Luke 2:39-52

Luke 2:39-52

In Luke 2, I am always amazed at the picture of Mary and Joseph’s faithfulness. But, “when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.”

Again, we see Mary and Joseph’s faithfulness as they “went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of Passover.” From Nazareth to Galilee was a journey of several days. Also, because every good Jew traveled to Jerusalem, pretty much everyone in Galilee went. It may seem odd to us that Jesus might get left behind in Jerusalem. However, this was a massive caravan heading north and I’m sure the kids were running around playing.

I’ve shared on several occasions of the time when Josie was three or so and left out the back door without anyone’s notice. Six adults searched for about 15 minutes before she was found. That was one of the worst 15 minutes of my life. Joseph and Mary had traveled an entire day before they noticed, which meant they had to spend an entire day journeying back to Jerusalem. Once in Jerusalem, they searched all over finally finding Jesus after three days.

Jesus was twelve, one year before his Bar-Mizvah when he would be obligated to observe Jewish Law for himself. In his youth, he was challenging the thinking of the teachers of the Law. Everyone hearing Jesus was “amazed” (literally, beside themselves in amazement). Even Joseph and Mary were “astonished.”

Verse 51 records that Jesus was not a disobedient child. He was “submissive.” Although the last 12 years had probably been relatively normal, this event was another reminder that Jesus was special. It seems that even Joseph and Mary struggled to understand just how special Jesus really was.

In verses 40 and 52 we see references to Jesus growing up, “increasing in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” While the majority of Jesus’ life probably looked very normal, he was uncommon.

To me, this story begs the question, “Are we amazed by Jesus?” Do we see him as a good man or the God-man? When was the last time we were “beside ourselves” with the nature of who Jesus is—at his goodness, his power, his saving grace? As Tim used to say, “we cannot encounter the risen Christ and remain unchanged.”

By: Tyler Short

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