Luke 2:41-52

Introduction

So much teaching, so few that understand.

Teaching: What knowledge can I give you

Goal - comprehension, pass the test.

Teacher focused

I’ll tell you what you need to know

Student has to put in the effort/work

Testing

Still want to blame the teacher when it doesn’t go well

Church - how good is the teaching?

How does it make me feel?

Do I agree with it? Debate

Notebooks full of information/knowledge

Does it lead to deep understanding/transformation?

The research tells us no.

Today: a story that helps us see how and what does.

Luke 2:41–52 ESV

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Rites of Passage

Getting Acquainted with Responsibilities

Attend the Temple 3s/Yr

41 - All male Jews were required to attend at the temple three times in the year, at Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacle

Attendance at all three festivals was difficult with Jews scattered all over the Roman world and beyond, but many made the effort once a year.

It was Joseph and Mary’s custom to go up at Passover, the feast that commemorated the deliverance of the nation from Egypt (Exod. 12).

He would then assume all responsibilities implied at his circumcision.

Age 13 - Full member of the synagogue

Age 12 - Getting prepared

A boy should be taken to the passover observance a year or two before he turned 13 so he would be prepared.

How Do You Lose Your Kid?

Not Uncommon

In large caravan good chance parents wouldn't know where a child was. Women and small children went ahead and the men followed with the bigger boys.

I Thought He Was With You

Joseph and Mary may each have thought Jesus was with the other.

For 3 Days

From the time they realized he was missing

Found him in the temple

Not unusual for an unknown boy to join the teacher circle.

Education Systems

Disciple Making

Follow after (Dust)

Dialogue

Discussing problems: spiritual, social

Jesus engaged in the conversation

46 - question: to inquire. Disputing rather than merely asking a question (Luke).

Amazed the teachers

Found

Parents didn’t Understand

First recorded words of Jesus sound something like we’d hear from a teacher at school

Should not have been that difficult

You should have known/been able to figure out (the answer) where to find me

They were told/taught when you found out you were pregnant with me who I am.

Birth narrative didn’t fully sink in.

Jesus has a relationship with God no one else will

Discovered over time.

He knew who he was (My Father)

Necessary to be in His Father’s House - IT HAS A PURPOSE

Jewish belief that this is where God was in their midst (Jesus would soon change that)

Not because it was proper tradition or the way God wants things to be; Ex: go to church because that’s where we meet with Jesus.

Necessary because here he begins revealing himself to the people of the promise in their context.

Here’s a taste of what’s to come.

Voluntary Obedience

Back to being a boy.

Matured spiritually and socially.

Until the time came for the big reveal.

I wonder if any of the rabbis in this story were around when Jesus went back to the temple as an adult and read from Isaiah’s prophecy about the Messiah and said, “This is me.”

Making Disciples

Why did his followers despite their ups and downs stay committed not to the teaching but to the mission?

They were disciples - followers.

Became like him.

They learned from living with him, listening to him, having conversations like the ones he had in the temple at 12 and doing what Jesus said to do.

Being and Making disciples for them was woven into their everyday lives.

Wasn’t collecting knowledge from an expert a couple of times a week. That’s what happened in the synagogue. He changed all that.

They deepened their apprehension of the things of God’s kingdom, and its claim on their lives as they learned and lived it together in their communities.