On Line Bible Study - For the week January 4-10, 2010

Lesson 421

Luke 2: ⁴¹Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. ⁴³After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

⁴⁹"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" ⁵⁰But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Let's parse this text out a bit:

• Mary and Joseph are faithful to the traditions of their Jewish faith as they travel to Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover. While many who traveled stayed only for 2 or 3 days, it appears this family stayed for the full 7 days of Passover.
• Jesus manages to escape both the presence and the notice of his parents.
• There is amazement at Jesus' understanding and that he would treat his parents as he did.
• Jesus demonstrates absolute clarity as to his priorities and mission - and his relationship to his Father.

There are many questions about this text, found only in Luke. Recalling the presentation of Jesus in the temple, referenced in the previous lesson, we find ourselves once again in the temple - Luke's "last stop" as it were before Jesus is baptized and begins his public ministry. Notice that this story of Jesus in the temple concludes very much like the previous one - he grows up and is "filled with wisdom" and God's grace is upon him.

This is the only Gospel reference to Jesus being taught by Jewish leaders. According to Luke, the speaking Jesus does is in the form of questions to those who were teaching, and responses he makes to the questions of the teachers. This question / answer approach was a style of instruction very common in the ancient world.

But the centerpiece of the story is Jesus' response to his parents, specifically to his mother. He is surprised at their "surprise". In spite of the stories of the angel visitation to Mary and the explanation given to her with regard to her son, she does not have inside knowledge here; or, if she does have inside knowledge, she still has much to learn about the mission Jesus has come to fulfill.

This is the point not only for Mary, but for all of us. Jesus, in these first words uttered by him in Luke's Gospel, is clear about what he is called to do. The "temple" may be a symbol not so much for a specific place as for the work of God that must be carried out in the world. Throughout the entire Gospel tradition Jesus has a powerful sense of his call; thus, his priorities are never in question, and he will not be distracted from his mission.

For those who have faith in Jesus, this single-mindedness is still very much in play. He is relevant today not because of any cultural predilections, but because of his single priority - to do God's will. What is the work of God in our time? How is it different, or the same as it was in Jesus' day? The resurrected Christ is still single minded. God is still the top priority.

What's yours?