Perhaps in these words He tried to give them an insight into the great meaning of His life; but they were puzzled, although Mary dimly felt all that He would have her understand.  He did not at this time, however, explain to them further regarding what was in His own heart.  It may be that He did not yet fully comprehend just what He was to do.  He had taken upon Himself the human nature which He was to raise to something grander and nobler than human nature had ever been before, and in becoming a little child like other little children, perhaps it was God’s plan that He should not yet have the judgment of a man in all things.

However that may have been, He went back with His parents and obeyed them as before, for the time had not come for Him to leave them and begin His teaching, except as He taught by the force of a beautiful example.  But that example formed a great part of the purpose for which He was sent into the world, because one of the noblest truths that He impressed upon humanity was the duty of children to parents.  His own life taught this better than any sermon could have done, for in all the history of the world we have no better example of what a child’s conduct should be toward his parents.  It is the more beautiful because Jesus was not like other children, but, having the wisdom of God in His heart, was far better able to judge for Himself between right and wrong.

During all these years Jesus grew in stature as well as in wisdom, and those around Him felt, without understanding it, that in some way He was different from the rest.  The divinity of His nature could not be hidden, even in those early years, but it shone through all the small acts of everyday life, making them beautiful; while every one who knew Him was better and happier for coming near such a noble nature.

[Illustration:  The Quest.]

[Illustration:  =The Angels’ Song=

    “Praise thou the Lord!” the angels cry
       The song of peace and love,
     Comes floating downward thro’ the sky,
       From unseen courts above.
]