Luke 2:41-52
Our passage from the Gospel of Luke today is the only mention of Jesus’ life from between his birth and His baptism and start of His ministry. The Scriptures have remained silent about any events and happenings during Jesus’ childhood, youth, and young adulthood, with the exception of this one event. There have been some, generally fanciful, extra-biblical legends about some events in Jesus’ childhood, which no reliable Christian denomination holds as true and authoritative. Let’s take a look at this single account from the childhood of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.
Our passage begins with Jesus and His family traveling from their home in Nazareth south to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover (vs. 41-42). Devout Jews would try, if possible, to go to Jerusalem for the religious festivals, particularly the Passover. They would travel in large caravans with friends, relatives, and neighbors for protection and safety. The distance between Nazareth and Jerusalem is approximately 65 miles. This trip was made on foot, and would take several days, especially since devout Jews would take a longer route than the 65 mile direct route in order to avoid going through areas where the Samaritans lived. While the caravans would travel going and returning the women and children would tend to be together, and the men with each other.
On this one occasion during the family’s trip to Jerusalem for Passover when Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph packed up and left with the group, inadvertently leaving without Jesus being with them (vs. 43-44). His parents must have thought that Jesus was with the other one, since at age twelve He could conceivably been in either group, walking with a friend of His and their family. Jesus’ lingering was neither mischievous nor disobedient, but simply a mistaken presumption on the part of His parents.
Imagine the worry and fear that was going through both Mary and Joseph. Where could He be? They searched up and down every street and alley, in every possible shop that He might be interested in. Finally, they go to the Temple where they find Jesus talking with the teachers, scribes and elders. This is the first place they should have looked for Him! Jesus was not hiding nor being defiant. He did precisely what any child should do who had been left behind - go to a safe, public place, in the company of trusted adults, where His parents could find Him. Jesus was not being insolent, either. He was genuinely surprised that they didn’t know where to look for Him (vs. 48-49). At age twelve, Jesus had a clear consciousness of His identity and mission. Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was God’s Son, but at this time they could not possibly have known what His mission would involve. They had to raise Him as a normal child. They knew He was unique, but they did not know what was going on in His mind.
Here Jesus was, the Son of God, the Second Person of the Triune God, talking with the Temple teachers and elders, asking and answering questions. Jesus is God, but He was respectful, taking the role of a student (vs. 46). Even at His young age, Jesus’ questions showed wisdom that put the teachers to shame. God’s wisdom is astounding. The teachers of the Old Testament Law and Temple scholars were amazed at Jesus’ insights (vs. 47). The Lord’s knowledge and understanding are available to all Christians who believe with faith (Proverbs 9:10). If we need God’s wisdom for a situation, then we need to trust and obey Him, and He will reveal Himself to us if we seek Him.
Jesus was the Son of God, but while living on earth as a child, He placed Himself under the care and authority of His earthly mother and stepfather, Mary and Joseph (vs. 51). Jesus submitted to them, not as an inferior, but as an example of obedience to us. Jesus was both fully divine and fully human (vs. 52). He had a normal childhood and adolescence. Jesus went through the same progressions we all do. As our passage concludes, Luke gave us just a small peek into the “hidden years” of Jesus, the time between His birth in Bethlehem to the start of His ministry, some 30+ years later. We are shown a young man who was obedient to His parents, and also had God’s wisdom and understanding.
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