Young Jesus – Part 1

Scripture: Luke 2:39-52

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:39-42, 51-52 NLT)

Please read Luke 2:39-52 for the story of Jesus in the Temple at age 12. When the family started home to Nazareth from Jerusalem that year at the close of Passover week, Jesus stayed behind among the religious leaders in the Temple, discussing deep questions with them. His parents found him three days later and were pretty upset!

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. (Luke 2:48-50 NLT)

Jesus already had a strong sense of the calling of his other Father on his life as the Son of God and Son of Man who came to be mankind’s Savior and Lord. I can imagine that over the next eighteen years until age 30 he likely spent many hours and days in the Temple listening and learning and asking and answering deep questions. I think he likely made trips out into the Judean wilderness to see his cousin John who was also growing up and becoming strong in spirit (Luke 1:80).

He returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. He grew in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and all the people.

Jesus was a boy growing into a man and he was the Son of God becoming fully human. He had tough choices to make between his responsibilities as Mary and Joseph’s oldest son and his call to be the Savior of the world! As his younger brothers grew and could take on more responsibility, I believe he was freer to pursue the call of the Spirit.

We have two natures as well. We have our human, family, and community relationships and responsibilities, and we have our life as God’s children to pursue. We need grace and wisdom to make the sometimes difficult choices we face.

Prayer:

Father, As you guided your son Jesus and he grew in all the natural ways, but also the spiritual ways, may we grow in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and people!