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النشر الإلكتروني

THE LIFE OF CHRIST.

V. HE ATTENDS THE FIRST PASSOVER, AND TARRIES IN JERUSALEM.

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ST. LUKE ii. 49.

"And He said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"

We have been led, in following the Order of the appointed Commemorations of the Church since Advent, to notice the several incidents of our Lord's Life comprised in the period of His Infancy, namely, His Nativity-Circumcision-Epiphany or Manifestation by a Star to the Eastern Magi—and, in the last Discourse, His Presentation in the Temple: and it has occurred to me that it would be profitable for us to continue the subject so far pursued to notice the remaining Events of the personal history of the Redeemer; by which I mean, not His teaching or numerous miracles which would open too large a field; but, the transactions (like those now enumer

ated) more immediately affecting Himself: in doing which I feel that I shall be most effectually preaching, and you learning Christ; inasmuch as it is in His Life regarded as a whole, and not in any one event of it, that we have the facts and full development of

THE GOSPEL.

Proceeding then with this course, I observe that the Transaction to which the words now read relate occupies a remarkable place in the Narrative of our Lord's life on earth; being the only event recorded from His infancy to the time of His entrance on His public ministry—a period of nearly thirty years. We would indeed have desired more information respecting the interval: but, as it has been withheld, we must conclude that it was not necessary to the great object for which the Scriptures have been given

- to make wise unto Salvation:" while this silence seems to give the more importance to the one notice which we here meet.

The occasion then, we should bear in mind, was His first attendance on the Passover, as stated in verses 41, 42:-"Now His Parents went to Jeru"salem every year at the feast of the Passover: and "when he was twelve years old, they went up to "Jerusalem after the custom of the feast." That is, He for the first time then accompanied them; that being the age when young persons were considered

to come under the obligation of the Ceremonial Law, as Jewish writers inform us :-a solemn occasion, analogous to the Confirmation and first Communion of our youth, a season of special dedication to the service of God: and therefore in the Saviour's instance an occasion, like as His Presentation, for a declaration of the purpose for which He came into the world, of the service to which He had devoted Himself: and such accordingly we find, not now from the lips of a witness as then, but from His own.

The Narrative proceeds to tell us that "when they "had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child "Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and "his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing "him to have been in the company, went a day's “ journey ; and they sought him among their kinsfolk " and acquaintance. And when they found him not,

they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. “And it came to pass, that after three days they found “him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the "doctors, both hearing them, and asking them "questions. And all that heard him were astonished "at his understanding and answers."

The time, indeed, for declaring Himself openly was not yet come; though we may suppose that in the "questions" put to the doctors, and the "answers," at which "all who heard Him were astonished," He

would (as a learner and in such way as became His years) lead to the subject of the Messiah's expected appearing and the Prophecies relating to it, so as to prepare for the recognition of Himself in that character when the time should come. But there were those who were already prepared to hear the Truth: -To His Parents He might speak plainly, and especially to her of whom it is written in reference to this transaction, as before of the circumstances of His Birth, "His mother kept all these sayings in her heart." And so, when, as the next verse informs us, she said unto Him in the language of affectionate reproof" Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrow"ing;" He takes the opportunity thus presented to remind them that He had a work to do which was paramount even to the duty to Parents of which He has set so bright an example: "And He said unto "them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not "that I must be about my Father's business?" It is added, "They understood not the saying which He spake unto them:" but we have light to enable us to understand it which they had not—that of His after-teaching and History; and in that light meditating on this "saying" there are several important lessons which it teaches: on the one hand, and primarily, respecting the Lord Jesus Christ Himself

and His Mission; and, on the other, (as no event of His Life concerned Himself alone) respecting ourselves as His followers.

I. First then-The language which the Saviour employs here in reference to His Mission exhibits in an eminent degree His love to the World.

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"My Father's business:"-This, it will be remembered, is the way in which He ever spake of the work He came from heaven to accomplish. So in John v. 30, "I seek not mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me:" and again, ver. 36-"the work which the Father hath given me to finish," &c.; again, chap. vi. 38, "For I came down from heaven "not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me." And when we consider what that "will" of the Father was-what this " "business on which He came, How great, I say, is the proof we have of His love to the world, to us! That it was that will of God which He is prophetically represented as volunteering in the words of Ps. xl. 6-8, "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; "Mine ears hast Thou opened:" (or "bored" or

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دو

pierced”—a strong expression for willing obedience and devoted service taken from the custom mentioned Exod. xxi. 6, of nailing to the door-post of the house the ear of a servant who from affection for his Master

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