Luke 2:41-52

Three hundred years before Christ Plato wrote, "Of all the animals, the boy is the most unmanageable." Why? Boys are rambunctious and aggressive. They like to throw rocks, play with fire, climb trees, wrestle, and show off. James Dobson, in his excellent book, Bringing Up Boys, gives several stories about typical boyhood recklessness. A man named Dave recalls a stunt he pulled as a youngster.

"A friend and I found a coffee can of gasoline in the garage and decided to pour some down a manhole, light it, and see what would happen. We popped the manhole open, poured some gas in, and replaced the cover so that it was ajar. We kept throwing matches down but nothing happened, so we poured all the gas in. Finally, there was a noise like a jet engine starting up, and then a big BOOM! The manhole cover flew up and a flame shot up about fifteen feet in the air. The ground was rumbling like an earthquake, and the manhole cover crashed about twelve feet away in the neighbor's driveway. What happened was the gas ran down the sewer lines for a block or so and vaporized with all the methane in there, and blew up all our neighbors' toilets. I'm a plumber now; that's how I know exactly what happened." [p. 3]

It is appropriate to keep the craziness of boys in mind as we study our Gospel passage for today. Jesus is only twelve years old when it takes place and He is fully human, which means He is all boy.

Luke 2:41-42 say, "His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when [Jesus] was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast." Traveling to Jerusalem each year may sound easy, but it was no simple trip, especially with a large family. Nazareth was located north of Jerusalem and if the family skirted the region of Samaria (as was the custom), then the route came out to about eighty miles long. It was mandatory for men to attend, but the law at that time allowed mothers to stay home. So what we have presented here is a very godly couple. Joseph and Mary worshipped side by side, and encouraged each other in religious duties. So it should be with all Christian husbands and wives. They help one another in spiritual things, and encourage each other in church attendance. This is one reason it is so important to marry a Christian. J.C. Ryle put it this way, "[Marriage] helps them upwards or downwards. It leads them nearer to heaven or nearer to hell. We all depend much on the company we keep. Our characters are molded by those with whom we pass out time. Let all who are married, or think of being married, ponder these things well. Let them follow the example of Joseph and Mary. Let them pray together, and read the Bible together, and go to the house of God together, and talk to one another about spiritual matters." Strong families are foundational to the Church, and Joseph and Mary show us a strong family.

Jesus comes to the Temple at twelve. Is this trip connected to His Bar Mitzvah? No. The Bar Mitzvah for boys and the Bat Mitzvah for girls were later developments in Judaism. However, the age of thirteen was an important one. Once a lad reached thirteen he was regarded as an adult. He was now responsible for following God's Law on his own. It was expected that He would attend the feasts, and start learning a vocation as an apprentice. Jesus thus stood on the edge of adulthood.

Reading the next verses: Luke 2:43-45. [Read them.]

How in the world was Jesus left behind? Were Mary and Joseph negligent in their care of Jesus? These questions have occurred to some people. Several explanations have been given. The pilgrims who attended these feasts usually traveled in large groups. Since Nazareth was eighty miles away, the caravans would probably travel around twenty miles a day, the men in one group and the women in another. Joseph might have thought that Jesus was with Mary, and vice verse, Mary possibly thought that Jesus was with Joseph. Another factor could be the trustworthiness of Jesus. Jesus was such a responsible boy they automatically assumed He would join the departing caravan at the right time. Parents are blessed who can trust their boys and girls when absent from them. Before sundown when the caravan made camp near some water source, the parents met. Only then did they discover that their son was missing.

Dobson also tells about this four-year-old boy named Jeffrey. "One day his parents and grandparents were talking in the family room when they realized that the child hadn't been seen in the past few minutes. They quickly searched from room to room, but he was nowhere to be found. Four adults scurried throughout the neighborhood calling, "Jeffrey? Jeffrey!" No answer. The kid had simply disappeared. Panic gripped the family as terrible possibilities loomed before them. Had he been kidnapped? Did he wander away? Was he in mortal danger? Everyone muttered a prayer while running from place to place. After about fifteen minutes of sheer terror, someone suggested they call 911. As they reentered the house, the boy jumped out and said, "Hey!" to his grandfather. Little Jeffrey, bless his heart, had been hiding under the bed while chaos swirled around him. It was his idea of a joke. He honestly thought every one else would think it was funny too. He was shocked to learn that four big people were very angry at him."

Was Jesus pulling a similar prank? No. Were Joseph and Mary guilty of carelessness? No. Whatever the reason for leaving Jesus behind, the Bible does not blame the parents and we shouldn't either. We simply lack information. The next day Joseph and Mary turned around and retraced their steps in order to find their son.

Verses 46-47 say, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." What a tranquil scene compared with the later conflict Jesus would have with the Scribes and Pharisees. It took three days to track Him down, but Joseph and Mary finally found their son. He was soaking up the theological wisdom from the best teachers. Was this all Jesus ever did as a boy? Probably not.

Boys are prone to getting into mischief. Certainly Jesus joked, laughed and played games with His friends. He probably enjoyed sports and adventure. It was a struggle for Him to maintain self-discipline, cleanliness, respect for authority, a work ethic, and common courtesy. Even as a twelve-year-old boy Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He had His priorities straight and knew what was important. Here was an opportunity to gain wisdom and learning. He leaped at the chance. The custom was for the teachers to sit on benches placed on a semi-circular platform. The students sat on the floor. Thus Jesus seated Himself with the other students, listening to His instructors and asking them questions. And let's not think that Jesus' questions were of some spoiled type trying to show off. Jesus was no precocious boy dominating a crowd of elders. He was humble and respectful.

The twelve-year-old provides a great example! We too need to seek wisdom from others. If it weren't for the guidance of others, I don't know where I would be. I think of the Rev. Jose Lezcano, my pastor in Paraguay. He and his wife instilled in me 500 insights about Christian living. In our marriage Beth and I have asked advise from at least two Christian couples to help us through problems. We especially rely on these two families for the difficulties we encounter in raising our kids. With regards to pastoral matters Bishop Grote has been a fount of wisdom for me. Let's not forget the wisdom among the membership of this parish. We have many good resources here.

It would be hard to overstate the help one receives from wise mentors. Why? You can't do it on your own. Reading is helpful, especially the classics and Church history. Nevertheless, it's foolish to try to solve every problem on your own. You have blind spots. You need the input and feedback from the Church. You need the council of others, and Jesus is your example. Always be suspicious of those Lone Ranger theologians.

Another thing. Wisdom is not the same as intellectual brilliance or verbal dexterity. Too often extremely smart people never attain wisdom. How is that so? They are social misfits, or they live in the cocoon of academia, or they have a hard time submitting to authority, or all of the above. I worked a couple of years for a prolific author. In many ways he was a genius, very disciplined, and a voracious reader. However, he didn't have a clue with regards to child-rearing questions, or any kind of interpersonal problem. Oftentimes, the best instruction comes from humble and prudent people who read their Bibles and put it into practice. They are people of prayer. They understand sin and human nature, and they learn from the experience of others. Those are the people you want to sit at the feet of.

Moving on. Verse 48 says, "So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, 'Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.'" The sight of Jesus learning from the teachers both amazed and relieved Joseph and Mary. Then Mary rebukes Him a little, "What are you doing here? How can you be so insensitive? Your disappearance traumatized your father and I."

Jesus' answer is the climax to the passage. "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" These questions are actually the very first words of Jesus recorded in the Bible. In other words, Jesus is commenting on His divinity. "My real Father is God, and I must be in My Father's house. This is the house where My Father resides and where divine instruction takes place."

It was a mild reproof to His mother. At first Mary and Joseph did not understand the word of Jesus, that is, they did not realize that He was asserting His divinity, His divine Sonship. The answer of Jesus was meant to remind His mother, that He was no common person. He was the Son of God in a totally unique sense. His answer was a hint to His mother that she was forgetting all the miraculous things that had surrounded His birth: the conception by the Holy Spirit, the announcement to her by the angel Gabriel, the star guiding the magi, and the adoration of the shepherds, just to name a few. Since He had come into the world in no ordinary way, she could not expect Him to be always dwelling quietly at Nazareth as a normal boy.

Verse 51 says, "Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them" He was subject to his parents. This is a signal of humility. He had just amazed the intellectual world with His wisdom, and proclaimed His deity. Did this give Him a superiority complex? No. He submitted to the authority of His parents and obeyed them. All boys and girls must obey their parents like Jesus obeyed His.

"His mother kept all these things in her heart." What did Mary ponder in her heart? She mulled over what her Son had said about His relationship to God the Father. The divinity of her Son made her muse. Perhaps she pondered her own need for a Savior to save her from her sin. How will my son save the world?

The last verse declares the progress of Jesus over the next seventeen years before beginning His earthly ministry. "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:51). We need to keep in mind the two natures of our Lord. Christ is fully God and fully man. He just told His mother and father, "I must be about My Father's business." That is divinity. He is the eternally begotten Son of the Father, and that is the truth He was telling his parents. Now the Bible tells us that He grew. Divinity doesn't grow; humanity does. He increased in wisdom and stature and grace in terms of His humanity. He increased in spiritual insight, physical stature and grace.

Jesus' example in the temple consecrates the entire arena of education. He was a learner and thirsted for wisdom and knowledge. He was a listener. This should be an encouragement to every student. If the Lord Jesus dedicated Himself so eagerly and diligently to learning, then you should too. Are you willing to sit at the feet of wise men and women of God like He did?

Jesus' example gives honor to teachers as well. Schoolteachers of all subjects, home-schooling parents, Sunday School teachers, Bible teachers, you name it, if they teach well, they deserve our encouragement and support. More than that, if they are wise and godly, let us go and sit at their feet.