Jesus in Adolescence

He was twelve years old, v.42.  As he grew physically, v.40, 52:

• He waxed strong in spirit – he kept the balance physically and spiritually
• He was filled with wisdom – godly wisdom from the fear of God, Heb 5:7
• The grace of God was upon him – grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, Jn 1:17
• He increased in wisdom – Prov 9:9
• He increased in favor with God and man – find favor with God first and he will bring you into favor with the right men.  But remember that when God favored Jesus most, men didn’t favor him at all.

Jesus at the feast of the passover

Every year Joseph and Mary took their family to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.  The feast of the passover, Ex 12:14-20, is the feast that includes the Passover, observed on the fourteenth day of the first month, and the seven day feast of unleavened bread, observed on the fifteenth day through the twenty-first day of the first month.  Notice in v.43, they “fulfilled the days”. The feast of the passover includes the days of unleavened bread.

Jesus tarrying behind in Jerusalem

After this particular feast, Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem.  Evidently, Joseph and Mary already had other children by this time, Mk 6:3, with whom they would have been preoccupied.  And Jesus was responsible enough that his parents expected him to be with them when they left.  See Mary’s question in v.48.

They traveled a day’s journey before realizing that Jesus wasn’t in the company or among his kinfolks and acquaintance.  So, they went back to Jerusalem (day 2). And after a day of looking for him there, that is, after three days, they found him in the temple.

Jesus in the temple

In the temple, Jesus was sitting in the midst of the doctors.  These would be the like scholars today with PhD’s, Lk 5:17.  He listened to them, he asked them questions, and he answered their questions.  “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers”.

Jesus didn’t have a “formal” education.  This is what caused them to be astonished.  See Jn 7:14-17.  His Father taught him everything, Jn 8:28.  See Is 50:4-6.  So, at twelve years old, Jesus in adolescence knew more than the men he was listening to.

Jesus with Mary and Joseph at the temple

Mary asked Jesus, “Why hast thou thus dealt with us”?  Evidently, she was upset because she and Joseph had been looking all over for him and had been sorrowing.

Jesus answered her with two questions.  Wayne Sehmish said, “The right way to address people in authority is with a question”.  See 2 Ki 5:13 for a classic example.

First, he asked, “How is it that ye sought me”?  The implication is that they should have known he was all right and that he had not rebelled against them or tried to hide from them.  He didn’t say these things outright; he simply implied them in his question.

Second, he asked, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business”?  This question was a bit of a surprise because Mary referred to Joseph as “thy father”.  Jesus’s Father, Almighty God, had some business for his Son to do and Jesus was doing it.  Of course, they didn’t understand, at the time, what he was talking about.  But Mary “kept all these sayings in her heart”.

Jesus in Nazareth

Jesus went home with Joseph and Mary “and was subject unto them”.  In every respect, Jesus was perfect in righteousness and without sin.  He submitted himself to the earthly authority of his mother and her husband, Ex 20:12.  He lived and set the perfect example.

Conclusion: We should do for our children what Mary and Jospeh did for Jesus in adolescence, help them develop spiritually as well as physically.  And our children should be encouraged to increase in wisdom and learn from God.  We should address people in authority with questions.  And our children should be subject unto us until they leave and cleave.  Eighteen is not the age at which children are no longer to be subject unto their parents.

To study the previous lesson, see Simeon and Anna.  To study the next lesson, see John’s Baptism.