February 10
The Christian's Daily PortionPART II.
CHRIST AMONG THE DOCTORS.
They found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors.—Luke 2:46,
IT had been distinctly predicted, “that the spirit of the Lord was to rest upon Christ, as the spirit of counsel and of might, of wisdom and of knowledge, to make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:1–3.) Is it possible to conceive of a more direct or striking fulfilment of this prophecy, than when the lovely youth of Nazareth was found in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. Have we not also in this event, the Saviour’s sanctification of the use of means. We do not dispute for a single moment, that as he possessed wisdom in a degree never possessed by any other, so also that it was communicated in a manner peculiar to himself. Yet here we have one instance of the Saviour making use of the ordinary means, in the attainment of knowledge. He is found in the place of the learned; he is sitting, which indicates a suitable position of body, and a patient and attentive state of mind; he listens to the discourses of those around him, and when the matter is not plain, or the information not satisfactory, he employs his own powers, and is found asking them questions. Readers, if you are thirsting after knowledge, go and do likewise. Was not this event, finally, a Prelude of one part of that work which he came to execute. The word of God had been greatly corrupted by these Doctors; false glosses had been given to divine truth; Jesus came to restore the law to its original purity; he came that the people might possess the unadulterated truths of the holy scriptures. These doctors were to be his chief opponents, so that he now seemed to appear as the ominous star of a morning, which was about to dawn, when the clouds of ignorance should be dispelled, and the true light of day should visit a benighted world. What were the immediate subjects to which he listened, or the questions he asked, we are not informed. One thing however is stated, "that all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."