Mind Blown

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.

-Luke 2:46-52 ESV

Finally, we get to Jesus' first recorded words (chronologically) in the New Testament! 

So Mary and Joseph traveled 1 day's journey, saw Jesus wasn't with them, traveled back to Jerusalem (1 more day's journey), and searched 3 days to finally find Jesus in the temple talking with a group of Rabbi's who were amazed at His understanding. What's funny is the greek word used to describe this understanding. ἐξίστημι literally means to amaze, to astonish, throw into wonderment, to be out of one's mind, besides one's self, insane. You have to understand that these Rabbis were experts of the ENTIRE Old Testament! It's like some 12 year old going into NASA and a better way to travel through space and how to go light speed. You could imagine what NASA would think!  *MIND BLOWN*

And then there's his parent's reaction. They were astonished, but at the same time his mom said, "Were you trying to worry us to death?!?" (That's my paraphrase...) In on sense they were elated that He was alright, but at the same time they were upset He was missing. 

Jesus, at 12 years old, knew who he was and who his Father was. And the best thing was he didn't abuse that power. He submitted when his mom said they're leaving. And he did it willingly. 


This may be oversimplifying things, but it's like when you're given a car. That car is yours. You can do what you want with it, go where you want, and leave when you want. But you still have to obey the law, and your parents. If dad says be home by 10, we tend to argue. Jesus didn't use the argument that everything was created for him (1 Col 1:15-20), or they weren't the boss of him. No. When she said go, he obeyed without question.  I think we can learn a lot from him. (Understatement of the century?)

Who are you searching for?

So Sunday we covered Jesus' birth, the shepherds in the field, Harrod, and all the other stuff. We're now moving closer to Jesus' ministry. But before that happens, Luke tells an interesting story about Jesus as a boy. 

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.  

 -Luke 2:41-45 ESV 

I said he's a boy, because according to jewish custom, he is still a child. Even today's standards say 12 year old is a boy. It's important to note that by his next birthday Jesus would be considered a man. When we turn 18 we're considered an adult. But that's not how it was back then. You have to consider that when Mary became betrothed to Joseph and gave birth to Jesus, she was between ages 14 and 15. So I'd say those were pretty adult. So, the 12th year was the final year of preparation before he entered full participation in the religious life of the synagogue. Up until that time his  father was teaching him the Torah, but at the end of the 12th year the child goes through a ceremony, the bar mitzvah or "son of the commandment," and becomes a man.

  So why didn't Mary and Joseph notice Jesus pulled a Home Alone?   

His parents didn't hop in a car, drive to Jerusalem, then after the feast ended, hopped back in and headed home. It was a caravan of an entire Jewish community traveling together to Jerusalem. So imagine 100 or more people with mules carrying enough stuff to support their families for a couple weeks. So, imagine ALL THAT STUFF. And among all that your most trusted, oldest child is more than likely with a neighbor or cousin ahead of them.

Mary and Joseph loved Jesus. Any parent loves their child. That's why God passionately pursues us. We were lost, and God didn't wait for us to clean ourselves up and come back to him or to find our way to Him, but He sent Jesus to bring us back to Him. 

God loves you.

  Do you believe it?