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08 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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  The Passover visit. Among the Jews, the twelfth year was a dividing line
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  between childhood and youth. On completing this year, a Hebrew boy was called
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  a son of the Law and also a son of God. He was given
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  special opportunities for religious instruction and was expected to participate in the sacred feasts and
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  observances. It was in accordance with this custom that Jesus, in his boyhood
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  made the Passover visit to Jerusalem. Like all devout Israelites, Joseph and Mary
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  went up every year to attend the Passover, and when Jesus had reached the
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  required age, they took him with them. There were three annual feasts,
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  the Passover, the Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles, at which all
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  the men of Israel were commanded to appear before the Lord at Jerusalem. Of
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  these feasts, the Passover was the most largely attended. Many were present from
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  all countries, where the Jews were scattered from every part of Palestine. The
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  worshippers came in great numbers. The journey from Galilei occupied several days, and
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  the travelers united in large companies for companionship and protection. The women and aged
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  men rode upon Ox and her asses over the steep and rocky roads. The
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  stronger men in youth journeyed on foot. The time of the Passover corresponded to
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  the close of March or the beginning of April, and the whole land was
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  bright with flowers and glad with the song of birds. All along the way
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  were spots memorable in the history of Israel, and fathers and mothers recounted to
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  their children the wonders that God had wrought for his people in ages past.
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  They beguiled their journey with songs and music, and when at last the towers
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  of Jerusalem came into view, every voice joined in the triumphant strain. Our
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  feet shall stand within thy gait, So Jerusalem, peace be within thy walls,
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  and prosperity within thy palaces Psalms one, twenty two two seven. The
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  observance of the Passover began with the birth of the Hebrew nation. On the
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  last night of their bondage in Egypt, when there appeared no token of deliverance,
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  God commanded them to prepare for an immediate reliefes He had worn Pharaoh of
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  the final judgment on the Egyptians, and he directed the Hebrews to gather their
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  families within their own dwellings, Having sprinkled the door pose with the blood of
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  the slain lamb. They were to eat the lamb roasted with unloven bread and
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  bitter herbs. And thus shall ye eat it, he said, with your
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  loins, girded your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand,
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  and ye shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover.
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  Exodus twelve eleven. At midnight, all the first born of the Egyptians were
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  slain. Then the king sent to Israel the message, rise up and get
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  you forth from among my people, and go serve the Lord, as ye
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  have said. Exodus twelve thirty one. The Hebrews went out from Egypt and
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  independent nation. The Lord had commanded that the passover should be yearly kept.
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  It shall come to pass, he said, when your children shall say unto
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  you, what mean ye by this service? That ye shall say it is
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  the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, who passed over the houses of the che
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  children of Issuel in Egypt when he smote the Egyptians. Thus, from generation
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  to generation, the story of this wonderful deliverance was to be repeated. The
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  Passover was followed by the Seven Days Feast of Unloven Bread. On the second
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  day of the feast, the first fruits of the year's harvest, a chief
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  of barley, was presented before the Lord. All the ceremonies of the feast
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  were types of the work of Christ. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt was
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  an object lesson of redemption which the Passover was intended to keep in memory.
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  The slain Lamb the unloven Bread, the chief of first Fruits, represented the
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  Savior with most of the people in the days of Christ, the observance of
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  this feast had denigrated into formalism, But what was its significance to the Son
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  of God. For the first time, the child Jesus looked upon the temple.
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  He saw the white robed priest performing their solemn ministry. He beheld the
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  bleeding victim upon the altar sacrifice with the worshippers. He bowed in prayer,
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  while the cloud of incense ascended before God. He witnessed the impressive rites of
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  the Pascal service. Day by day he saw their meaning more clearly. Every
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  act seemed to be bound up with his own life. New impulses were awakening
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  within him. Silent and absorbed, he seemed to be steadying out a great
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  problem. The mystery of his mission was opening to the Savior. Wrapped in
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  the contemplation of these scenes, he did not remain beside his parents. He
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  sought to be alone. When the paschal services were ended, he still lingered
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  in the temple courts, And when the worshippers departed from Jerusalem, he was
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  left behind. In this visit to Jerusalem, the parents of Jesus wished to
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  bring him in connection with the great teachers of Israel. While he was obedient
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  in every particular to the Word of God, he did not conform to the
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  rabbinical rites and usages. Joseph and Mary hoped that he might be led to
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  reverence or learned rabbis and give more diligent heed to their requirements. But Jesus
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  in the Temple had been taught by God God that which he had received.
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  He began at once to impart. At that day, an apartment connected with
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  the temple was devoted to a sacred school, after the manner of the schools
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  of the prophets. Here, leading rabbis with their pupils assembled and hither the
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  child Jesus came, seating himself at the feet of these grave learned men.
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  He listened to their instruction as one seeking for wisdom. He questioned these teachers
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  in regard to the prophecies and to events in taking place that pointed to the
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  advent of the Messiah. Jesus presented himself as one thirsting for a knowledge of
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  God. His questions were suggestive of deep truths which had long been obscured,
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  yet which were vital to the salvation of souls. While showing how narrow and
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  superficial was the wisdom of the wise men, every question put before them a
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  divine lesson and placed truth in a new aspect. The rabbi spoke of the
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  wonderful elevation which the Messiah's coming would bring to the Jewish nation. But Jesus
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  presented the prophet see of Isaiah and asked them the meaning of those scriptures that
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  point to the suffering and death of the Lamb of God. The doctors turned
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  upon him with questions, and they were amazed at his answers. With the
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  humility of a child, he repeated the words of scripture, giving them a
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  depth of meaning that the wise men had not conceived of. If followed the
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  lines of truth he pointed out, would have worked a reformation in the religion
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  of the day. A deep interest in spiritual things would have been awakened,
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  and when Jesus began his ministry, many would have been prepared to receive him.
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  The rabbis knew that Jesus had not been instructed in their schools, yet
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  his understanding of the prophecies far exceeded theirs. In this thoughtful Galiletan boy,
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  they discerned great promise. They desired to gain him as a student, that
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  he might become a teacher in Israel. They wanted to have charge of his
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  education, feeling that a mind so original must be brought under their molding.
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  The words of Jesus had moved their hearts as they had never before been moved
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  by words from human lips. God was seeking to give light to those leaders
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  in Israel, and he used the only means by which they could be reached.
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  In their pride, they would have scorned to admit that they could receive
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  instruction from any one. If Jesus had appeared to be trying to teach them,
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  they would have disdained to listen but they flattered themselves that they were teaching
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  him, or at least testing his knowledge of the scriptures. The youthful,
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  modesty and grace of Jesus disarmed their prejudices. Unconsciously, their minds were open
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  to the word of God, and the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts.
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  They could not but see that their expectation in regard to the Messiah was not
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  sustained by prophecy. But they would not renounce the theories that had flattered their
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  ambition. They would not admit that they had misapprehended the scriptures they claimed to
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  teach from one to another. Passed the inquiry, how hath this youth knowledge?
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  Having never learned? The light was shining in darkness? But the darkness
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  apprehended it not John one five. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary were in great
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  perplexity and distress. In the departure from Jerusalem. They had lost sight of
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  Jesus, and they knew not that he had teared behind. The country was
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  in densely populated, and the caravans from Galilee were very large. There was
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  much confusion as they left the city. On the way, the pleasure of
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  traveling with friends and acquaintances absorbed their attention, and they did not notice his
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  absence till night came on. Then, as they halted for rest, they
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  missed the helpful hand of their child. Supposing him to be with their company,
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  they had felt no anxiety. Young as he was, they had trusted
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  him implicitly, expecting that when needed, he would be ready to assist them,
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  anticipating their wants as he had always done. But now their fears were
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  roused. They searched for him throughout their company, but in vain shuddering they
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  remembered how Herod had tried to destroy him in his infancy. Dark forebodings filled
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  their hearts. They bitterly reproached themselves. Returning to Jerusalem, they pursued their
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  search the next day. As they mingled with the worshippers in the temple,
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  a familiar voice arrested their attention. They could not mistake it. No other
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  voice was like his, so serious and earnest, yes, so full a
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  melody. In the school of the rabbis, they found Jesus. Rejoiced as
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  they were, they could not forget their grief and anxiety when he was with
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  them again. The mother said in words it implied, reproof son, Why
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  hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father, and I have
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  sought thee sorrowing. How is it that ye sought me? Answered Jesus,
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  wished ye not, that I must be about my father's business. And as
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  they seemed not to understand his words, he pointed upward. On his face
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  was a light at which they wondered. Divinity was flashing through humanity. On
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  finding him in the temple, they had listened to what was passing between him
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  and the rabbis, and they were astonished at his questions and answers. His
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  words started a trait of thought that would never be forgotten, and his question
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  to them had a lesson. Wished she not? He said, that I
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  must be about my father's business. Jesus was engaged in the work that he
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  had come into the world to do. But Joseph and Mary had neglected theirs.
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  God had shown them high honor in committing to them his son. Holy
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  angels had directed the course of Joseph in order to preserve the life of Jesus.
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  But for an entire day they had lost sight of him, whom they
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  should not have forgotten for a moment, and when their anxiety was relieved,
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  they had not censured themselves, but had cast the blame upon him. It
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  was natural for the parents of Jesus to look upon him as their own child.
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  He was daily with them. His life, in many respects was like
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  that of other children, and it was difficult for them to realize that he
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  was the son of God. They were in danger of failing to appreciate the
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  blessing granted them in the presence of the world Redeemer, the grief of their
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  separation from him, and the gentle reproof which his words conveyed were designed to
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  impress them with the sacredness of their trust. In the answer to his mother,
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  Jesus showed for the first time that he understood his relation to God.
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  Before his birth, the Angel had said to Mary, he shall be great
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  and shall be called the son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall
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  give unto him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over
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  the house of Jacob forever Luke one thirty two and thirty three. These words
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  Mary had pondered in her heart. Yet while she believed that her child was
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  to be Isra's Messiah, she did not comprehend his mission. Now she did
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  not understand his words, but she knew that he had disclaimed kinship to Joseph
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  and had declared his sonship to God. Jesus did not ignore his relation to
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  his earthly parents from Jerusalem. He returned home with them and aided them in
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  their life of toil. He hid in his own heart the mystery of his
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  mission, waiting submissively for the appointed time for him to enter upon his work.
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  For eighteen years after he had recognized that he was the son of God,
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  he acknowledged the tie that bound him to the home at Nazareth and performed
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  the duties of a son, a brother, a friend, and a citizen.
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  As his mission had opened to Jesus in the temple, he shrank from
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  contact with the multitude he wished to return from Jerusalem and quietness with those who
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  knew the secret of his life. By the Paschal service, God was seeking
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  to call his people away from their worldly cares and to remind them of his
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  wonderful work in their deliverance from Egypt. In this work, he desired them
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  to see a promise of deliverance from sin, as the blood of the slain
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  Lamb sheltered the homes of Israel. So the blood of Christ was to save
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  their souls. But they could be saved through Christ only as by faith they
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  should make His life their own. There was virtue in the symbolic service only
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  as it directed the worshippers to Christ as their personal savior. God had desired
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  that they should be led to prayerful steady and meditation in regard to Christ's mission.
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  But as the multitudes left Jerusalem, the excitement of travel and social intercourse
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  too often absorbed their attention, and the service they had witnessed was forgotten.
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  The Savior was not attracted to their company. As Joseph and Mary should return
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  from Jerusalem alone with Jesus, he hoped to direct their minds to the prophecies
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  of the suffering Savior. Upon cavalry, he sought to lighten his mother's grief.
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  He was thinking of her. Now. Mary was to witness his last
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  agony, and Jesus desired her to understand his mission, that she might be
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  strengthened to endure when the sword should pierce through her soul, as Jesus had
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  been separated from her and she had sought him sorrowing three days. So when
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  he should be offered up for the sins of the world, he would again
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  be lost to her for three days, and as he should come forth from
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  the tomb, her sorrow would again be turned to joy. But how much
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  better she could have borne the anguish of his death if she had understood the
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  scriptures to which she was now trying to turn her thoughts. If Joseph and
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  Mary had stayed their minds upon God by meditation and prayer, they would have
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  realized the sacredness of their trust, and would not have lost sight of Jesus.
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  By one day's neglect. They lost the Savior, but it cost them
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  three days of anxious search to find him. So with us, by idle
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  talk, evil speaking, or neglect of prayer, we may in one day
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  lose the Saviour's presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to
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  find him and regain the peace that we have lost in our association with one
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  another. We should take heed lest we forget Jesus and pass along unmindful that
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  He is not with us. When we become absorbed in worldly things, so
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  that we have no thought for Him in whom our hope of eternal life is
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  centered, we separate ourselves from Jesus and from the heavenly angels. These holy
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  beings cannot remain where the Saviour's presence is not desired and his absence is not
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  marked. This is why discouragement so often exist among the professed followers of Christ.
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  Many attend religious services and are refreshed and comforted by the word of God,
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  but through neglect of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they lose the
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  blessing and find themselves more destitute than before they received it. Often they feel
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  that God has dealt hardly with them. They do not see that the fault
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  is their own. By separating themselves from Jesus, they have shut away the
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  light of his presence. It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful
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  hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it
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  point by point and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.
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  As we thus dwell upon his great sacrifice for us, our confidence in
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  Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall
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  be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last,
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  we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the
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  cross. As we sheate together, we may be a blessing to one another.
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  If we are Christ, our sweetest thoughts will be of him. We
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  shall love to talk of him, And as we speak to one another of
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  his love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty
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  of his character, we shall be changed into the same image, from glory
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  to glory. Second Corinthians, three eighteen, end of chapter eight