As the Baby Jesus Grew Up
Most years during the Christmas/New Year season, I remind everyone of the words to “Once in Royal David’s City,” one of my favorite Christmas carols. English hymnwriter Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander published this song in 1848 in Hymns for Little Children. Alexander tells of our Savior’s birth and of His holy life on earth. She told of His current position in heaven at God’s right hand. In this hymn for little children, she also told how Jesus lived when He was a child, teaching children that our Lord Jesus is the pattern for how they should live.
Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for his bed;
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable
And his cradle was a stall;
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
And through all his wondrous childhood,
He would honor and obey,
Love, and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms He lay;
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.
For He is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles, like us He knew;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him
Through his own redeeming love;
For that Child, so dear and gentle,
Is our Lord in heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children rise
Singing praises in the skies.
William Hole’s illustrations of Jesus’ childhood illustrate Mrs. Alexander’s words beautiful.
Luke 2:40.
Mary and child Jesus in Nazareth.
By William Hole (1846-1917)
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Luke 2:41-50.
Jesus goeth up with his parents
to the Passover at the age of twelve years;
and tarreith behind the temple,
seeking instruction from the doctors of the law.
By William Hole (1846-1917)
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Luke 2:51, 52.
Jesus returneth with his parents to Nazareth
where he is subject unto them.
By William Hole (1846-1917)
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
I especially like the last illustration, depicting Jesus in the carpenter shop with Joseph. It portrays Jesus’ obedience to Mary and Joseph during his teen years.
And He went down with them
and came to Nazareth,
and He continued in subjection to them;
and His mother treasured
all these things in her heart.
And Jesus kept increasing
in wisdom and stature,
and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:51-52