Lessons from a Twelve Year Old

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Intro; It’s hard to believe, but here we are again starting off a New Year. 2024 went out in a bang in our family, but life is always lived in the present and looking with hope for the future, that 2025 will be a better year than 2024.
A better year depends upon two major factors; the world we live in and how we choose to live in this world.
Let’s think about the world we live in for just a moment.
As much as we are blessed in God [Living in US, healthy, good jobs, freedom] we still live in a cursed world because of sin.
Romans 8:20–22 NKJV
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
But, what if our world wasn’t marred with sin? What if we lived in an environment of peace and cooperation between people and animals with no political parties of power to corrupt it nor sin to destroy it?
Isaiah 11:6–9 NKJV
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world like I just read about, yet! But it should be our desire as christians to make 2025 a year of hope and our world a better place for all. I believe the way we can do that is to learn some “Lessons from a Twelve Year Old”.
Text; Luke 2:39-52
Luke 2:39–52 (NKJV)
39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
41 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 according to the custom of the feast.
43 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;
44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 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.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 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.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
51 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.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Prayer
In the Millennium the curse of sin will be lifted, peace and harmony will be present, and wild animals will again be tame and harmless. And a little child will be safe with lions, bears, cobras, and vipers. All this will be because of the righteous rule of Jesus in the world.
That righteous rule of Jesus in the world today comes through the intimate relationship His children have with Him and exercise in our daily walk. And Jesus as a twelve year old Boy teaches us some lessons on how to do that.

1. Good Family Habits; 39-42

From the birth of Jesus till this time of the age of 12, there’s not a lot of detail about Jesus’ childhood except what we read right here.
We know that after Jesus was circumcised in the temple they stayed in Bethlehem for a while because the wise men from the east came to a house when Jesus was a Child of close to two years old [Mt. 2:11].
Joseph and Mary then fled to Egypt for a while to escape the hand of Herod and then they return to Nazareth of Galilee with Jesus probably around the age of 3-4 [Mt. 2:12-15].
From that age to where we pick up where we are here at the age of 12, Dr. Luke [physician] describes how Good Family Habits of Joseph and Mary has great influence upon the life of Jesus.
[v.40] Jesus grew, became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, God’s grace was on Him.
Grew [physically]- Jesus grew physically as a normal child because mom and dad created a stable home environment for him with regular kosher meals, proper hygiene, and good work ethics. [v.51]
Strong In Spirit- Jesus grew spiritually because of what was instilled to him by his parents. Both Joseph and Mary were devout Jews and followed the law of God and worshiped Him respectfully and fervently. [v.39, 41-42]
Filled with Wisdom [mentally]- Jesus grew intellectually, and was filled with wisdom to have the capacity to understand knowledge and make good choices with it.
God’s Grace- God’s favor was upon Jesus not just because He is the Son of God, but also because of Joseph & Mary’s good parenting. In each stage of Jesus’ growth as a child, Joseph and Mary had good habits of holy people!
[41-42] The Feast of Passover is the most important time of worship for a Jew. [Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover, Feast of Harvest, Feast of Ingathering]
Exodus 12:26–27 NKJV
26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people bowed their heads and worshiped.
From a very young age, Joseph and Mary begin to instill in Jesus the importance of worship of Jehovah, which led to his understanding of His purpose in God!
Putting God first is a great example to children, who quickly learn what parents really care about by observing what they do and spend their time.

2. Real Family Issues; 43-48

Now to think that Jesus walked around with a halo over his head all the time is foolish thinking. Joseph and Mary were raising a normal little boy like any good parent would. And any good parent with great kids still have family issues.
The travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem was 80 miles, a 4-5 day journey. All those who went from Nazareth traveled together in a caravan. Most were family, so kids would be traveling together with other relatives. Parents didn’t worry about who their kids were with because they were all family and for sure they would show up at supper time, except on this day.
Since Jesus didn’t show up for supper and they couldn’t find him with the relatives, they went back to Jerusalem looking for Him. After three days they find Him in the temple, listening, learning and asking questions about God.
Humor of truth; You know Joseph and Mary were distraught! They were probably quietly blaming each other. Joseph thinks, What kind of mother loses the Son of God? Who does that? If there’s one rule, make sure the Savior is in the caravan!
Mary thinks to herself, Look at him looking at me. I know he blames me. But he is the man. He’s supposed to take care of the family. It’s his son. How could he leave his son in the city? I can’t do everything. I packed up the tent, made breakfast, fixed us some lunch. The least he could have done was keep an eye on the boy.
Anyabwile, T. (2018). Exalting Jesus in Luke (p. 55). Holman Reference.
Even the best parents with the greatest kid in the world, still have real life issues. But it’s how parents respond to the trials of life instead of the successes that make a difference. Joseph and Mary responded with urgency out of care and love for their Son.

3. Godly Family Rewards; 49-52

Though the situation was a scary one for Joseph and Mary, it also becomes a reward for them as they find Jesus doing good and not in mischief like most 12 year olds. What they practiced as parents and the seeds of godliness they planted in Jesus’ life as a young boy, bore fruit by the age of 12 that He knew His life’s mission!
[49] {In my own words}, If you were worried about me, why was the church the last place you looked for me? I must be about what God has called Me to do!”
Jesus is not being disrespectful to his parents, He’s simply stating that you brought me up to know God and seek His will, why would you look for me in places you would never go too!
[46-47] At the age of 12 Jesus is considered coming into adulthood. This particular Passover was especially significant for Jesus. Jewish boys became accountable to the law of God at thirteen, a transition later marked by the ceremony known as Bar Mitzvah (“son of the law” or “covenant”). The temple courts were famous throughout Judea as places of learning. The apostle Paul studied in Jerusalem, perhaps in the temple courts, under Gamaliel, one of its foremost teachers (Acts 22:3). At the time of the Passover, the greatest rabbis of the land would assemble to teach and to discuss great truths among themselves. The coming Messiah would no doubt have been a popular discussion topic, for everyone was expecting him. Jesus would have been eager to listen and to ask probing questions. It was not his youth, but the depth of his wisdom, that amazed these teachers.
Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 57). Tyndale House Publishers.
What a blessing it would be if we could find our kids seeking God instead of all the other distractions that the world has to offer them!

4. Lessons from a Twelve Year Old;

Parents, your children are watching you! They know what is real to you and what is not. They know if you are sincere about something or if you are being hypocritical. [41]
Every kid imitates their parents when they grow up, whether that’s good or bad. [If you act like a fool/hypocrite, more than likely so will your kids. But if you truly seek after God, so will your children] [46]
Children that are raised in a nurturing family environment that serves the Lord, it is likely they will do the same in their lives which will reach the next generation for Christ, your grandchildren! [49]
If you will be truthful with your kids and lead them in the way of the Lord, they are more likely to honor you because you honor God. [51-52]
Close;
Our children were created to know and love God through faith in Christ. Our kids also have a more fulfilling life when they have a general sense of God’s purpose for their lives. And it’s our responsibility in life as parents to lead them to Christ.
So let’s start the New Year like Joseph and Mary did. Making God a priority in our lives so He will be in the lives of the next generation.
The Passover was the beginning of a New Year for the Jew.
Exodus 12:1–2 NKJV
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
What will you find your child doing at twelve years old?
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