Life  Of  Christ


THE  first thirty years of the life of Christ 

 were  passed in  the obscure village of

 Nazareth. 

   The inhabitants of this village were 

proverbial for their  wickedness,  hence  the 

inquiry  of  Nathaniel:  "Can  there  any 

good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth?"  The 

evangelists  say but very little  in  regard to 

the  early  life  of  Christ.  With the exception 

  of  a  brief  account  of  his  accompanying 

  his  parents to  Jerusalem,  we  have  the 

simple statement only,  "And the child grew, 

waxed strong  in  spirit, was  filled with wisdom,  

and the grace  of  God  was  upon him."

Christ is our example in all  things.  In 

the  providence  of  God,  his  early  life  was 

passed  in  Nazareth,  where  the inhabitants 

were  of  that character that he was  continually 

exposed  to  temptations,  and  it  was 

necessary  for  him  to  be  guarded  in  order 

to  remain pure and spotless amid  so  much 

sin  and  wickedness.  Christ  did  not select 

this  place  himself.  His Heavenly Father 

chose  this  place for  him,  where  his  character 

  would  be tested  and  tried  in  a  variety 

of ways.  The early life of Christ was   

subjected  to  severe trials,  hardships,  and    

conflicts,  that  he  might  develop  the  perfect 

character which makes  him  a  perfect  example 

  for  children,  youth,  and manhood.

Children  and  youth  are  frequently situated 

where their surroundings are not favorable 

to  a Christian life,  and they quite readily 

yield to temptations,  and plead  as  an    

excuse for pursuing  a  course of sin,  that their 

surroundings  are unfavorable.  Christ chose 

retirement,  and  through  a  life  of  industry, 

keeping his  hands  employed,  he  did not   

invite temptation,  but kept  aloof from  the   

society  of  those whose  influence  was 

 corrupting. 

   Christ placed his feet in the most    

uneven  path  that  children  and  youth will 

ever be  called  to  travel.  He did not have    

allotted  to  him  a  life  of  affluence  and   

indolence.  His parents were poor, and 

 dependent upon  their  daily  toil for 

 sustenance; therefore the life  of  Christ

 was  one  of poverty. 

  self-denial,  and privation.  He shared 

with  his  parents  their life  of  diligent industry. 

None will ever be called to  perfect Christian 

   character  under  more  unfavorable    

circumstances than  that of our  Saviour.  The 

fact that Christ lived thirty  years in Nazareth, 

from  which many  thought it  a  wonder 

if  any good  thing  could  come,  is  a  rebuke 

to  the  youth who  consider  that their religious 

character  must  conform  to  circumstances. 

If the surroundings of  youth  are 

unpleasant  and  positively  bad,  many  make 

this  an  excuse for  not  perfecting  Christian 

character.  The  example  of  Christ  would 

rebuke  the  idea  that  his followers  are    

dependent upon  place,  fortune,  or  prosperity, 

in  order  to  live  blameless  lives.  Christ 

would  teach  them  that  their  faithfulness 

would  make  any  place,  or  position,  where 

the providence  of  God  called  them,  honorable, 

however  humble.

The  life  of  Christ was  designed  to  show

that purity, stability,  and firmness  of  principle 

are not  dependent  upon  a  life  freed 

from  hardships,  poverty,  and  adversity. 

The trials  and  privations  of which so  many 

youth  complain,  Christ  endured  without 

murmuring.  And this discipline is the very 

experience  the  youth  need,  which will  give 

firmness  to  their  character,  and make  them 

like  Christ, strong in spirit to resist  temptation. 

They will not, if they separate from 

the influence of  those who  would  lead them 

astray and  corrupt  their  morals,  be  overcome 

by the  devices  of  Satan.  Through 

daily prayer to  God,  they will  have wisdom 

and grace from  him  to bear the conflicts and 

stern realities  of  life,  and  come  off victorious. 

Fidelity, and  serenity  of  mind,  can 

only be retained by watchfulness and prayer. 

Christ's life was an example of persevering 

energy,  which was  not  allowed  to  become 

weakened  by  reproach,  ridicule,  privation 

or  hardships.

Thus  should  it  be  with  the  youth.  If 

trials  increase  upon  them,  they may  know 

that God  is  testing  and proving  their fidelity. 

And  in  just  that  degree  that  they 

maintain  their integrity of  character under 

discouragements,  will  their  fortitude,    

stability, and power of endurance increase,  

and they wax strong in spirit.



Ellen White