Anchor My Faith

Jesus Astonishes Those Listening

Scripture: Luke 2:46-49

Consider how you would feel if you had been out to a large crowded mall with your family and all of a sudden you realize one of your children is missing. This is probably how Mary and Joseph felt as we ended the previous lesson, with Jesus missing. They return to Jerusalem and began their search, and: “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46 ESV). The “after three days” probably includes one day of travel toward Galilee, one day of travel back to Jerusalem, and on the third day they found him in the temple. They probably found him in the court of the temple because, Jesus, not being a Levitical priest, could not enter into the temple itself. Jesus sat there among the “teachers,” the “rabbis,” who were the instructors of the people in matters of religion. Jesus listened to them and also asked them questions.

The kind of questions Jesus asked, reflected a very alert mind because “. . . all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:47 ESV). As people listened to the questions Jesus asked and the answers he gave to those teachers, they realized his exceptional knowledge and understanding of the law. How could a boy of age 12 have such understanding, judgment and wisdom?

When his parents found him they must have paused and listened, because “. . . 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.”” (Luke 2:48 ESV). When the parents of Jesus found him and listened to him, they were astonished at his responses of understanding, but they also exhibited the concern of parents of a child that stayed behind and caused them trouble and great worry. They wanted him to explain why he stayed behind and treated them this way. Since Joseph was not the real father, but the legal father, Mary referred to Joseph as his father. Probably to avoid persecution, Joseph and Mary kept the virgin birth pretty much a secret and so no one would question the use of father in connection to Joseph.

Jesus responds to their questions: “And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”” (Luke 2:49 ESV). Think about the questions Jesus asked in response to their questions. His questions assumed that Mary should have remembered that she gave birth to the Son of God and that he would have been safe because his heavenly Father would take care of him and that he would not do anything wrong. At age 12, Jesus is beginning to pull away some from his earthly father by referring to his heavenly Father and his growing need to identify with his Father’s house. Here we see the beginning of the identity of Jesus with the Father and his mission assignment. It will be another 18 years or so, before he becomes active in the business for which his Father sent him from heaven.

Prayer

Father, it is clear from this lesson that Jesus is unique. Here is a boy of age 12, causing amazement among those listening to the conversation between him and the teachers of the law. They wonder where he got such understanding, judgment and wisdom to respond with such authority. This conversation was just enough to place a marker in the minds of some teachers and other listeners to go back to when Jesus again appears on the scene. Father, little by little you are preparing the stage for a great drama to unfold in the days to come.