Didn’t you know…?

Context

We come to the last account of Jesus’ childhood years and the end of chapter 2 of Luke. We’ve listened to Gabriel announce to Mary that Israel’s king and saviour is coming (1:26ff). We read of the yet-to-be-born John bouncing in Elizabeth’s womb because he was in the presence of the yet-to-be-born Jesus (1:39ff)! We’ve listened to Mary respond with songs of praise for all that God has done, all that he promises to do and all that he is fulfilling in her time (1:46ff). We pictured a night sky lit up by angels singing glory to God (2:8ff). The shepherds who witnessed this then raced to Bethlehem to see the baby born and spread the word of this child. Mary and Joseph heard what the shepherds said about their baby and Mary treasured all of these things in her heart and pondered them (2:19). Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the Lord and watched as a devout Jew named Simeon took Jesus and praised God for sending his salvation and light into the world. Jesus’ parents marveled at what was said about him (2:33). Simeon then prophesied to Mary concerning her and her son (2:34-35). Lastly, Anna the prophet spoke in the presence of Mary and Joseph about this special child who will bring redemption to Jerusalem (2:36-38). We arrive now at the final instalment of Mary and Joseph with Jesus as a child.

Observation

Structure

• 41-43 Open scene – The annual family visit to Jerusalem
• 43-45 The lost child
• 46-48 Finding Jesus
• 49-50 The lost parents
• 51-52 Close scene – Jesus: Bloke Worth Watching

41-43 Open Scene – the annual family visit to Jerusalem

“Every year…Festival of the Passover” Deuteronomy 16:1-8 describes the essential why and how of Passover. It is an annual celebration remembering the rescue of the Jews from Egypt (see Exodus 12). An animal is to be sacrificed and eaten along with unleavened bread. Verse 5 and 6 “Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem…” Deuteronomy 16:5-6 make it clear that you may not choose anywhere to celebrate the Passover but only in the place that God chooses for his name to dwell. This was wherever the Tabernacle was while in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem.

“When he was twelve years old…” This verse simply gives us a timeline reference. It was the family’s custom to do this and this was the twelfth or thirteenth time they had done this with Jesus. The story is giving us nothing unusual for Joseph’s family at this point. Nothing to see here.

“…while his parents were returning home…” Note the word ‘parents’ here used instead of their names since this is a theme of this story. Compare with the use of the word ‘son’ in verse 48.

“…the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem…” Here is where the story takes a turn. It was their custom to go home once the festival was over and they surely would have talked as a family with the knowledge that this was the plan. Being a twelve year old boy, Jesus would have presumably had some level of independence within the family structure. Meaning that he can dress himself and feed himself and organise himself to be ready when the time to leave is at hand.

43-45 The lost child

“…but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company…” This is the problem in the story structure. And it will turn out to be a clue to the reason for this story being included in the gospel. Jesus is destined to shake up Israel and Mary and Joseph have been reminded of this for twelve years now. This statement of being unaware of his absence means what it says but it will lead us to the lesson of not presuming we have Jesus all worked out. This lesson will expand as the story continues.

“…they travelled for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.” Mary and Joseph travelled for so long because they had the impression that Jesus was somewhere in the caravan of travellers.

“When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.” It appears like just a transitional sentence to tell us what they did next but in the detail is the message that Joseph and Mary still have no clue where they think he should be. We will forgive them for their lack of knowledge since we would probably have been just as vague as they were but the story is telling us that they have narrowed his search down to an entire city.

46-48 Finding Jesus

“After three days they found him in the temple courts…” Supporting the previous paragraph. They either spent three days walking around Jerusalem seeking him or it was the third day since they left Jerusalem. Either way, they spent more than 48 hours looking around Jerusalem for their son. This must have been traumatic for them. But again, the main point and meaning of this passage will not be about the disobedience of Jesus but of Jesus beginning to separate from his parents in preparation for serving his heavenly Father. Three days does make me think of the resurrection but perhaps a stretch to make too much out of that. It is better to say that it is a familiar bible narrative technique that resolution or answers are found on the third day.

“…the temple courts…” Lookup any study bible for an image of the temple in Jerusalem to visualise the temple courts which surrounded the temple proper. These were gathering places for schools and debates. It is a practical place to meet in relation to worship, teaching and Jewish life without venturing into the more inner sanctified areas of the temple.

“…sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed…” It’s a wonderful picture of Jesus discussing all manner of things with the teachers of the law (Old Testament teachers) without quarrel. How amazing it was for a little child to interact with Israel’s teachers 18 years before Jesus began his public ministry. He asked questions and gave replies also. His manner seems to be of reflective listening and gently pointing out clearer understandings of the Old Testament. What we must gather from this is not only a superior mind for understanding but also a growing mind which is putting things together. Questions about Jesus’ personal development come to mind and they are questions we can only guess at. It is likely that he learned just as all of us do, however, he grew in his understanding of who he is. What of Jesus’ omnipotence as God you might ask? This is part of the humiliation of God in becoming man. While eternally God, he became man and had to learn as we do.

“When his parents saw him, they were astonished.” What was it that astonished them? We may think it is where they found him or that he was interacting so intelligently and on par with the mature teachers but the answer is probably to do with finding him apparently unaware that he has been missed.

“Son, why have you treated us like this?” Finally we come to some spoken words in the story and this is where we usually find the author’s purpose. They call him son which is a fact but reminds the reader that they are parenting Jesus. That is, it reminds us that the subject of this story is about Jesus’ relationship to his parents and how he begins to separate from them. Now, they are baffled as to why Jesus would simply abandon their side and not even be concerned about reuniting with them. Mary and Joseph have been his parents for twelve years and were not preparing themselves for what God sent him to earth to do.

“Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Again, the relationship of father and son or parent and son is central to this story.

49-50 The lost parents

“Why were you searching for me?” Jesus asks a question which does sound a bit rude to the people who have raised him. But while the story has shown us Jesus physically separated from Mary and Joseph, we now hear his language in separating in his identity from them. This would be a difficult process for Joseph and Mary to begin to go through but it was always a burden that they would one day bear and it is gracious for God to begin to teach them this lesson 18 years before he eventually departs from them.

“Didn’t you know…?” Clearly they didn’t know. The day will come, Mary, when your son will have to do what he was destined to do. As Simeon said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul too (2:34-35).”

“…I had to be in my Father’s house?” It is a strange conclusion to think that his parents ought to know this. But while his parents did not expect this for a second, it is no less the truth and they are learning this lesson today. Jesus’ true Father is the Almighty God who blessed Israel and declared to dwell with them in this temple. To show that Jesus was not a new religion but a fulfillment of the old, this is where Yahweh will come to teach and bring people into God’s kingdom.

“But they did not understand what he was saying to them.” Well, this is going to happen a lot to the audiences of Jesus. He was not just an amazing man who stood out from the crowd. Rather, he is from out of this world and the things he had to say did not so much as critique the words of others but rebuke and correct and challenge everything about what we had formally known. It is true for every Christian as we read God’s word that we often do not see clearly what is being said to us straight away.

This story is not so much about Jesus being in the Temple nor is it a cute insight into the early days of Jesus but is a lesson for Mary and Joseph to be prepared for their boy to go away.

51-52 Close scene – Jesus: Bloke Worth Watching

“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” We see here the compassion and patience of our Lord to humbly follow Mary and Joseph and respect them as he continues to grow. What a little image of Jesus’ humility! How often is it that you choose to humble yourself out of love and submit to someone whom you know to be misguided?

“But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” I do wonder whether Luke had direct access to Mary to research his work in these two opening chapters. We have been told frequently about what Mary saw, or heard and treasured and pondered (eg, 2:19). At the end of this story, we see the lesson is for Mary and Joseph to expect Jesus to be here for his heavenly Father’s purposes and yet the story closes with Mary still pondering it all. While Jesus submitted to Mary to follow her home, the events of this story did not get lost on her.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” We do not have any further credible accounts of Jesus’ growing years but for this simple summary statement. The Son of God grew up in the household of two imperfect parents such that God [the Father] blessed him and his fellow man respected him. As Christians, we shall expect suffering and some level of persecution and feel like fish swimming against the flow but there is no reason we cannot impress our fellow man through love and charity, patience and kindness, patience and love. Jesus was the perfect human – and this is necessary for his sacrifice to mean anything.

Meaning

The son of Joseph and Mary was destined to lead Israel into the true kingdom of God. He called the Temple of God his Father’s house. He displayed an amazing understanding of the word of God. He grew into an impressive man of God in every way. But Mary and Joseph must be ready to let their son be exactly who he is. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” We can be impressed by Jesus. We can boast that he is for us. But we cannot restrain him or presume to tame him.

Application

• Topic A: The difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. It is one thing to be an expert in the gospels and the rest of the bible but quite another level to know God and know Jesus. Meditating on God’s word rather than simply reading it and moving on is one way of growing in this way. Becoming engaged beyond knowing the content of the bible and to grow and awe and wonder at the person who stands behind it all.
• Topic B: Growing in Christian maturity. Similar to the first application point but pushing the idea of not settling with what you know. Mary and Joseph had become accustomed to their relationship with Jesus and seemed almost to assume it would stay that way. Christians will grow in their relationship with God when they bring God into every conscious aspect of their life. We will continue to learn to relate to him in the way that he deserves and not simply in the way that we would like to.
• Topic C: Being clear about what is important in life. Jesus knew his destiny was in bringing the light of God and salvation to the world and yet he showed great patience and humility to do this. It is not enough for us to know what we need to do but also how we do it! While Jesus was in the right to abandon his earthly parents, he chose to submit to them for a while longer. This is not an invitation to simply cruise through life waiting for things to happen for us but to see the balance between knowing and discovering our work and then pursuing it with grace and wisdom.

Prayer of the Week

Heavenly Father, thank you for all that we know about Jesus, your Son, our Saviour and Lord. Please help us to follow him, to know him and to love him. We praise you for the patience you have with us as we struggle to understand exactly who you are and what you plan for us to do. Amen.