Luke 2:43-52
"And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man," Luke 2:43-52.
This will be our last message in Luke 2 as we continue our verse by verse study through the Gospel according to Luke. Once we get to Luke 3, John the Baptist and Jesus are both 30 years old. John the Baptist is active in his public ministry, and Jesus is starting His. None of the other gospels has anything about Jesus Christ growing up. In Matthew Jesus Christ comes on the scene as an infant, and then as an adult; Mark begins with Jesus Christ as an adult; and John begins with Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God (John 1:1-2) Who becomes flesh, and then goes straight to Christ as an adult. Matthew, Mark, and John have Christ bursting onto the scene as an adult and battling with the religious crowds, working miracles, and teaching the people. Luke gives us a glimpse of Jesus Christ as He grew up. This glimpse is a prelude of Jesus Christ's ministry while on this earth.
Let us begin by looking at Luke 2:43-47. We have learned that Joseph and Mary were devout in that they fulfilled the amount of days to be in Jerusalem at the temple. They would also bring the whole family to be a learning experience for all of them. It is also obvious that they would travel with other like-minded families to and from Jerusalem. Traveling in large groups would protect them from the robbers who would watch the roads for easy targets (Luke 10:29-30). There would be help with all the kids, and companionship for the adults. Generally, as they traveled, the kids would be in the front of the group, with the women in the middle, and the men would bring up the rear. Travel would be slow, but it would be safe. In the evening the families would gather back together to eat and sleep in preparation for the next day's travel. It was not uncommon to travel all day and not see each other until that night. This is obviously the case in verses 43-44. After they searched and did not find Him, they headed back to Jerusalem. "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him," Luke 2:45.
Joseph and Mary traveled from Jerusalem a day's journey, traveled back a day's journey, and searched for Jesus on the third day. They found Him where you would not usually find someone who is 12 years old. "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions," Luke 2:46. The word "doctors" in this verse is the Greek word "didaskalos", and means Jewish doctors or lawyers, an instructor. These were the teachers of that day. If you had a question, they are the ones you would go to for an answer. They would be in the temple in somewhat of a circle. Those who had questions or just wanted to hear instruction would sit in the middle of these doctors of theology. Crowds would gather around as the doctors instructed the people. This is the setting in which Joseph and Mary found Jesus Christ. Jesus was listening to the doctors, but He was also asking them questions. Apparently, they were also asking Him questions; "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers," Luke 2:47. The word "understanding" in this verse means a putting together in the mind, i.e. intelligence, discernment, understanding.
Jesus Christ was listening to the doctors, asking them questions, and putting all these things together in His mind. They asked Him questions, and His answers astonished all who heard Him. The people were filled with wonder that someone 12 years old could communicate like this. This was just a glimpse of what was to come from Jesus Christ. In John 7 the pharisees sent officers to arrest Jesus Christ. They came back without Christ and the pharisees wanted to know why they did not arrest Jesus. "The officers answered, Never man spake like this man," John 7:46. As Jesus ends His sermon on the mount, the people had this to say in Matthew 7:28-29, "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Year after year of going to the temple, Jesus heard what the doctors taught, and He saw the corruption that stemmed from their corrupt teachings. As Christ grew, He understood more and more Who He was, and why He came. In His Deity He is Omniscient, but in His humanity He was learning these things. Though Christ knew these things, others around Him did not fully understand these truths (Luke 2:48-50). Some of them wouldn't until after His ascension back to the Father in heaven. Christ continued to grow up (Luke 2:51-52).
Jesus Christ observed what was taught at the temple, and what was done at the temple. He was driven out of love for His Father, and for the truth. Christ did not just show up on the scene and all of a sudden start denouncing the pharisees and the teachings of that day, no, He grew up under these things. He saw the corruption and the hypocrisy of the doctors. The question comes up, why didn't Christ say anything to the doctors when He was twelve? It was not yet His time to start His ministry. He always only did what the Father would have Him do and say. At twelve years old Christ asked them questions, but when He started His earthly ministry He was bold as a lion in publicly calling them out (Matthew 23). Christ exposed their false teaching (Matthew 15:1-9). He also exposed their hypocrisy in dealing with the people (Mark 12:38-44). Jesus Christ was valiant for the truth, and for His Father's house (John 2:13-17). Nicodemus came to Christ asking questions; the answer Christ gave went against all that Nicodemus believed and taught. This would cause conflict inside of Nicodemus. Who would Nicodemus believe? Would Christ reject Nicodemus if he came to Christ in repentance and broken over his sins? "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me: and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Look unto Jesus Christ and be saved. Soli Deo Gloria.
