February 20

And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day.—Luke 4:16.

EVERY part of Christ's life is deserving of our particular attention. Every part that is revealed is left for our instruction, direction, and comfort. After his baptism and temptation, he returned into Galilee, in all the power of that Spirit which had wholly rested upon him, and his fame went through all the region round about. Then it is recorded that he came to Nazareth, the residence of his youthful years, where he had been brought up, and where all the people must have been well acquainted with all his history up to this period. During his residence, he had regularly attended the service of the synagogue; for it is said, "he went into the synagogue, as his custom was." It is not derogatory to Christ to suppose that it was by his attendance here that he obtained so complete a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, one leading part of the service consisting in the reading of the word of God. And now that he was possessed of the fulness of the Spirit, he still honors the place where his Father is worshipped, and the law and the prophets read; thus establishing his own declaration, that he was not come to destroy the law, or the prophets, but to fulfil them. It was the sabbath day when Christ appeared in the synagogue; thus at once he honoured both the day and the institutions connected with it. Though after his resurrection his disciples ever met on the first day of the week, yet up to that period Jesus paid the most marked respect to the seventh day, which had been the hallowed sabbath from the foundation of the world. Should we not learn from Christ's conduct on this occasion, to prize the sabbath and the institutions of the Lord's house? There is no plea which can reasonably excuse us from these duties. We cannot be so wise and holy as Jesus was, we have not the same resources which he had; and yet, great and glorious as he was, he went into the synagogue, and mingled with the worshippers on the sabbath day. And the Redeemer's subsequent history will prove how deeply concerned he was in all that related to the house and worship of God. Whenever we are disposed to be indifferent to divine worship, let Christ's holy example stimulate us, so that we may never forsake the house of our God.