BIG IDEA:
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER MUST TAKE PRIORITY EVEN OVER OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR EARTHLY PARENTS
INTRODUCTION:
Jesus demonstrates in this passage the crucial distinction between His earthly parents and His heavenly Father. As the unique Son of God He is about to enter upon a public ministry (after some more years of growth and preparation) where His mission and loyalty to kingdom priorities must take precedence over other legitimate earthly priorities. He must be about His Father’s business. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER MUST TAKE PRIORITY EVEN OVER OUR RELATIONSHIP TO OUR EARTHLY PARENTS
(:41-42) SETTING – KINGDOM PRIORITIES BECOME NOTICED IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF OBEDIENT LIVING —
JESUS VISITING JERUSALEM AT AGE 12 WITH HIS EARTHLY PARENTS
“And His parents used to go to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;”
Requirement of the OT law to visit the temple in Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. (Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:16)
I. (:43-45) SURPRISE — EARTHLY PARENTS CAN BE SURPRISED BY KINGDOM PRIORITIES –
EARTHLY PARENTS SEARCHING FOR JESUS
“and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. And His parents were unaware of it, 44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 And when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for Him.”
II. (:46-47) STUDENT/TEACHER DIALOGUE IN THE TEMPLE –
JESUS FOUND ENGAGED IN THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE IN THE TEMPLE
“And it came about 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 amazed at His understanding and His answers.”
The parents of Jesus searched for him for a total of 3-5 days – 1 day journeying without him; 1 day journeying back to Jerusalem; 1 or 3 days looking in the city itself. (Not sure if the mention of 3 days here is the total time Jesus was missing or just the time they searched for him in the city.)
Geldenhuys: With the Child Himself, however, there was no boasting, self-conceit, arrogance or self-exaltation.
III. (:48-50) SUMMARY EXPLANATION –
LOYALTY TO KINGDOM PRIORITIES SHOULD BE EXPECTED
“And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’ 49 And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’ 50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.”
Geldenhuys: It is remarkable that the first words of Jesus quoted in the Gospel narrative are these words in which He so clearly refers to His divine Sonship, and in which He points to his life’s vocation to be about His Father’s business – to serve and glorify Him in all things and at all times. The words indicate a divine inevitability: Jesus must be busy with the interests of His Father.
Leon Morris: Jesus had a relationship to God shared by no other. Joseph and Mary did not understand this. They learnt what Jesus’ Messiahship meant bit by bit.
(:51-52) EPILOGUE – SUBMISSION TO EARTHLY PARENTS AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT
A. (:51a) Consistent Pattern of Submission
“And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them;”
B. (:51b) Constant Reevaluation on the Part of Mary
“and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”
Donald Miller: As mother of Messiah, she had a son, and yet, in a sense, she did not. He did not belong to her, but to all men, in a way that Mary could not at that time understand (see Luke 8:19-21; 11:27-28). There is wisdom, however, in Mary’s dealing with her lack of understanding. When God’s truth is not clear, do not cast it off; hide it in the heart and wait for fuller light (vs. 51).
C. (:52) Continual Growth and Development
“And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
Geldenhuys: He passed through a natural but perfect spiritual and physical development. At every stage He was perfect for that stage. But there is a big difference between the perfection of a child and that of an adult.
Wiersbe: Jesus is a wonderful example for all young people to follow. He grew in a balanced way (Luke 2:52) without neglecting any part of life, and His priority was to do the will of His Father (see Matt. 6:33). He knew how to listen and how to ask the right questions. He learned how to work, and He was obedient to His parents.