The Story of Jesus The Christ. Helen Braun Hojt
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when Jesus was older, he was looked down
upon because he had once lived in Nazareth. But if the people
were not good the country
was beautiful. Jesus proba¬
bly went to school with
the other Jewish boys, and
studied Jewish history and
law, from the books of the
Bible. We can also think
of him as playing and work¬
ing in his father’s carpen¬
ter’s shop, and with his
mother in the house.
He learned, too, from
other teachers than books.
The mountains and lakes,
the birds and flowers, the
storms, the sunshine, and
indeed everything he saw
or heard, had lessons for
him which he was happy in
learning.
This was how he became
filled with wisdom; because he saw something to learn in every¬
thing about him, and was willing to try to learn the lesson.
18
Infancy of Christ
THE BOYHOOD OF THE CHRIST
19
The Bible tells of a journey Jesus took when he was twelve
years old. Every year in the spring there was a great feast in
Jems ale m,
called the Feast
of the Pass-
over; and Jews
from all parts
of the country
went to it. The
women and old
men commonly
rode on mules or
donkeys; some¬
times on horses
or camels. The
young men, with
long sticks in
their hands,
walked beside
them and led the animals. Children were not generally taken
till they were twelve years old; those who did go ran a part
of the way, but when they were tired they were given a ride.
Ever so many people travelled together, and had such a good
time on the way! They talked and laughed and sang together,
stopped at the springs to get water when they were thirsty, and,
as they walked along, picked the fruit and berries they found by
the roadside. When they were tired they stopped to rest; for
manjf of them had a long way to go.
Thousands of strangers were in Jerusalem when the feast
began. Every house was full, and tents were put up for those
who could not find room anywhere else.
When Jesus was twelve years old his parents took him, for
Jesus, Twelve Years Old, on His Way to Jerusalem
20
A CHILD’S STORY OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST
the first time, to this feast. It lasted seven days, and then the
long procession started home again. Jesus was so much inter¬
ested in what he was seeing and hearing that when the others
left the city he stayed behind. His parents did not know this;
they supposed that of course he was with some of their friends in
the company, and did not look for him until evening. Then he
was nowhere to be found, and no one remembered seeing him all
day. Think how troubled his parents must have felt! The boy
who had never been away from them was lost, and so far away
from home, too! They
must go back to Jeru¬
salem to find him.
It took them an¬
other day to get to the
city, so it was the third
day before they saw
their boy again. Then
where do you think
they found him? In
the temple, hearing the
old, gray-haired men
talk, and asking them
questions so wise that
they were astonished to
find a boy of twelve
years who knew so
much.
Do you think his
Christ in the Temple parents were glad to
see him? His mother
hurried to him and said: “ My son, wiry did you leave us? Your
father and I have been looking for you, and have been very sad.»
THE BOYHOOD OF THE CHRIST
21
Jesus answered her: “ Why did you look for me? Did you
not know that I must be about my Father’s business?» Jesus
did not mean Joseph when he said “ my Father,» he meant God.
He was a young boy, but he was very thoughtful, and he knew
that there was work for him to do in the world; and that his
work was to teach people how his Father wants them to live.
He would have liked to have begun his work even now, but it
was not yet time for him to do so. He went back to Nazareth
with his parents, and was the same loving, obedient boy that he
had always been.
Until a Jewish boy was twelve years old he was called a little
boy; but after that he was a young man, and was expected to
study and work as the young men did. Every one must learn
some trade, or some kind of work by which he could earn his
living. Joseph was a carpenter, and he taught Jesus to do car¬
pentry work: to make houses, tables, yokes for oxen, or anything
that is made of wood.
So, busy with his studies and his work, Jesus lived at Naza¬
reth till he was thirty years old. We will leave him there for a
while, and see what has become of the son of Zacharias.
John,