The Boy Jesus in the Temple

 

Scripture: Luke 2:41-52 (ESV)

⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. ⁴³ And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, ⁴⁴ but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. ⁵¹ And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Devotion:

            Today we leave the infancy narratives about Jesus. We join Luke in retelling the only story have about Jesus between his infancy and his adult years. In it we find Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem after the Passover feast. According to Jewish custom Jesus being 12 years old was still considered a boy. The ritual for ending adulthood took place on the boy's 13^th birthday. Yet we find him in the temple conversing with the teachers of the law.

            His parents were understandably upset when they discovered that the boy was not traveling with their friends and relatives. They of course went back to Jerusalem to see if they could find Jesus in the city. They searched for days. Eventually discovering the boy in the temple conversing with the teachers of the law. This prompted them to speak harshly to the boy because of their concern for his well-being. Jesus answered them speaking of his location in his father’s house. Mary and Joseph did not understand what he was saying to them.

            The scripture goes on to indicate that Jesus, the son of God, went home with them and was submissive to them. The idea that the very son of God obeyed the commandment to honor his father and mother is remarkable. If ever a child could claim the right to break this commandment Jesus certainly would have been the one to do so. We are left with verse 52 that indicates that Jesus grew up filled with wisdom and full of the Spirit of God. So that all who knew him were impressed with him. We should pray that we would recognize who this child was from his earliest years.

Prayer:

            Lord, open our eyes to see the savior you have prepared for the world. Heal our blindness to the things of God that you have provided for us. Let us see this child you sent so long ago to the people of Israel. May we bow down and worship him as Lord of the universe. Forgive our lack of understanding of who Jesus is. Help us follow this God-child as he grows up in stature and respect. May we worship him with our whole lives. Amen.