Let me start with a question.
Have you ever lost anything? What is the first question others who try to help will ask? They will say, “Where did you last have it?” If I knew that I would go get it.
A better question and the one that Joseph and Mary seemed to ask about Jesus was, “Where do we think he might have gone.”
Our story today is from Event 11:
Jesus in the temple at age 12
Our text is Luke 2:41-52
Here’s the Summary:
Luke 2:41-51 is the story of Jesus as a young boy visiting the temple in Jerusalem with his parents. They had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover feast, and when it was over, Mary and Joseph started their journey back home, assuming Jesus was with them. However, they realized He was missing and returned to Jerusalem to find Him in the temple, discussing and asking questions with the teachers.
Jesus’ response to his parents shows that he was already the kind of person who loved spiritual things. They didn’t find him at a place where kids might gather to play games. They found him in the temple, talking about spiritual things. That would not have been me when I was 12. I’m guess that it was not you either. It was Jesus. He seemed to be amazed that they had trouble finding him. In verse 49 he asked them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” In other words, “Didn’t you know you would find me at the place of worship.”
Verse 52 says, “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” We don’t know how old he was when he first had his growth spurt in spiritual wisdom, but it had certainly already started by the time he was 12.
Before we leave this text let’s notice two things.
#1. Notice the importance of spiritual teaching.
The passage begins with Mary and Joseph going to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. We teach our children about sports, how to make their bed, the importance of study, etc. Jospeh and Mary taught their son about the importance of going to the temple. We don’t have the words that used, but we do have the example they set for their child. When they took him to worship, they had to walk 70 miles. At best they rode on a donkey.
#2. Notice Mary’s Musing
Verse 51 is amazing. In verse 51, we are given a glimpse into Mary’s heart. It reads, “But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. The great song ask, “Mary did you know?’ I don’t know what she knew when, but she was thinking about it. This ought to encourage us to reflect on the divine mysteries in our own lives and how God is at work.
So we close with this question, If you were lost, where would people look for you? Would it be in the place of worship.
Lonnie Davis