The Child Jesus Among the Doctors

“They found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctois, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” — Luke ii. 46.

Had Jesus, then, something to learn about God? Yes; the imperfect way of reaching Him. The bird has a perfect way of reaching the top of the mountain — it can rise on the wing. But it would never be able in its present nature to reach the top of the mountain in our way — the mode called climbing; it would need to learn that. Jesus could reach the Father on the wing — in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. He could mount by a flight of intuition to the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens — could soar instantaneously into the secret place of the Most High. But to climb into that place as we do, to moderate the pace in reaching God, to walk to the spot to which He was wont fly — this was a hard thing, this had to be learned. Jesus and the doctors had both approached the Father; but they had travelled in different vehicles. Jesus had flown on the wings of an eagle; the doctors had ascended in a stage-coach, with many halts by the way. Jesus wished to learn the slow mode of conveyance which the doctors had. He could only learn it by travelling with them awhile. He came into their temple to practise their method. Very likely He found it arduous work, more arduous than you would have found it. For one accustomed to the wing the travelling by land must be irksome. But the doctors of the earthly temple travel by land; therefore Jesus said,” I will do so too.’*

And yet, Thou Child- Jesus, methinks the doctors learned more from Thee than Thou didst from them. When I study in the temple of earth amid the doctors, what I need most is a glimpse of Thee. I am always in danger of forgetting the instincts of the child. I pride myself on the evidences of my toil — of my long climbing. I point to the tear and wear the journey has cost me — to the weary feet, to the soiled garments. I magnify the laborious tread of my reason; I pity the ease of the child’s movement on the wing. And yet, if I could get the child into my temple, I should travel better. If I had more faith, my reason might be less laborious, but it would be more clear. Bring the child into Thy temple courts, nay, come Thyself into these temple courts, Thou Child- Jesus! Stand again among the doctors of our day, and ask the questions which belong to opening life! Stand again among the doctors with the freshness of morning’s glow! Show them the vision of the dawn! Bring to their remembrance the faith at a mother’s knee! Recall to them the memories of home! Remind them of youth’s enthusiasms! Revive in their hearts the image of things once consecrated — of the old church, the old Sabbath school, the old group that gathered round the family altar! Plant anew the seeds sown in their Bethlehem; nay, clear away the accretions, and they will find that the seeds have never ceased to grow! The Temple of Science will be beautiful when it has numbered among the doctors a Child- Jesus.