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Jesus worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw。 He had little money to give； but He often denied Himself of food in order to relieve those who appeared more needy than He。 His brothers felt that His influence went far to counteract theirs。 He possessed a tact which none of them had； or desired to have。 When they spoke harshly to poor； degraded beings； Jesus sought out these very ones； and spoke to them words of encouragement。 To those who were in need He would give a cup of cold water； and would quietly place His own meal in their hands。 As He relieved their sufferings； the truths He taught were associated with His acts of mercy； and were thus riveted in the memory。
All this displeased His brothers。 Being older than Jesus； they felt that He should be under their dictation。 They charged Him with thinking Himself superior to them； and reproved Him for setting Himself above their teachers and the priests and rulers of the people。 Often they threatened and tried to intimidate Him； but He passed on； making the Scriptures His guide。
Jesus loved His brothers； and treated them with unfailing kindness； but they were jealous of Him； and manifested the most decided unbelief and contempt。 They could not understand His conduct。 Great contradictions presented themselves in Jesus。 He was the divine Son of God；
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and yet a helpless child。 The Creator of the worlds； the earth was His possession； and yet poverty marked His life experience at every step。 He possessed a dignity and individuality wholly distinct from earthly pride and assumption； He did not strive for worldly greatness； and in even the lowliest position He was content。 This angered His brothers。 They could not account for His constant serenity under trial and deprivation。 They did not know that for our sake He had become poor； that we 〃through His poverty might be rich。〃 2 Cor。 8：9。 They could understand the mystery of His mission no more than the friends of Job could understand his humiliation and suffering。
Jesus was misunderstood by His brothers because He was not like them。 His standard was not their standard。 In looking to men they had turned away from God； and they had not His power in their lives。 The forms of religion which they observed could not transform the character。 They paid 〃tithe of mint and anise and cummin；〃 but omitted 〃the weightier matters of the law； judgment； mercy； and faith。〃 Matt。 23：23。 The example of Jesus was to them a continual irritation。 He hated but one thing in the world； and that was sin。 He could not witness a wrong act without pain which it was impossible to disguise。 Between the formalists； whose sanctity of appearance concealed the love of sin； and a character in which zeal for God's glory was always paramount； the contrast was unmistakable。 Because the life of Jesus condemned evil； He was opposed； both at home and abroad。 His unselfishness and integrity were commented on with a sneer。 His forbearance and kindness were termed cowardice。
Of the bitterness that falls to the lot of humanity； there was no part which Christ did not taste。 There were those who tried to cast contempt upon Him because of His birth； and even in His childhood He had to meet their scornful looks and evil whisperings。 If He had responded by an impatient word or look； if He had conceded to His brothers by even one wrong act； He would have failed of being a perfect example。 Thus He would have failed of carrying out the plan for our redemption。 Had He even admitted that there could be an excuse for sin； Satan would have triumphed； and the world would have been lost。 This is why the tempter worked to make His life as trying as possible； that He might be led to sin。
But to every temptation He had one answer； 〃It is written。〃 He rarely rebuked any wrongdoing of His brothers； but He had a word
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from God to speak to them。 Often He was accused of cowardice for refusing to unite with them in some forbidden act； but His answer was； It is written； 〃The fear of the Lord； that is wisdom； and to depart from evil is understanding。〃 Job 28：28。
There were some who sought His society； feeling at peace in His presence； but many avoided Him； because they were rebuked by His stainless life。 Young companions urged Him to do as they did。 He was bright and cheerful； they enjoyed His presence； and welcomed His ready suggestions； but they were impatient at His scruples； and pronounced Him narrow and strait…laced。 Jesus answered； It is written； 〃Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way？ by taking heed thereto according to Thy word。〃 〃Thy word have I hid in mine heart； that I might not sin against Thee。〃 Ps。 119：9； 11。
Often He was asked； Why are you bent on being so singular； so different from us all？ It is written； He said； 〃Blessed are the undefiled in the way； who walk in the law of the Lord。 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies； and that seek Him with the whole heart。 They also do no iniquity； they walk in His ways。〃 Ps。 119：1…3。
When questioned why He did not join in the frolics of the youth of Nazareth； He said； It is written； 〃I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies； as much as in all riches。 I will meditate in Thy precepts； and have respect unto Thy ways。 I will delight myself in Thy statutes； I will not forget Thy word。〃 Ps。 119：14…16。
Jesus did not contend for His rights。 Often His work was made unnecessarily severe because He was willing and uncomplaining。 Yet He did not fail nor become discouraged。 He lived above these difficulties； as if in the light of God's countenance。 He did not retaliate when roughly used； but bore insult patiently。
Again and again He was asked； Why do You submit to such despiteful usage； even from Your brothers？ It is written； He said； 〃My son； forget not My law； but let thine heart keep My commandments： for length of days； and long life； and peace； shall they add to thee。 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee： bind them about thy neck； write them upon the table of thine heart： so shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man。〃 Prov。 3：1…4。
From the time when the parents of Jesus found Him in the temple； His course of action was a mystery to them。 He would not enter into controversy； yet His example was a constant lesson。 He seemed as one
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who was set apart。 His hours of happiness were found when alone with nature and with God。 Whenever it was His privilege； He turned aside from the scene of His labor； to go into the fields； to meditate in the green valleys； to hold communion with God on the mountainside or amid the trees of the forest。 The early morning often found Him in some secluded place； meditating； searching the Scriptures； or in prayer。 From these quiet hours He would return to His home to take up His duties again； and to give an example of patient toil。
The life of Christ was marked with respect and love for His mother。 Mary believed in her heart that the holy child born of her was the long…promised Messiah； yet she dared not express her faith。 Throughout His life on earth she was a partaker in His sufferings。 She witnessed with sorrow the trials brought upon Him in His childhood and youth。 By her vindication of what she knew to be right in His conduct； she herself was brought into trying positions。 She looked upon the associations of the home； and the mother's tender watchcare over her children； as of vital importance in the formation of character。 The sons and daughters of Joseph knew this； and by appealing to her anxiety； they tried to correct the practices of Jesus according to their standard。
Mary often remonstrated with Jesus； and urged Him to conform to the usages of the rabbis。 But He could not be persuaded to change His habits of contemplating the works of God and seeking to alleviate the suffering of men or even of dumb animals。 When the priests and teachers required Mary's aid in controlling Jesus； she was greatly troubled； but peace came to her heart as He presented the statements of Scripture upholding His practices。
At times she wavered between Jesus and His brothers； who did not believe that He was the Sent of God； but evidence was abundant that His was a divine character。 She saw Him sacrificing Himself for the good of others。 His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home； and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society。 Harmless and undefiled； He walked among the thoughtless； the rude； the uncourteous； amid the unjust publicans； the reckless prodigals； the unrighteous Samaritans； the heathen soldiers； the rough peasants； and the mixed multitude。 He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word there； as He saw men weary； yet compelled to bear heavy burdens。 He shared their burdens； and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature； of the love； the kindness； the goodness of God。
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He taught all to look upon themselves as endowed with precious talents； which if rightly employed would secure for them eternal riches。 He weeded all vanity from life； and by His own example taught that every moment of time is fraught with eternal results； that it is to be c