All of our lessons, so far, have talked about Jesus in His infancy. He came and He fulfilled prophecies but most of the Gospel information tells us of His ministries as an adult after age 30 (Luke 3:23). Today, I want to take a little time and focus on His childhood. The Bible tells us just a little bit, but not much, about that time period.
We know that Jesus was the eldest of at least 7 children. He had 4 brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. He also had at least two sisters (Matt 13: 54-58). And we know, also, that His father was a carpenter. Carpenters, at that time, would have worked also in stone and metal, and made things like yokes and plows. They were working class folks and would have been strong-bodied. Jesus would have grown up working alongside His father and learning the trade. They would not have been among the wealthier families.
Jesus came from a Jewish family and would have been taught the Scriptures in His home growing up and would have memorized portions of them. He would also have attended a synagogue school as would His brothers. This would have left Him well versed in Jewish teaching by the time He was a teen. He would have been accustomed to saying prayers at several set times during the day. To understand the stories we will see in the Gospels, we must see Jesus as a devout Jewish man... as a part of that culture.
Jewish families practiced Proverbs 22:6 faithfully. Record this verse in your journal.
In those days, Jewish families made three trips a year to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles. They usually traveled together in groups and older children ran around among the other families as they traveled along the way. This was a time of fellowship and community. In our text today, Jesus was 12 years old and the family was on their way home from having celebrated the Passover in Jerusalem (Deut 16:5-6).
Verses 43-44 tell us that Mary and Joseph traveled that first complete day toward home thinking that Jesus was with the group, but Jesus had not gone with them toward home. At the end of the first day of travel, they began looking for Him, but He was not to be found. Can you imagine their panic at missing one of their children? What parent has not felt that feeling at one time or another? But they did not have the ability to report Him as a missing person.
The Bible tells us they turned back to Jerusalem and continued searching for Him for 3 days. How intensely terrifying that must have been for them. And where did they find Him? He was in the Temple courts among the teachers discussing God’s Word. Jesus loved the Word of God. Even as a child of 12 He wanted to be among those who were studying and discussing the Word of God. Do we have that kind of a love for God’s Word? Are we dedicated to studying it and wanting to be with those who are studying and discussing it? Is it our desire to learn as much as we can about it? Everyone who was there with Him was amazed at His understanding and answers.
When His parents found Him there, they were astonished. His mother scolded Him for having put them through such a scare. But the Bible tells us that Jesus, seemingly perplexed, asked why they would have had to look for Him. Wouldn’t they have known He would have been there in His Father’s house? To Jesus, this seemed the most natural place for Him to be. This is the first indication we see from Jesus that part of His mission on earth was to teach but His parents did not understand what He was telling them. What about us? Do we feel a natural desire to be in God’s house, teaching and learning? Is it a place people would expect to find us?
Of course, Jesus was obedient and returned to Nazareth with His parents. But just as she did at His birth, Mary treasured these memories in her heart. This was a remarkable child, not at all like the others. And the Bible tells us twice, both in verses 40 and 52, that Jesus grew and matured in all ways… physically and in wisdom and favor with God and man.
We know He grew physically to be a man and probably would have been strong, having been a carpenter. The Bible only gives us one verse to tell us what He looked like (Isa 53:2). This verse is not telling us that He was ugly, but only that His popularity was not due to His stunning Brad Pitt appearance. He was ordinary looking.
We’ve seen in our reading already today that He grew quite knowledgeable in the Scriptures and Godly wisdom. But we are also told that Jesus grew in favor with men. He was well-liked. Crowds followed Him to hear Him speak. He had friends. Fishermen left their nets and others (e.g. tax collector) left their jobs to follow Him and be His disciples. So why does Isa 53:3 say He was despised and rejected by men? He was despised and rejected by those in authority who found Him to be a threat to their positions because of His popularity with the common man.
We will not hear of Jesus’ life again from this point, when He is 12 years old, until He begins His ministry at 30 years of age. This is called ‘the 18-year silence’.
Responding to God: Praise and worship Jesus for who He is and as the One and only Son of God. Thank Him for His love and for His Goodness. Thank Him for your Salvation. Pray for a greater desire to know and understand God’s Word and to be in God’s house. Seek to have a closer relationship with our Lord. Ask His help in training your children in His ways.
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