Jesus as a kid
5 November, 2009, 11:18 am
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.
This is one of those famous Bible Stories. I think what tends to draw us to it is that its one of the few places we see Jesus as a young man.
It is also one of those stories that is usually used to illustrate how special Jesus was. Even as a child he was different and somehow he knew it.
I think That is a part of what Luke intended to demonstrate when he told this story.
But instead of focusing on Jesus staying behind at the temple. Rather than discussing the fact that those who heard him were amazed at what he said, we should see his response.
Of course at first he was like a typical teenager. He said “what mom?” I can almost see his astonishment. If you have ever spoken to a teenager you know what I am talking about. Shock that you would suggest that something was wrong with making his own decisions.
But look at the next line. He went home with them and was “submissive to them.” No fight no argument – the creator of the universe was submissive to his parents.
If ever a fight was going to break out, that would have been a good time. But instead he obeyed them.
Remember what that was like for you when you were that age? Do you know the feeling of wanting complete independence from your authorities, from God?
Jesus knows that feeling too. He knows exactly what it feels like when you have to deny your human impulse for autonomy and be submissive to someone else.
We serve a king who understands exactly what he is asking for when he asks you to obey him.
And he can be trusted with it.
