This lesson is designed for both youth and adults, they both should:
- Take every opportunity to learn about God and one another.
- Thirst for knowledge and understanding.
A parent is a mother or father,with responsibilities as provider,
protector, and defender of their children.The Hebrew word for parent
means "teacher."
To parent means to:
- Physically raise
- Emotionally nurture
- Spiritually nourish your children.
Therefore, a parent is the single most important teacher a child will ever have!
In the late 80’s a rapper by the name of Will Smith made a song
entitled: Parents Just Don't Understand. At that age most of us felt
the very same way so in many cases Will was right. We must all keep in
mind that children don’t come with owner’s manuals or DVDs and we have
to keep in mind that just as parents may not fully understand their
children, children will not fully understand their parents. This was
true even for Jesus' parents Joseph andMary.
And let us notice
Luke 2:40-52-
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and
the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every
year at the feast of the pass over. And when he was twelve years old,
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. After the
Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus
stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he
was in their company,they traveled on for a day. Then they began
looking for him among their relatives and friends.When they did not
find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days
they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was
amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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.
Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didn't you know I had to be in
my Father's house?But they did not understand what he was saying to
them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.
But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew
in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. NIV
- The Occasion
- The Oversight
- The Outcome
Jesus grew as a child
- Physically
- Spiritually
- Mentally
Verse 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.The idea is that Jesus grew
as a normal child but note the added words: "waxed strong in spirit" He did not just grow in wisdom, He was "filled with wisdom", simply stated, Jesus grew perfectly at every stage of life.
The Occasion (2:41–42): Jesus attends the Passover festival in Jerusalem with his parents at age 12.
All Jewish males who lived withintwenty miles of Jerusalemwere required
by law to attend the temple three times a year: at the
Passover,Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles Exodus 23:14-17.
This was a very special year for Jesus, he just turned twelve years
old. When a Jewish boy reached thirteen years of age, he became a son
of the law which meant that he was now considered a man and was
expected to keep all the law. It was suggested that aboy be brought to
the Passover Feast a year or two early so that he might become familiar
with the Temple and the Feasts. When the eleven and twelve year old
initiates arrived, they were naturally given a great deal of attention
and special instruction Luke 2:46-47.
Note two critical points.
- Every child should be taught from the very first about God and worship, the world, and a person's responsibility in it.
- Every
child, when he comes of age, should be charged with becoming a "son of
the law," a man before God,being responsible and making his
contribution to the world - all in the name of the Lord.
- Deut. 6:7-Andthou
shalt teach them [commandments] diligently unto thy children, and
shalttalk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou
walkest by theway, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up
- Proverbs 22:6-Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
- Psalm 34:11-Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I willteach you the fear of the LORD
The Oversight (2:43–45): He is accidentally left behind by his parents.
The parents finished their worship obligations and were returning home
to Nazareth. Jesus remained behind, which they were unaware of, they
thought He was off playing and socializing with some of the other
families and children in the caravan. The caravans were large and the
roads were packed with thousands of Pilgrims leaving the Feast.
The Outcome (2:46–47): After looking for him everywhere, they finally locate him in the Temple, discussing theology with the Jewish teachers.
It took His parents three days to find Him. When they found Jesus He
was in the temple, in the very precinct or room where classes and
discussion took place among the doctors of theology and religion. It
was a prominent place, and a custom to hold open classes and
discussions so that the public could listen and learn. The stress of
Luke at this point is the surprising knowledge of Jesus. His knowledge
and understanding were phenomenal.
Note exactly what is said.
- He was "hearing" what the teachers said. He listened closely, attentively,with rapt attention.
- He was "asking them questions". He wanted answers, more understanding.He had a thrist for truth and sought it
- He answered their questions
- Psalm 119:99-100-I
have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are
my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
precepts"
- Eccles. 12:1-Remember
now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in
them.
Jesus' mission was misunderstood by His parents. This is seen in Mary's
words to Jesus. She rebuked Jesus rather sternly. In her disturbance
and sorrow, she forgot who He was and where he was in this stage of
life. It is not that she was not to teach and discipline or direct Him;
she was but He was now a young man by law, and He was where He should
be, going about His Father's business.
- Eph. 6:1-3;-Children,
obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and
mother; (which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be
well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth".
- 1 Tim. 5:4-But
if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show
piety at home, and to requite [repay] their parents: for that is good
and acceptable before God.
- Proverbs 20:11-Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right"
- Proverbs 23:22-Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she isold
Conclusion
Keep in mind that Mary was hand picked by God to raise Jesus, Yet she
did not fully understand her son. The same is true for parents today.
There is always going to be a learning curve for both parent and
child.The curve may straighten out a little after the child has matured
and maybe become a parent their self. THINK ABOUT IT!
- Proverbs 1:8-Listen,my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
- Ephesians 6:4 -And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: butbring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
We will ALL understand life better By & By