Being In Choice
Luke 2:41-51
“When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.” vs. 42
Where’s My Shopping Bag?
The day after Christmas is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Many of you probably decided you weren’t going to fight those crowds and stay home and just come down from all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Did any of your go out? Some of you might have thought, “Who would be crazy enough to go out in that mess?” (Raise my hand) And it gets worse, we went to San Francisco. We decided as a family to go downtown and catch some of the after Christmas sales. Now to our credit, we got up early, we took BART in, and we were out by mid-afternoon. It was actually kind of fun. Since we received a few gift cards for Christmas that gave us some spending money and were able to find some deals and get a little more bang for our buck. Yes, the lines were long but we expected that and it was okay because we were prepared for it. Claudia even brought a book to read in line.
The crisis came when we went to lunch. We decided to go to Chinatown and have a real authentic Chinese meal. I was trying to be a gentleman and so I offered and carried Claudia’s bag of goodies she bought and I had my own as well. So, loaded with our bags we found a restaurant and I wisely put the bags behind us against the wall and then we enjoyed lunch. Now I’m not sure why, but when we got up to leave, I only picked up one of the two bags I brought in. We left and did some browsing and shopping in Chinatown. At one point, I turn to Claudia and she doesn’t have a bag. Why I don’t know but I expected her to have a bag even though I was the one who carried them in. So I “Where’s your bag?” She smiles at me because, of course, I’m a joker and always pulling pranks. She thinks I’m kidding. I said, “No really.” She said, “You’re serious?” And it hits me. I left one of the bags in the restaurant. So I run back 3 blocks to the restaurant and fortunately as I turn the corner in the restaurant there is the bag. Untouched. Whew! I dodged one there.
Ever done that? Left a something somewhere and then at some point you remember? And then the anxiety and anxiousness takes over until you resolve it. And sometimes it doesn’t always turn out well. What if you forgot something really big? A wallet? A —-? A child? Well, let’s see a story like this from Luke 2:41-51. If you are able, please stand as we read God’s Word.
Read Passage – Luke 2:41-51
41 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
What Happened To Ages 2-11?
When we left our story in Luke 2:40, Jesus was a young toddler and had just had a real special visit from some magi who brought him some pretty impressive gifts. In verse 41 it says:
“When he (Jesus) was twelve years old…” vs. 42a
So what happened between 2 and 11? You know we aren’t sure. The Bible never tells us. I think we can make sum assumptions though, and they are assumptions.
*Joseph and Mary probably raised him in a home that revered God
*We know from other passage that Mary and Joseph had other children so Jesus had brothers and sisters; they are mentioned in Scripture.
*Jesus was probably taught the ways and customs of the Jewish culture and religion
*The normal pattern for raising your kids in first century Palestine was to send them to school when they were between 5-7, have a bar or bat mitzvah the Saturday before their 13th birthday (which welcomed them as adults into Jewish society)
*The boys would be taught a trade at their father’s side and expected to take on the family business while the girls would be taught by their moms all of the home skills of cooking and sewing and child-rearing, and then get them married off by somewhere between 12-18.
It was part of the law that all Jewish men were to go to the House of God – the Temple at least 3 times a year. Exodus 23:14-17 says that they are to find themselves in God’s house on the occasion of the 3 main feasts – Feast of Passover, Pentecost & Tabernacles. But as people spread through the Roman Empire, this sometimes became impossible due to distance and so it became tradition for Israelite men to go to the temple at least once a year on one of these feasts. You became a man at the age of 13 years when you completed the “Son of the Covenant” ceremony that had developed out of Numbers 6:2. The Jewish Bar Mitzvah ceremony now takes its place. It was considered good preparation for boys aged 11 and 12 to go with their Fathers on this pilgrimage to get familiar with the requirements of the Jewish laws.
We read here that Joseph took his family down to Jerusalem every Passover to fulfill his duty. Joseph and Mary seemed to have been very devout in their relationship with God and made the 3 day hike from Nazareth every year. On a map it looks a bit like this. They probably would have walked around Samaria due to the hostility of the day.
Neglectful Parents?
So they attend this important religious festival and then it’s time to make the trek back home and this happens in verse 43:
“After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.” vs. 43
Some, on reading this account would find Mary and Joseph totally irresponsible and neglecting of their parental duties. I mean, I lost a bag of clothes, these people lost a child! And the Son of God at that! Imagine – traveling for a whole day and not knowing that you’ve left Jesus behind. But before you condemn them, consider:
- In ancient times, people traveling used to go in caravans. It was much safer to travel with a lot of other people and besides the time went faster. And the children would enjoy playing with each other and the company around the caravan.
- The women usually traveled separately to the men. You see, the women and young children were slower than the men and so they would usually set off in a group first
- The men would leave a couple of hours later and catch up to them ready for the night’s camp and this gave them a chance to talk and discuss business and religious things as well.
So this scenario takes place: Jesus was almost a man. So its reasonable to think that Mary thought that he was naturally with his father. And… Joseph thought Jesus was still a child so he must be with Mary. Each must have thought the other had him with them. It was only at the end of the day when they came together that they realized Jesus was missing. Not so far fetched anymore.
Distractions In Our Relationship With God
So let’s take this approach with this story; Do we loose track of Jesus in our lives? As we approach the New Year, we are reminded through this story of things that can distract us from keeping Jesus forefront in our minds.
- Busy-ness
In our busy-ness or even business, we can lose tract of Jesus
“Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.” vs. 44
There was probably a lot going on. As I mentioned, they traveled in caravans and each group and family would have to make sure their own things were taken care of but probably the things they did as a community too, like when you go camping with a couple of families. Each has their own but there are community things as well. But also, this was a busy time for them because it was the celebration of the Passover. In some ways you can relate this to the Christmas season we just went through. There was a lot to do. Consider this, it’s not a matter of if you get busy but when you get busy. Busy-ness happens and it happens to all of us.
Ill. That was part of my issue when I forgot my pkg. I was concerned about paying the bill and where we were going to go next and then making sure we were done by a certain time because we had to get back to my parents by 4 so I could take them to the airport and I didn’t want to be late.
I think it’s important to realize that we will get busy. So we have to plan for it and plan how we are going to handle it.
- Assumptions
A second thing that takes place is that there were some assumptions going on here too. Verse 45:
“When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.” vs. 45
They could have just kept going and assumed that eventually Jesus would show up or even that someone knew where he was and he would be okay. Sometimes we assume it’s too late to resolve an issue or even that it’s not worth our effort. But Mary and Joseph do something that we might pass over too quickly and we need to take note of; they go back to Jerusalem. It seems like the right thing to do, right? So why point it out? Because, sometimes we need to look back to see ahead. This was important because it was a child but sometime when it seems like a less important thing we may be tempted to sweep it under the rug or maybe even not deal with it and just chalk it up as a loss.
Ill. Back to my bag of clothes. I had to back track my steps and remember the last time I had the bag. I went to the restaurant. Claudia started to think back to the stores we went to and started to check those. I could have assumed it was too late, the bag was probably gone. I could have said, “Oh well, I really made a costly mistake there.” But I didn’t. I dealt with it and ran back to the restaurant. I was relieved to go into the restaurant, turn the corner, and see the bag sitting there. Luckily this time it turned out well but that isn’t always the case is it?
My point is this, sometimes we just need to deal with it. Sometimes in dealing with it, it can be painful. I would have been pretty upset if that bag was gone. If someone had taken it and maybe even some of the receipts could have been in the bag and they could have taken them back and gotten the cash. That would have been a painful lesson. It’s important to deal with things and not just sweep them under the rug. Take away the assumptions.
- The Ordinary
And finally, don’t take the ordinary for granted. Listen to verse 47:
“Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” vs. 47
Joseph and Mary had gotten used to dealing with Jesus and maybe even had a temporary lapse in remembering who he was. They were busy raising him and dealing with the day to day situations of life and may have forgotten who he really was. That seems like it would have been hard. I mean, they couldn’t accuse him of the normal things that we parents accuse our children of; i.e. lying, deception, etc. You couldn’t say “Jesus, tell me the truth” or “Jesus, did you hit your brother?” I mean they were dealing with perfection here. They had the perfect son. Can you imagine being his brother or sister. “Mommy, Jesus isn’t being fair!”
Here’s the thing, when we get into groves and patterns and the ordinary routines of life it can be easy to forget about Jesus and the need to keep working on our relationship with him
We can become complacent when we are going through the ordinary routines of life. Be careful!
Setting Intentions
This story takes a great turn at the end. Verse 51:
“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” vs. 51
Jesus makes a decision here. The Bible is specific in telling us that as this point Jesus choose to be obedient to Mary and Joseph. He knew he was about his heavenly father’s business but he also realizes that he has earthly parents too and that he needs to remember to honor them and to be obedient to them as well.
Let’s not forget, they are dealing with a 12 year old. We don’t expect a lot of maturity and responsibility from a 12 year old. They are an adolescent. Who would guess they would act maturely and have some of the answers and thinking that these learned men in the synagogue would have had. But he does and it amazes them. And he chooses to honor them.
Jesus set the intention of honoring his parents, both earthly and heavenly. So, in light of what Jesus did, I am challenged and I challenge you, to set intentions for the upcoming year that show your love, commitment, and sincerity, to keep your focus and not to allow the distractions of life to keep us from developing and enhancing our relationship with God. Later in life Jesus would affirm the commandment to honor your mother and father. He lived that commandment as an example for us.
Ideas on setting intentions
- Conversing more with God i.e. times of prayer, good mornings and good nights, breath prayers, acknowledgements of God’s work
- Knowing, memorizing and being in God’s Word (Scripture cards, planned Bible reading, etc.)
- Acts of love and gratitude in honor of God’s love for you (helping others, random acts of kindness, acts of generosity, notes in the mail, calls, etc.)
