CHAPTER II. THE SILENCE OF EIGHTEEN YEARS. ROM the transaction in the Temple, for full eighteen years, there is an unbroken silence. For this silence through the greater part of His youth and manhood no reason is recorded. This has sometimes perplexed devout Christians. They cannot understand why so large a portion of His life on earth should be wrapped in such perfect seclusion. It is in vain to allow the imagination to play around this subject, and to suppose reasons, of the probability, much less the certainty, of which we can have no assurance. The only available light thrown upon these eighteen years is gathered from the incidental hints which crop out in the narrative of the evangelists, and, perhaps, from the fact that Christ had come as the true High Priest, taken in connexion with the requirements of the law concerning priesthood. True, He was not according to "the order of Aaron," nor "the law of a carnal commandment;" and yet it is interesting to trace any parallels between His priestly. office and that which of old had been ordained by God. Now no priest could enter upon his office until he had reached his thirtieth year. "From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them." I In like manner our Lord refrained from entering upon His public ministry until He was thirty years old, remaining in Nazareth, "subject to His parents." The Scriptures make no secret of the humble social position of Jesus. Joseph, the husband of Mary, was a working carpenter. He dwelt in the little village of Nazareth, so inconsiderable, at least-if of no worse reputation-as to be held in contempt, not only in Jerusalem, but also in the towns of Galilee. When Philip said unto Nathanael, "We have found Him, of Num. iv. 23. whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph," in amazement Nathanael immediately exclaimed, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" This was the place which lent its despised name to the scornful title written upon His cross, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." This was the home of our Lord for all but about three years of His life. "Is The humiliations and the burdens of poverty which Christ endured give to honest poverty a singular sacredness and dignity. The fact incidentally appears, that the larger portion of the life of Jesus was spent in humble manual labour. not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" Thus by His own example He proclaimed, with an emphasis which none other possibly could, the dignity of honest labour. Nay, more, with this He shows that honest handlabour dignifies all those who are faithful in the station in which Providence places them. The fact that Jesus of Nazareth was a working carpenter till He was thirty years of age significantly rebukes all those who look down with scorn and contempt upon the labouring man who honestly earns his bread, and thus supports his family. This Jesus, the working carpenter, "thought it not robbery to be equal with God, took upon Him the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," that He might save even those who despise labour and the labourer. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 66 Thirty years, unknown, I trod But My life was known to God. Daily work at Joseph's call, The phrase "subject to them" is a clear indication that Jesus submitted Himself to the control of His parents, not only in the days of His helpless infancy, but through all His boyhood and early manhood, up to the day when He entered upon the special work for which He became incarnate. By His prompt and cheerful obedience He would not only pro |