Jesus at 12
By the age of 12 Jesus knew who He was and what He had come to the earth to do. We sometimes think His ministry started at 30 so it was only then He realised who He was.
This passage isn't teaching us about childhood or parenthood but shows us at an early stage He knew who He was and where He was going.
It begins with a journey to Jerusalem. It was the feast of the Passover. They would have travelled with family and friends every single year. Only men were required to go. Mary and Joseph were quite poor but yet they went as a family which would have cost them quite a bit. It was quite a distance and would have taken quite a few days to even get there.
Are we as eager to come and meet with other Christians and worship Him? Jesus accompanied Mary and Joseph. He was 12 years Old. We don't know if this was His first time or of He went every year. He was in the brink of adulthood. He wasn't any more a child but neither was He an adult. Mary and Joseph stayed all of the 8 days. They then gathered up their belongings and started to head home along with everyone else. We nearly everyone else. Jesus stayed behind. It want that He got lost. No. He stayed behind. He chose to stay. What possible motive could He have had. Why did He choose to stay.
Having left Jerusalem the rest travelled on for a day. Probably about 20 miles. They then realised Jesus wasn't with them. Nobody knew where He was. They searched for Him. There would have been a large group. The young people would all have walked together. Mary and Joseph wouldn't have been worried about Him until they knew He was missing. Up to now they would have knew Jesus was the perfect child so there was nothing to worry about.
It took them 3 days to locate Him. This may have been 3 days since they last seen Him. They probably set out the next morning to go back to Jerusalem. They finally found Him in the temple. Not the first place they would have looked to find a 12 year old. There He was sitting among the teachers. People would have met here to listen to the teachers teaching. This was different.
1/. He was sitting among the teachers.
2/. He was listening to them.
3/. He was asking them questions.
4/. He was answering them.
Teachers would begin by explaining the passage. They would then enter a dialogue. The teachers would then ask the students questions to check that what they taught was understood. Jesus showed an amazing understanding for a 12 year old. Jesus is a model for all our young people. Look at His thirst and hunger. Although He was divine. He was human. He still had to learn. Do we listen? Do we ask the right questions?
Mary and Joseph found Him at last. They wanted to know why He stayed. Why did He put them through this?
Why did you put me through that, Mary asked. More than likely this was a rebuke to Jesus. She knew He was the Son of God but she still demanded an explanation. Mary and we, need to recognise this was no normal child. Jesus doesn't hang His head in shame. He doesn't fight back. Instead He brings a challenge to His mother.
Why were you searching for Me? They should have known where He would have been. Didn't you know I would be in My Fathers House.
He reminds Mary of His unique identity. These are His first words recorded in the Bible. His first words are telling us who He is. "In my Father's House". His true father was God. Jesus reminds Mary of who He really was. He also conveys His ultimate priority. He says I must be in My Father's house. I need to be in the place of My Father's house. I must be involved in My Father's business. He wasn't following any other agenda only that of His Father.
The business of saving sinners didn't start in gethsemane. no it started long before that. Even here He see His obedience to His Father long before we see His obedience at the cross.
Did His Mum and Dad understand?
No. They were slow to learn. Thank God He is patient with us.
What did Jesus do? He returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. He honoured His Father and His mother. He was perfect even as a child. If the child Jesus hadn't been perfect, the man Jesus wouldn't have been perfect. What meekness. What majesty. Such wisdom.
Created 4 months ago
