His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:41-52 (find this or any other passage at www.Biblegateway.org)
OK, this is technically not part of the Christmas story, but I'm including it here because it is our last glimpse of Jesus as a child, and the only time we hear Him speak before manhood.
I love this story! Here is the twelve year old Jesus, a twelve year old Jewish boy. His next birthday would be the time for His Bar Mitzvah; the age and ceremony that declared Jewish boys to be men. Now, there are several steps through which they became "fully adult", but at the age of thirteen they could serve in the Temple, they were accountable to the Law, and...they had to have a trade.
Traditionally, young boys and girls spent their time with their mothers, then at about twelve years the girls became women, and the boys began learning their life's work, usually whatever their father did. Sons of fishermen learned to fish, sons of woodworkers learned to work wood, they learned their father's business.
And so, like the other boys were doing, the Son of God went to be about His Father’s business.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. What do you think of the idea that Jesus had to learn His Father's trade?
3. Have you ever seen Jesus, in some ways, as a typical Jewish boy?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are-dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon." Hudson Taylor
No comments:
Post a Comment