(Compare Matthew 2:23)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Growing, v. 40
How many verses are there in the four Gospels in regard to the boyhood of Jesus? Is this in any way a suggestion of their authenticity? How much of the Gospel history is taken up with the death of Jesus? Why is that? Why is it that Luke is the one evangelist who dwells upon His infancy and boyhood? What is the first thing that is told us about His boyhood? (v. 40). Wherein lies the importance of the fact that He “grew”? What were the marked features of His boyhood? With what was He filled? With what was He crowned? What is meant by the grace of God being upon Him? (See Acts 4:33). How may we know that the grace of God is upon a man? (Acts 4:33–35). How early may one have the grace of God upon him?
2. Inquiring, vv. 41–50
What glimpse does verse 41 give into the habits of Jesus’ parents? To put it into modern phraseology, what sort of people were they? What seemingly reasonable excuse might they have made for staying away from church? Would they have had Jesus in their home if they had not been church-going people? What is suggested by this as being one of the surest ways of getting Jesus into our homes?
At what age is it first recorded that Jesus went to the feast? Why at 12 years of age? Did Jesus enjoy being in the temple? How did He show He enjoyed it? Why did He enjoy it? Where did they find Jesus? Did they expect to find Him there? Ought they to have expected to find Him there? (v. 49, R. V.). Will a true child of God be often found in the house of God? Was Jesus often found in the temple during His life? (Mark 14:49).
In what attitude was He in the temple? Why was He there? What was He doing: For what purpose was He asking questions? In what way was He a good example for modern attendants upon Bible classes? What sort of questions did He ask? Did He answer any questions? What was the effect of His presence in the temple upon those there? At what were they astonished? Where did He get “His understanding”? (Ps. 119:99; Luke 24:27; John 3:34).
Who were amazed besides the bystanders? Had Mary understood Jesus? What is the tone of Mary’s question? Is it conceivable that Mary with the revelation she had had about Jesus should be so astonished and complaining? Ought Mary and Joseph to have had any anxious fear about Jesus? While Mary and Joseph were surprised at Jesus being in the temple, at what was Jesus surprised? What was Jesus’ reply? Was there any note of regret or apology in the reply? What is the Revised Version of the reply? Of whom had Mary spoken as His father? Of whom does Jesus speak as His Father? In what way was the first recorded utterance and the last recorded utterance of Christ alike? (See 23:46). Did they understand Jesus even yet? How long was it before men understood Jesus?
3. Obeying, vv. 51, 52
Having made this assertion and given this clear proof of His deity, what did Jesus do next? How were those days in Nazareth spent? Was He any less about His Father’s business when in Nazareth than when in the temple asking questions? Ought He to have been at Jerusalem asking questions and attending Bible lectures when home duties called Him to Nazareth? How many years longer did Jesus remain in the humble obscurity of Nazareth? Did He chafe at all at that commonplace life? When any of us, conscious of power for larger work, are tempted to chafe at our commonplace fields, what thought from this lesson ought to enable us to overcome the temptation? What did Mary do? What was Jesus doing those eighteen years? (v. 52). If we are in some humble sphere, what can we do there if we cannot do anything else? How could the Son of God increase in wisdom? (Phil. 2:6, 7; Mark 13:32). What means of growth in wisdom did Jesus use? (Matt. 22:29). How could Jesus grow in favor (or grace) with God? Did He grow in any one’s favor beside God’s? Did growing in God’s favor have anything to do with growing in man’s favor? (See 1 Sam. 2:26; Ro. 14:18). Is it always so? Whose favor was it He sought? If even Jesus could grow in wisdom and grace, what is the lesson for us?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus
Truly human—He grew, 40, 46, 52; truly divine in His wisdom, 40, 47–49; in His consciousness, 49; in His obedience, 51.
2. A Model Boyhood
Constant growth—physical, intellectual, spiritual, 40, 52; filled with wisdom, crowned with grace, 40; loving the house of God, 43, 46, 49; pondering the Word of God, 47; conscious of the divine Fatherhood, 49; obedient to the human fatherhood, faithful in present work, 51; fitting for larger work, 52.
3. A Three-Fold Amazement
Of the people, 47; of His parents, 48; of Jesus, 49.
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R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.