The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Reflection:
It is amazing to consider that this is the only major passage we have which describes Jesus life and growth to maturity as a young man. Note as a twelve year old, it was supposed that he could have a mature understanding of matters of faith and life. Of course he was gifted more than most, yet his divinity was housed in a human body and Jesus was subject to all its limitations. Yet this passage is fascinating for many reasons, the not the least of which is how and when do we engage our young, teenage members in the life of the church. At our church we have a confirmation process, where at approximately age 13, they affirm their Christian faith and baptism at the altar with their parents and baptismal sponsors. We would do well to really think what this means and how we can do it well. If we neglect the teaching ministry at this age, we are missing out on a huge opportunity and neglectful of the promises we make to the child at baptism.
Back to Jesus at the temple. We see according to tradition Jesus attends the temple with his parents, Joseph and Mary. Because they were of humble means and this was a long trek of about 90 miles this was quite an act of obedience for them, and reminds us of our need to be at church on Sundays. The pilgrims traveled with larger groups who merged together along the way. These groups had other kids and teenagers with them, so it would make sense why they could easily lose him when they returned home.
Notice it was not for three days until they found him. We are not sure why it took so long, but it says they took another day looking for him among relatives. You can only imagine what they went through, especially knowing what they knew of what he would become, as limited as that was at this time. But the key part of the passage was that he was in the temple with the elders asking questions, and as people heard him they were astonished. Perhaps it was the nature of his questions, or that he knew the answers to them. Either way, Jesus shows us that he continued to grow in wisdom and knowledge since birth.
Then we see the encounter when he reunited with his parents. His mom was first to chide him asking him why he had done such a thing. Like any mother she was most upset. Jesus answered them saying, "Didn't you know I was in my Father's house. It was a curious response and they did not understand it, but after he returned in obedience with his parents and upon reflection and a cooling off period Mary realize that of course he was beginning to fulfill what was prophesied about him.
Note as our kids begin to grow up both in a worldly way and also spiritually, they begin the process of maturity. They begin to understand if properly taught, their baptismal identity, which means not only do they have parents they are to obey, but also a Heavenly Father. And the last words we hear about Jesus before adulthood is that he grew in stature and wisdom, and met favor with God and others he lived with.
For the most part it is assumed Jesus lived in obscurity in Nazareth, until the appointed time for him to be revealed as the Messiah for the world. This passage gives us insight not only to how Jesus grew up as the Son of God and the Son of Man, but also how we are to pass on faith to the next generation. I personally feel this is the biggest issue facing the church today as we seek to be faithful to the Great Commission this same Jesus gave us. Amen.
Reflection:
It is amazing to consider that this is the only major passage we have which describes Jesus life and growth to maturity as a young man. Note as a twelve year old, it was supposed that he could have a mature understanding of matters of faith and life. Of course he was gifted more than most, yet his divinity was housed in a human body and Jesus was subject to all its limitations. Yet this passage is fascinating for many reasons, the not the least of which is how and when do we engage our young, teenage members in the life of the church. At our church we have a confirmation process, where at approximately age 13, they affirm their Christian faith and baptism at the altar with their parents and baptismal sponsors. We would do well to really think what this means and how we can do it well. If we neglect the teaching ministry at this age, we are missing out on a huge opportunity and neglectful of the promises we make to the child at baptism.
Back to Jesus at the temple. We see according to tradition Jesus attends the temple with his parents, Joseph and Mary. Because they were of humble means and this was a long trek of about 90 miles this was quite an act of obedience for them, and reminds us of our need to be at church on Sundays. The pilgrims traveled with larger groups who merged together along the way. These groups had other kids and teenagers with them, so it would make sense why they could easily lose him when they returned home.
Notice it was not for three days until they found him. We are not sure why it took so long, but it says they took another day looking for him among relatives. You can only imagine what they went through, especially knowing what they knew of what he would become, as limited as that was at this time. But the key part of the passage was that he was in the temple with the elders asking questions, and as people heard him they were astonished. Perhaps it was the nature of his questions, or that he knew the answers to them. Either way, Jesus shows us that he continued to grow in wisdom and knowledge since birth.
Then we see the encounter when he reunited with his parents. His mom was first to chide him asking him why he had done such a thing. Like any mother she was most upset. Jesus answered them saying, "Didn't you know I was in my Father's house. It was a curious response and they did not understand it, but after he returned in obedience with his parents and upon reflection and a cooling off period Mary realize that of course he was beginning to fulfill what was prophesied about him.
Note as our kids begin to grow up both in a worldly way and also spiritually, they begin the process of maturity. They begin to understand if properly taught, their baptismal identity, which means not only do they have parents they are to obey, but also a Heavenly Father. And the last words we hear about Jesus before adulthood is that he grew in stature and wisdom, and met favor with God and others he lived with.
For the most part it is assumed Jesus lived in obscurity in Nazareth, until the appointed time for him to be revealed as the Messiah for the world. This passage gives us insight not only to how Jesus grew up as the Son of God and the Son of Man, but also how we are to pass on faith to the next generation. I personally feel this is the biggest issue facing the church today as we seek to be faithful to the Great Commission this same Jesus gave us. Amen.
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