Most of the Gospel biographies of Jesus relate to three short adult years. Jesus began his public ministry at age 30 when he was baptized by John the Baptist (or Baptizer) in the River Jordan. It all ended three years later when Jesus was 33 and uttered the words, “It is finished” from the cross.
We also have a few chapters at the beginning of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels which describe the events of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. But what about his growing-up years between infancy and adulthood? In the Protestant Bible (the Catholic one is a bit thicker), we only have one short passage relating to that almost three-decade time period. These 14 verses give us a glimpse of Jesus as a pre-teen. What do they say?
The overview
The passage begins in Luke’s Gospel (chapter 2 and verse 39). It tells us that even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem (in southern Israel), his hometown where he grew up was Nazareth (in northern Israel). Verse 40 summarizes these growing-up years — “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
This tells us that Jesus grew physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. A very similar verse appears at the end of this chapter as well (see verse 52). This kind of balanced growth should be the goal of every parent for their child. Sadly, today, the last dimension (spiritually) is woefully neglected by many parents.
The overpass
The following verses reveal a very interesting and specific story of young Jesus. It begins by telling us that this family’s annual custom was to travel to Jerusalem for the important Jewish festival called “Passover”. It remembered a pivotal event in Jewish history when God delivered the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.
The Egyptian ruler (Pharaoh) was finally convinced to free his slaves when an angel of death took the lives of the eldest son in each Egyptian family (including Pharaoh’s). But the angel “passed over” and spared the Hebrew homes which had the blood of a lamb smeared on its wooden doorposts. And so (13 centuries later) 12- year-old Jesus and his family are travelling to Jerusalem for Passover. In another 21 years, a 33-year-old Jesus would be shedding his blood as the “Lamb of God” on a wooden cross outside Jerusalem so that our sins could be “passed over” and forgiven.
The oversight
The next event is shocking. It begins with young Jesus’ decision to stay behind in Jerusalem. His parents assume he’s with the extended family and head home (it reminds me a bit of the “Home Alone” movie). Incredibly, the oversight only gets noticed after one full day of travel.
Sometimes overlooked is the fact that Mary and Joseph had several more children by this time. Jesus had four younger brothers as well as unnamed sisters (see Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 if you don’t believe me). So, Jesus’ parents had a few heads to count and we can cut them some slack.
They frantically return to Jerusalem the next day (probably in record time). They search the capital city for three whole days before they finally find young Jesus in the Temple “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (verse 46). The Jewish leaders were “amazed” by this child prodigy’s “understanding and answers”.
After (I’m sure) some hugs, kisses and tears of joy and relief, Mary scolds her son with a question beginning with “why”. “Why have you treated us like this?” (verse 48). Jesus replies by asking two questions of his own beginning with “why”. “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (verse 49).
The passage closes saying that Jesus then obediently returned home with his parents. In the days to come, “his mother treasured all these things in her heart” (verse 51). This verse echoes Mary’s response when Jesus was born 12 years earlier — “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
What about you? Do you treasure the things of God in your heart as Mary did? Or are spiritual things an obvious oversight in your life, and what you are modeling to your children?
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor who is very thankful for faithful and faith-filled parents.
