Luke 2:40-52 NIV
40 And the child grew and
became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
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.
Astonished!
A little bit of background will help with this passage of
Scripture to begin with. At least it helped me.
First of all, a time-line. For me, it was easy to get
confused of the events in Jesus’ life up to this point. So here is a time-line
with the help of Unger’s Bible Handbook:
·
Jesus is born in Bethlehem
·
8 days old Jesus is circumcised
·
33 days after this Jesus is presented in the Temple ---
this was last week’s reflection
·
At around 1 year of age three events occur
o Magi
visit
o Mary/Joseph/Jesus
flee to Egypt
o Children
are murdered in Bethlehem
·
At around 2 to 3 years of age – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph return
to Nazareth
·
When Jesus was 12 years old – Jesus along with Joseph and
Mary and a clan of Jewish believers visit Jerusalem – Probably for Passover ---
and Jesus stays behind --- 3 days total --- hmmm!
·
From Jesus age of 12-30 years there is silence --- there
were books written about Jesus’ childhood – But all the resources I found said
the stories were somewhat ridiculous --- I’ll leave that up to your own study
and your own determination
Some
additional background will help as well:
From my studies – I learn that missing Jesus on the journey
back was not that big a deal – the people traveled in groups for safety and
fellowship – So, children likely played together – It was common for the
parents not to meet up with their children until the end of the day – typically
called the “evening roundup” – So -Mary and Joseph didn’t think anything of not
seeing Jesus for the day.
And… Jesus was 12 years old. This was when a Jewish boy was
prepared, or trained, for adult status in the Jewish community.
Also… I found an “Easter Egg” hidden in this passage, at
least for me. This came as a surprise to my understanding of God’s work.
Here is my Easter Egg…
·
Joseph and Mary find out Jesus is missing on the evening of
the first day
·
On the Second day, Joseph and Mary retrace their step
looking for Jesus
·
Then on the morning of the third day, they find Jesus in
the Temple
·
I can’t help but to recall Jesus’ crucifixion and burial on
the evening of the first day – Good Friday
·
Jesus in the tomb on the Second Day
·
And Jesus resurrection of the morning of the Third Day
Is there deeper meaning to this? For me yes, perhaps for
you as well. I’ll leave that to your own reflection and prayer.
What surprised me the most about this short passage of Scripture
is the Joy involved. Yes, this passage inspired me to new joy. New joy in God’s
Word through the joy of Jesus that I came to realize.
Another link of this passage to the Old Testament, Samuel
and Hannah stories occurs here as well. Let’s dive into that for a little
inspiration…
1 Samuel 3:1-10 NIV
3 The boy Samuel
ministered before the Lord under
Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was
rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose
eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down
in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not
yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then
the Lord called Samuel.
Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And
he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he
went and lay down.
6 Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel
got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”
7 Now Samuel did not yet
know the Lord: The
word of the Lord had
not yet been revealed to him.
8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel
got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So
Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The Lord came and stood there, calling
as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Do you see the connection? Both Jesus and Samuel were dedicated
to God’s service. And both Jesus and Samuel ended up in the Temple to “listen”
to God. To hear God speaking. Both Jesus
and Samuel have a call from God and a mission to carry out by God’s command.
And to take this in a bit, you and I too are called to
listen to God; to respond to God’s love and to serve God and all those God
gives to us in the love of our forgiven lives in an astonished joy and freedom
that only God, through and in Jesus can give to us. Think that through a bit,
and like Mary and Joseph, and Hannah, and Elizabeth, and Zachariah, and John
the Baptist, and the disciples and all God’s people… internalize it. Take it
in. Take it in like you take in the bread and the wine and the body and the
blood into your very being. Internalize Jesus… I promise that this will
astonish you!
God’s writings were close and dear to the 12-year-old
Jesus. Jesus was in the Temple with the teachers and religious people of the
day, asking questions and listening. Jesus wasn’t there to instruct, like some
artwork seems to indicate. No, Jesus was passionate about God’s word and God’s
Law. Here, Jesus has a happy, eager and open mind, along with a simple spirit
of joy in God’s word and Law. Jesus had a desire to learn more and more and
more.
In this passage, we witness Jesus’ joy and friendliness and
cheer for learning. Yet, later on Jesus is given the title of “Man of Sorrows.”
But Jesus was also as much, even more a “Man of Joy.”
And Joseph and Mary are “Astonished” by what they discover
when they find Jesus on the morning of that third day.
And I’m astonished as well!
I’m astonished at the joy of learning the Word as presented
to me in the Scriptures. I’m astonished at the joy of the gift of my baptism,
as I am buried in the waters of my baptism and risen to new life with God the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I’m astonished at the joy of Jesus coming to me and
becoming an intimate part of me as I take in the bread and the wine, the body
and the blood of Jesus, and Jesus joins with me, yes, comes to me to give me
forgiveness and everlasting life in Holy Communion.
I’m astonished by God’s action, when I read and internalize
God’s Word through Old Testament and New Testament writings. I’m astonished
when I hear and listen to God’s Word of Law and Gospel spoken to me through all
the Pastors of my life, yesterday, today and into the future. Gifted disciples,
steeped in God’s Word that I can ask questions of and listen to, all precious gifts
from God.
I’m astonished when I listen to fellow laypersons,
disciples and hear how God is active in their lives. Hear how God has called
each and every one of them to be priests in God’s active Word in the worlds in
which we live.
As Jesus was in the Temple, in His own astonished state of
joy and passion, He listened and even as He was aware of being the Son of God
the Father; Jesus was astonished by all that God has done, since before all
things.
Yes, it’s all astonishing! I’m astonished, today… tomorrow…
and forever. How could I not be astonished at what God has done for all
mankind, in granting forgiveness, salvation for sin and death and everlasting
life with God.
Astonishing! And that word really can’t be expressed in its
entirety as to how God excites me day after day.
On the first day, the day that my sin was taken in by Jesus
and that day that Jesus died with my sin and was laid in the tomb. To the Holy
Saturday, when I go back to search for my Savior, in the sorrow of my sin, to
that Astonishing Day when I see Jesus’ empty tomb and the promise of my own
resurrection to come… I’m ASTONISHED!
Astonished by a 12-year-old boy, astonished by God’s Word Himself.
What an example of passion and excitement in a call that was so tough, yet so necessary
for me and you and all the world.
Thanks be to God! Astonishing!
I leave you with this YouTube Music video by Chris Tomlin
“Indescribable”
Photo --- Laminin - The Protein that holds our bodies together...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLqAUJcUbo
