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 what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured 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)
But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
This is an intriguing verse.
This man Joseph had angelic visions, and this woman Mary, was visited by angels and the Holy Spirit, both of them given direct teaching about this Son of theirs...and yet...they did not understand what he was saying to them.
There are so many possibilities as to what this might mean; and not necessarily that they forgot who He was...but something had, at minimum, dulled their senses.
My guess is that it was a combination of time and normal circumstances. Although this immediately follows Jesus' birth in the Scriptures, in reality, some twelve years had passed. And, if after the scare that sent them to Egypt, there were any remarkable circumstances, the Scriptures do not record them. And so, it could be that, even though they always knew who Jesus was, the lack of seeing Him as the Son of God had changed how they saw Him; perhaps a separation between the intellect and the spiritual.
Wow! What a lesson that could be for us! We may have accepted Jesus a long time ago, but has a combination of time and normal circumstances changed how we see Him? Has a separation developed between between the intellect and the spiritual? Have we gotten so used to Him in our lives, so comfortable, that although we know He is there, we no longer expect anything different, anything uncomfortable, anything miraculous?
I hope not...I pray not...
But I confess that it happens to me.
The Good News is that He is still with us, still about His Father's business for us. We need only to stop and gaze up at the manger, the star, the cross, the empty tomb, the Right Hand of God, and see Jesus...Jesus!
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Questions:
1. What do you think it means that they 'did not understand' Jesus?
2. Have you ever felt a separation between knowing Jesus with your mind, and knowing Him completely?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"The golden rule for understanding in spiritual matters is not intellect, but obedience." Oswald Chambers
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