February 9

They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors.—Luke 2:46.

JESUS was now twelve years of age; and attended his mother and reputed father to the feast of the passover at Jerusalem. The period of their return having arrived, his parents, on the end of their first day's journey homewards, perceived that he was not in their company; on which they return to Jerusalem, and on the third day they found him sitting among the doctors, in one of the chambers attached to the temple, both hearing them and asking them questions. In this simple and beautiful narration, we are led to contemplate the intellectual greatness of the Redeemer's character.—He had lived with his parents at Nazareth; and he had doubtless received no educational advantages, by which his powers could be improved. But, notwithstanding this, he possessed all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.—He was quite capable, when only twelve years old, of understanding all the subtle reasonings of the doctors of the law; and therefore we find him, not as a mere gazing quiet spectator, but as an intelligent observer; sitting in the midst of them, both hearing them and asking questions. We are also led to consider this occurrence, as realizing the truth of ancient types, and as fulfilling the testimonies of prophecy. Moses was a distinguished type of the Redeemer, for he was learned not only in all the learning of the Egyptians, but in the will and laws of God. Here, then, we view the great and glorious Antitype, when only twelve years of age, in the midst of those very men who made the laws of Moses their daily study, "hearing them and asking them questions." David and Solomon also typified the Redeemer. The former could say "I have more understanding than all my teachers,"

and Solomon was wise above all men who ever lived. Thus we behold him whom they typically represented, so gifted in his youth as to display his knowledge in the midst of the most learned assembly that any nation of that age could produce.