and unselfish, a cheerful sunbeam at home and wherever He was, with willing hands ready to serve others. He was patient and truthful, kind and obedient, pleasant in all His words and actions, firm as a rock for what is right yet gentle and courteous to all. He expects little children to do as He did, He is pleased when they are obedient and kind and patient, He is grieved when they act naughty, and He loves them and loves to have them pray to Him and tell Him their troubles.
He constantly increased in wisdom and ability through a right course of action as an obedient child subject to His parents. He obeyed the will and wishes of His parents and did only works corresponding to the ability of a child, and this obedience was His missionary work in the home life. This is all children can do, and they should be educated to obey in a manner that makes them a blessing in the home. He never separated Himself from God by disobedience, so God's Spirit and peace rested upon Him as He passed from childhood to manhood and grew in favor with God and people. His uninterrupted peace was the result of perfect righteousness, belonging to Him independently of the world so that no one could give it or take it away, and though continually humble His lovely character brought peace to others.
As He grew older He continued the work begun in childhood, increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and man through strict obedience and integrity in a perfect, upright, righteous, truthful life. He was always kind and courteous, ever taking the part of the oppressed whether Jew or Gentile, so that He was beloved by all. With impartial justice He refused to take the part of His own family merely because of natural ties, never vindicating them when guilty of injustice or wrong but ever vindicating only what He knew to be truth. His sympathy for people of every age and circumstance drew their affection, and the hope and courage felt in His presence made Him a blessing in every home. During the years in the home at Nazareth He shared its experiences, accepted its discipline, performed its duties and bore its burdens, and through unselfishness, patience, courage, faithfulness and care for others His secluded childhood brought a healing influence into the home and quietly ministered to people from childhood.
His continual growth in grace and knowledge and in favor with God and people was seen in devotion to God, care for the poor and suffering, and efforts to relieve suffering in people and animals. His life among people of every kind was harmless and undefiled, and He met them with compassion, giving lessons suited to their age and circumstances rather than words that discouraged or rebuked them. This growth took place amid continual assault by Satan, who saw God's image in His character and person and sought to overthrow Him, so that His life as a child in human nature was a continuing conflict against satanic agencies. As He observed the sacrifices the Holy Spirit taught Him that He would give His life for the world, and His sinless life, faithful obedience to Scripture, patient endurance of hardship and insult, and refusal to retaliate showed His growth in character into a perfect character throughout childhood and youth. He grew from childhood to manhood with a spirit of meekness and with deeds of mercy and goodness, sent as God's remedy for man's self-exalted ideas and desperate rebellion, and His pure obedient life as a common laborer, doing good and wholly in keeping with God's life and character, ennobled and sanctified every part of practical life even though He did not begin public ministry until He was thirty.
Pattern for Believers Today
Jesus is the brightest example the world has seen, to be chosen above the greatest and most learned who do not know God, for all studies for youth should make them successful in God's service by following His footsteps from manger to Calvary, acting as He acted and holding the principles He held with His pure holy undefiled character as the standard. Having passed through infancy, childhood and youth and borne equal weight of difficulty, sorrow, neglect, temptation and danger on a thorny path, He knows the trials, perplexities, weariness, joys and happiness of youth and is fitted as the standard to imitate by walking as He walked. Though Son of the infinite God who could have had myriads of angels, He hid His divinity to come as a little child and grow with a child's education, being tempted in all points according to strength at each stage yet without sin, leaving a pattern to be followed by seeking with all powers of being to be Christlike in character.
That pattern of growth in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people can be repeated in every child and youth, who through obedience to God's laws and resistance to temptation may grow in spiritual strength, wisdom, spirituality and knowledge toward the full stature of men and women in Christ and become consecrated workers helping restore God's moral image in humanity. His life among people as child, youth and man was a living example of the truths He taught and the moral restoration and likeness to God that education should foster. Each young person should develop abilities and knowledge, follow God's will, and share what is gained with others, so life and work are in harmony with His work.
Little children can copy Him, for in all His words and actions as a child He was pleasant, truthful, kind and obedient, and He expects little children to do as He did. He is pleased when they are obedient and kind and patient but grieved when they act naughty, and He loves little children and loves to have them pray to Him and tell Him their troubles. For His sake children are to be honored and dealt with gently as a sacred charge belonging to God, with mothers cooperating with Him in training them not by indulging, petting and idolizing but by teaching a pure noble life and helping form perfect characters.
Youth are to follow His temperate example, developing a healthy body and strong mental powers as any young person can, living temperately and not wasting time in dissipating pleasures. His intellectual powers were high even in the morning of life, yet His physical and mental powers could be expanded just as any youth's can, and His favor came from unexampled excellence embracing everything pure, true, lovely and of good report with perfection of grace and bearing, without visiting parties of pleasure or dance halls and without wasting one hour from childhood to manhood in indolence, sensual pleasure, self-indulgence or unprofitable things. The Word of God was His study and is the pattern for youth to study and imitate, and as youth search it diligently for the Holy Spirit's guidance and share the grace given, understanding grows clearer and stronger and God's grace abides more richly, with humility like the child Jesus making them channels of light.
Education should follow His balanced increase in wisdom and stature together with favor with God and man, calling all powers of mind and body into active exercise in obedience to nature's laws which are God's laws. Eager effort for intellectual culture must not neglect physical and moral training lest youth come forth with morals debased and physical powers enfeebled, but should combine study with physical training and habits of health, rest and moderation to form strong well-balanced men and women. Students should thus develop physical powers and mental abilities and gain sound spiritual understanding, becoming well developed in body and mind. His growth from childhood to manhood in diligent use of every moment, not in amusement and self-gratification but in God's service, working with His hands to help others, is the pattern for combining mental labor with diligent use of muscles in homely everyday duties as a wholesome practical education.
His early years were useful years helping His mother at home and working at the carpenter's bench, and those household duties and daily labor were as truly fulfilling His commission as His public ministry. This makes the Christian home under parental discipline after the Lord's order the best place for young children to learn to follow Him and drink in the gladness of His life, staying to help parents when study ends with parents and teachers cooperating. Born poor to a pure pious virgin with Joseph the carpenter as earthly father, He learned the trade Himself and worked with His hands to sustain the family, showing honest poverty is nothing to be ashamed of and that labor is honor not degradation but every man's duty. For thirty years He was a faithful son sharing family burdens, giving followers strength to bear their home burdens faithfully.
Those connected with God's work should likewise pursue steady progress, listening to God and seeking light from heaven to grow in wisdom and favor with Him in an undeviating course like the sun. They should grow in sanctified intelligence, holiness and spirituality, with each member right with God and sanctified through truth setting an example of unselfish character so the church increases in spirituality and favor. One who comes to Christ in meekness and surrenders to God may grow daily in favor with God and others as God increases intellectual and moral ability and fits for restoration of His image. This sanctified ambition to keep advancing by living the Word comes by diligently using knowledge, endowments, talents and opportunities on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, and busy activity counts for nothing unless yoked with Christ, with responsibility measured by grace received and growth shown in grace, love and unity day by day.
His retirement at Nazareth walking among peasants and laborers without recognition or honor teaches humble guarding against harmful social influences rather than assuming strength against them. David likewise grew in favor with God and others as he learned the Lord's ways and set his heart more fully on doing God's will, gaining through Saul's court new understanding of kingship's responsibilities and troubles. The same language of wisdom and favor belongs to the brother whom the Lord has given wisdom and favor with God and people, helped and chosen as His agent to exalt truth at the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
His growing understanding of His divine mission did not make Him proud or exempt Him from humble work, for as He grew in wisdom, knowledge, stature and favor He supported His family, shared its burdens, worked with His hands and remained obedient to His human guardians. Though He knew He was the Son of God He did not use divine origin to avoid ordinary responsibilities but worked as a carpenter, obeyed parents, and carried out ordinary duties, setting an example of obedience for childhood, youth and adulthood.
After astonishing the teachers at Jerusalem at twelve with His understanding, Jesus returned to Nazareth and lived in subjection to His parents for about eighteen years until thirty, growing in wisdom and bodily stature and in favor with God and people through an ordinary faithful life as son, brother and laborer. Though He was the Son of God, His divinity was veiled and He developed gradually according to the laws of childhood and youth, perfect at each stage, sinless and in harmony with God, increasing in mind and body without dwarfing of spiritual, mental or moral power. He gained wisdom not from the rabbinical schools but from God through study of Scripture, early prayer and communion with His Father, instruction from His mother, faithful home work, and daily study of nature and life experience. His favor with God and man came from a sweet, unselfish, obedient and righteous character, never separating Himself from God by disobedience, showing kindness, sympathy and mercy to all while patiently enduring hardship and Satan's assaults without retaliation. His growth proves sanctification is continual increase in grace rather than the work of a moment, and stands as the pattern all children and youth may repeat by obedience, temperance, diligent study of God's Word and balanced training of body, mind and spirit toward the full stature of Christ.
Childhood Setting at Nazareth
At twelve years old, after tarrying in Jerusalem, Jesus sat among the doctors hearing them and asking discreet questions and giving answers that showed superior wisdom, penetration, mature judgment and understanding that astonished all who heard Him. The amazement was the greater because His parents were poor and He had not received advantages of education, so that men raised the question whence He had such wisdom having never learned, while His parents were gratified to see Him thus honored. After this He went down to Nazareth and was subject to His parents, and there continued to grow in wisdom and bodily stature and in favor with God and people. That growth stands in contrast to an education that elevated human traditions and ceremonies above Scripture and hindered true development.
The growth at Nazareth covers the secluded years at home, about eighteen years after recognizing He was the Son of God and thirty years in all living in subjection before beginning His public ministry at thirty. Through the whole thirty years He was humble, meek and lowly, advancing step by step with the Spirit of God upon Him and a living connection with His Father, giving evidence to all who knew Him that He lived to please, honor and glorify His Father in the common things of life. There He lived an ordinary faithful life, remaining with His earthly family, helping with their work, and fulfilling His duties as son, brother, friend and citizen while waiting for the appointed time to begin His public mission. The brief account describes Him passing through infancy, childhood and youth and growing in strength and wisdom under God's favor.
Though the Son of God, He lived as a human child and youth, and His divinity was veiled in humanity so that His daily life in many respects was like that of other children. He was born to a pure, pious virgin poor in earthly riches, with Joseph the carpenter as His earthly father, and grew as a child obedient to father and mother and as an industrious youth helping to support the family. He was a child like other children, growing up with the education of a child in order to give an example as a child, tempted in all points like humans are according to His strength at each stage, and yet without sin. Having lived through childhood and youth, He knows the trials and perplexities, temptations, weariness, joys and happiness of youth.
At Nazareth He learned the carpenter's or builder's trade from Joseph and worked with His hands with perfect labor, fitting His role as a character-builder. As He grew older and increased in wisdom and knowledge, His growing understanding of His divine mission did not make Him proud or exempt Him from humble work and ordinary duties. He obeyed His human guardians, supported His poor parents by daily work, shared the burdens of the family and of a peasant household faithfully and cheerfully as a loving obedient son. He did not use His divine origin to avoid temporal responsibilities but set an example of obedience for childhood, youth and adulthood, walking the streets in the simple garb of a common laborer.
He spent thirty years living unhonored and unknown in Nazareth, a place of comparative obscurity among peasants and laborers without recognition or honor. It was a town proverbial for wickedness and counted the worst in Palestine, where no good was thought possible, yet He began His great work of uplifting and regenerating the human soul there amid moral darkness and misery. By becoming its citizen and putting His feet on the paths the poor and neglected must tread, He poured contempt on human pride of place, station, honor and fame. He did not make His home in places of renown though He left the courts of heaven to live out a pure human character, and by dwelling among those far down in popularity and morality He demonstrated that any place, however hard and lowly, can be made honorable by fidelity when it is the post of duty, so that His followers compelled to live in lowly places would have no excuse for sin and rough, hard, discourteous character. His early life in retirement there teaches humble guarding against harmful social influences rather than assuming strength against them.
Gradual Balanced Human Growth
His development was gradual, following the natural, divinely ordered laws and stages of childhood and youth, perfect at every stage for that age. As a child He spoke and acted with a child's wisdom, honoring His parents and helping them according to a child's ability and carrying out their wishes, showing the simple, natural grace of a sinless life. From the first dawning of intelligence He continually grew in grace and in knowledge of truth, making the seed's gradual growth a picture of His own development.
He increased in wisdom and in physical stature, developing mind and body the way other children do, with simple and childlike ways. His mind was bright and active, penetrating and wise beyond His years, with quick understanding and thoughtfulness, and His intellectual powers were high and distinguished even in the morning of life. He lived temperately, wasting no time in dissipating pleasures, indolence, sensual pleasure, self-indulgence or unprofitable things, and so kept a truly healthy body and true powers of mind, with physical and mental powers that could be expanded and developed just as any youth's can. True growth is increase in wisdom and stature together with favor with God and man, calling all powers of mind and body into active exercise in obedience to the laws of nature which are the laws of God, so that eager effort for intellectual culture must not neglect physical and moral training.
His growth was balanced and well-rounded, never dwarfed in spiritual, mental or moral power. Through the whole thirty years He was humble, meek and lowly, advancing step by step with the Spirit of God upon Him and keeping a living connection with His Father at all times, giving evidence to all who knew Him that He lived to please, honor and glorify His Father in the common things of life. Education after this pattern cares for the body as well as the mind, combining physical training with study and habits of health, rest and moderation, developing physical powers and mental abilities with sound spiritual understanding into strong, well-balanced men and women.
From the first dawning of intelligence He continually grew in heavenly grace and knowledge of truth, growing strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, with the grace and power of God upon Him. Though He thought and spoke as a child, no trace of sin marred the image of God in Him, and His life was in harmony with God in perfect loyalty without sin, kept in keeping with the law and faithful in everything when He began His work. He passed through the stages of human life in a life without sin, making Him the ideal example for childhood, youth and adulthood.
Though perfect as a man He still grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people, which proves sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour or a day but a continual growth in grace. Even the most perfect Christian may and must increase continually in knowledge and love of God, with no stopping place where full attainment can be claimed. As He increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, the star of hope that rose upon the world at His coming grew brighter, giving growing hope to the world and provision for men and women to gain an experimental knowledge of the character and work of their Redeemer.
Sources of His Wisdom
His increase in wisdom came because God Himself was His instructor, not the schools of the rabbis or the schools of the prophets. Although He was regarded as uneducated and without formal advantages or training under the teachers of His day, those who heard Him were astonished at His knowledge of Scripture. That knowledge was the highest wisdom, learned from God through Scripture itself.
He increased in wisdom through diligent study of the Scriptures, faithful work at home, and early-morning prayer and communion with His Father. His lack of rabbinical schooling did not mean He could not read, for He gained knowledge through diligent study of Scripture joined to close observation of nature, learning from God's works as well as God's word.
Day by day He watched and studied the wonderful things God had made in earth and sky — trees and plants and animals, and the sun and the stars — trying to learn lessons from them and to understand the reason of things. Holy angels were with Him helping Him learn about God from nature, and He gained knowledge gradually by observing the lessons written in its living and nonliving works and thinking and seeking to understand their meaning. The meaning of God's word and works unfolded to Him gradually as He cultivated holy thoughts and communion, so that His spiritual nature grew strong and His life revealed God's wisdom and grace. This learning came through the ordinary surroundings of daily life, so that every child can likewise gain knowledge from nature and Scripture.
His mother was His first teacher, and from her lips and from the scrolls of the prophets He learned heavenly things, with study of the Scriptures and of nature and the experiences of life. His powers and character developed under His mother's attentive care, as she encouraged His receptive mind and through the Holy Spirit received wisdom to cooperate with heaven in the development of the child whose Father was God. His early life in the humble home at Nazareth exemplifies Hebrew home training, in which loving instruction about God and His dealings was woven into daily life.
His growth followed God's appointed laws and divine appointment that talents develop and faculties grow stronger through exercise. That exercise was with willing hand, seeing eye, and understanding heart, receiving education directly from Heaven-appointed sources — useful work, Scripture, nature, and life experience. His wisdom and knowledge amazed His parents, brothers, and learned teachers and rulers, and His questions and answers displayed wisdom and deep insight that taught them and opened new lines of thought about His mission. His knowledge came from access to the tree of life, a source of wisdom unknown to them and distinct from human schooling, and without pride or desire for greatness.
He did not seek the schools of His time, which magnified things small and belittled things great. Thus prepared by humble, obedient home life and practical training, He went forth to His mission as a genuine medical missionary, exerting upon every person He met an influence to bless and a power to transform. That blessing and transforming influence stood in marked contrast to a religion of outward show, pomp, and ostentation that measured value by display.
His growing understanding was pursued with the purpose of blessing others and supplied spiritual lessons and illustrations for His later teaching. As He grew He was often asked to read from the prophets in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and listeners heard familiar Scripture with new light. His sympathy drew their affection, and the hope and courage in His presence made Him a blessing in every home.
Character That Won Favor
Jesus was unlike other children, yet His childhood can be copied by every little child. In mind and body He developed the way other children do, with simple childlike ways, but His mind was bright and active, quick in understanding, thoughtful and wise beyond His years. In character He was always sweet and unselfish, a cheerful sunbeam at home and wherever He was, with willing hands ready to serve others. He was patient and truthful, kind and obedient, pleasant in all His words and actions, firm as a rock for what is right yet gentle and courteous to all. He expects little children to do as He did, He is pleased when they are obedient and kind and patient, He is grieved when they act naughty, and He loves them and loves to have them pray to Him and tell Him their troubles.
He constantly increased in wisdom and ability through a right course of action as an obedient child subject to His parents. He obeyed the will and wishes of His parents and did only works corresponding to the ability of a child, and this obedience was His missionary work in the home life. This is all children can do, and they should be educated to obey in a manner that makes them a blessing in the home. He never separated Himself from God by disobedience, so God's Spirit and peace rested upon Him as He passed from childhood to manhood and grew in favor with God and people. His uninterrupted peace was the result of perfect righteousness, belonging to Him independently of the world so that no one could give it or take it away, and though continually humble His lovely character brought peace to others.
As He grew older He continued the work begun in childhood, increasing in wisdom and in favor with God and man through strict obedience and integrity in a perfect, upright, righteous, truthful life. He was always kind and courteous, ever taking the part of the oppressed whether Jew or Gentile, so that He was beloved by all. With impartial justice He refused to take the part of His own family merely because of natural ties, never vindicating them when guilty of injustice or wrong but ever vindicating only what He knew to be truth. His sympathy for people of every age and circumstance drew their affection, and the hope and courage felt in His presence made Him a blessing in every home. During the years in the home at Nazareth He shared its experiences, accepted its discipline, performed its duties and bore its burdens, and through unselfishness, patience, courage, faithfulness and care for others His secluded childhood brought a healing influence into the home and quietly ministered to people from childhood.
His continual growth in grace and knowledge and in favor with God and people was seen in devotion to God, care for the poor and suffering, and efforts to relieve suffering in people and animals. His life among people of every kind was harmless and undefiled, and He met them with compassion, giving lessons suited to their age and circumstances rather than words that discouraged or rebuked them. This growth took place amid continual assault by Satan, who saw God's image in His character and person and sought to overthrow Him, so that His life as a child in human nature was a continuing conflict against satanic agencies. As He observed the sacrifices the Holy Spirit taught Him that He would give His life for the world, and His sinless life, faithful obedience to Scripture, patient endurance of hardship and insult, and refusal to retaliate showed His growth in character into a perfect character throughout childhood and youth. He grew from childhood to manhood with a spirit of meekness and with deeds of mercy and goodness, sent as God's remedy for man's self-exalted ideas and desperate rebellion, and His pure obedient life as a common laborer, doing good and wholly in keeping with God's life and character, ennobled and sanctified every part of practical life even though He did not begin public ministry until He was thirty.
Pattern for Believers Today
Jesus is the brightest example the world has seen, to be chosen above the greatest and most learned who do not know God, for all studies for youth should make them successful in God's service by following His footsteps from manger to Calvary, acting as He acted and holding the principles He held with His pure holy undefiled character as the standard. Having passed through infancy, childhood and youth and borne equal weight of difficulty, sorrow, neglect, temptation and danger on a thorny path, He knows the trials, perplexities, weariness, joys and happiness of youth and is fitted as the standard to imitate by walking as He walked. Though Son of the infinite God who could have had myriads of angels, He hid His divinity to come as a little child and grow with a child's education, being tempted in all points according to strength at each stage yet without sin, leaving a pattern to be followed by seeking with all powers of being to be Christlike in character.
That pattern of growth in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and people can be repeated in every child and youth, who through obedience to God's laws and resistance to temptation may grow in spiritual strength, wisdom, spirituality and knowledge toward the full stature of men and women in Christ and become consecrated workers helping restore God's moral image in humanity. His life among people as child, youth and man was a living example of the truths He taught and the moral restoration and likeness to God that education should foster. Each young person should develop abilities and knowledge, follow God's will, and share what is gained with others, so life and work are in harmony with His work.
Little children can copy Him, for in all His words and actions as a child He was pleasant, truthful, kind and obedient, and He expects little children to do as He did. He is pleased when they are obedient and kind and patient but grieved when they act naughty, and He loves little children and loves to have them pray to Him and tell Him their troubles. For His sake children are to be honored and dealt with gently as a sacred charge belonging to God, with mothers cooperating with Him in training them not by indulging, petting and idolizing but by teaching a pure noble life and helping form perfect characters.
Youth are to follow His temperate example, developing a healthy body and strong mental powers as any young person can, living temperately and not wasting time in dissipating pleasures. His intellectual powers were high even in the morning of life, yet His physical and mental powers could be expanded just as any youth's can, and His favor came from unexampled excellence embracing everything pure, true, lovely and of good report with perfection of grace and bearing, without visiting parties of pleasure or dance halls and without wasting one hour from childhood to manhood in indolence, sensual pleasure, self-indulgence or unprofitable things. The Word of God was His study and is the pattern for youth to study and imitate, and as youth search it diligently for the Holy Spirit's guidance and share the grace given, understanding grows clearer and stronger and God's grace abides more richly, with humility like the child Jesus making them channels of light.
Education should follow His balanced increase in wisdom and stature together with favor with God and man, calling all powers of mind and body into active exercise in obedience to nature's laws which are God's laws. Eager effort for intellectual culture must not neglect physical and moral training lest youth come forth with morals debased and physical powers enfeebled, but should combine study with physical training and habits of health, rest and moderation to form strong well-balanced men and women. Students should thus develop physical powers and mental abilities and gain sound spiritual understanding, becoming well developed in body and mind. His growth from childhood to manhood in diligent use of every moment, not in amusement and self-gratification but in God's service, working with His hands to help others, is the pattern for combining mental labor with diligent use of muscles in homely everyday duties as a wholesome practical education.
His early years were useful years helping His mother at home and working at the carpenter's bench, and those household duties and daily labor were as truly fulfilling His commission as His public ministry. This makes the Christian home under parental discipline after the Lord's order the best place for young children to learn to follow Him and drink in the gladness of His life, staying to help parents when study ends with parents and teachers cooperating. Born poor to a pure pious virgin with Joseph the carpenter as earthly father, He learned the trade Himself and worked with His hands to sustain the family, showing honest poverty is nothing to be ashamed of and that labor is honor not degradation but every man's duty. For thirty years He was a faithful son sharing family burdens, giving followers strength to bear their home burdens faithfully.
Those connected with God's work should likewise pursue steady progress, listening to God and seeking light from heaven to grow in wisdom and favor with Him in an undeviating course like the sun. They should grow in sanctified intelligence, holiness and spirituality, with each member right with God and sanctified through truth setting an example of unselfish character so the church increases in spirituality and favor. One who comes to Christ in meekness and surrenders to God may grow daily in favor with God and others as God increases intellectual and moral ability and fits for restoration of His image. This sanctified ambition to keep advancing by living the Word comes by diligently using knowledge, endowments, talents and opportunities on the plan of addition while God works on the plan of multiplication, and busy activity counts for nothing unless yoked with Christ, with responsibility measured by grace received and growth shown in grace, love and unity day by day.
His retirement at Nazareth walking among peasants and laborers without recognition or honor teaches humble guarding against harmful social influences rather than assuming strength against them. David likewise grew in favor with God and others as he learned the Lord's ways and set his heart more fully on doing God's will, gaining through Saul's court new understanding of kingship's responsibilities and troubles. The same language of wisdom and favor belongs to the brother whom the Lord has given wisdom and favor with God and people, helped and chosen as His agent to exalt truth at the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
His growing understanding of His divine mission did not make Him proud or exempt Him from humble work, for as He grew in wisdom, knowledge, stature and favor He supported His family, shared its burdens, worked with His hands and remained obedient to His human guardians. Though He knew He was the Son of God He did not use divine origin to avoid ordinary responsibilities but worked as a carpenter, obeyed parents, and carried out ordinary duties, setting an example of obedience for childhood, youth and adulthood.