The Early Life of Jesus - 1888 Author:Stopford Augustus Brooke Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: V. [January 18, 1885.] THE CHILDHOOD OF JESUS. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years ... more »old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem ; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed : and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me ? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business ? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. Luke ii. 41—50. This is the only story recorded of the youth of Jesus in the Gospels, but it does much to satisfy the natural interest which has in all ages been felt concerning the childhood of those great men who have profoundly affected the world. " The child is father of the man," and when we muse upon the work of any great man, or in ourselves are touched home by its power, we desire to see the sources of that power. The great river rolls beside the cities its waters have made, among the fertile lands it has spread abroad, and bears on its breast the ships of the world; and men have always desired to walk by it, where it w...« less