Advent: 6 Days to Go
In this installment of our Christmas adventure, Joseph, Mary and Jesus again visit the temple...
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 to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
--Luke 2:41-52 KJV Bible
According to Deuteronomy 16:16, all Jewish men were required to attend the temple at Jerusalem at Passover, Penetecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. From what we can tell, Joseph was diligent to fulfill his duties, and apparently Mary attended the observances with Joseph on at least some of these occasions, even though the women were not required to do so. Jesus’ trip to the temple at age 12 may, or may not, have been His first. Either way, this trip was a special event. When a Jewish boy reached the age of 13, he was initiated fully into religious life, becoming a “Bar Mitzvah”--Hebrew, meaning a “son of the commandment.” Usually a boy attended the festivals in Jerusalem one year before this point in order to gain greater understanding of his new responsibilities. Based upon Luke 2:40, we know that Jesus had been growing and learning the privileges and responsibilities that went along with Jewish manhood. At this point in Jesus’ life we do not know the full extent of Jesus’ growing awareness of His special place in God’s plan. But over the next few days Jesus must have experienced some special revelations about God and Jesus’ relationship to Him.
Jewish custom dictated that teachers sat in the temple courts during Passover and entered into discussions with the people. Jesus joined the people and followed in this practice of hearing teachers and asking questions. This process was the usual educational method of that period. But Luke 2:47 tells us that the teachers were amazed by Jesus’ understanding. And Jesus must have been very engrossed in the process, because it seems that once He arrived, He did not leave when His family left.
Over the years, Jesus must have become a very obedient son, and Mary and Joseph must have become very trusting in Jesus’ obedience. When the time came for the family to begin the journey back to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph expected that Jesus departed on time with the large caravan and that, though they did not see Jesus, He must have been somewhere with extended family or friends. It took them a full day of traveling to realize that Jesus was not with them, and another full day to travel back to Jerusalem to search for Him. Imagine the anxiety of Mary and Joseph as they searched for God’s Messiah, who had been placed in their care while he grew.
When Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus in the temple, they expressed their exasperation at His apparent laps in obedience. Jesus seemed puzzled by this, explaining that He would have be about His Father’s business and wondering why they did not understand this. It seems that while Jesus understood all too well the significance of becoming a “son of the commandment,” Mary and Joseph did not--at least, not consciously. In obedience to their wishes, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and continued to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. That is, until His time finally came.
Next, the time comes for the witness to the “Light”…
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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 to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
--Luke 2:41-52 KJV Bible
According to Deuteronomy 16:16, all Jewish men were required to attend the temple at Jerusalem at Passover, Penetecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. From what we can tell, Joseph was diligent to fulfill his duties, and apparently Mary attended the observances with Joseph on at least some of these occasions, even though the women were not required to do so. Jesus’ trip to the temple at age 12 may, or may not, have been His first. Either way, this trip was a special event. When a Jewish boy reached the age of 13, he was initiated fully into religious life, becoming a “Bar Mitzvah”--Hebrew, meaning a “son of the commandment.” Usually a boy attended the festivals in Jerusalem one year before this point in order to gain greater understanding of his new responsibilities. Based upon Luke 2:40, we know that Jesus had been growing and learning the privileges and responsibilities that went along with Jewish manhood. At this point in Jesus’ life we do not know the full extent of Jesus’ growing awareness of His special place in God’s plan. But over the next few days Jesus must have experienced some special revelations about God and Jesus’ relationship to Him.
Jewish custom dictated that teachers sat in the temple courts during Passover and entered into discussions with the people. Jesus joined the people and followed in this practice of hearing teachers and asking questions. This process was the usual educational method of that period. But Luke 2:47 tells us that the teachers were amazed by Jesus’ understanding. And Jesus must have been very engrossed in the process, because it seems that once He arrived, He did not leave when His family left.
Over the years, Jesus must have become a very obedient son, and Mary and Joseph must have become very trusting in Jesus’ obedience. When the time came for the family to begin the journey back to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph expected that Jesus departed on time with the large caravan and that, though they did not see Jesus, He must have been somewhere with extended family or friends. It took them a full day of traveling to realize that Jesus was not with them, and another full day to travel back to Jerusalem to search for Him. Imagine the anxiety of Mary and Joseph as they searched for God’s Messiah, who had been placed in their care while he grew.
When Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus in the temple, they expressed their exasperation at His apparent laps in obedience. Jesus seemed puzzled by this, explaining that He would have be about His Father’s business and wondering why they did not understand this. It seems that while Jesus understood all too well the significance of becoming a “son of the commandment,” Mary and Joseph did not--at least, not consciously. In obedience to their wishes, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and continued to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. That is, until His time finally came.
Next, the time comes for the witness to the “Light”…
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