Jesus at the Temple
Jesus was a child of the faith. He grew up in a family of faith, participated in the festivals of his people, and went to houses of worship. This story reminds us that Jesus really was Mary and Joseph’s child. They parented him, got worried about him, and felt all the things we feel about the children in our lives. Jesus, a 12-year-old in this story, impresses the teachers in the temple with his understanding of the scriptures. Children can possess wisdom and insight, an when we talk and are in community with people of all ages, we all can grow.
Read It
Luke 2:41-52
41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
Do It
1. Retell the story: Tell it as a family, each of you from the viewpoint of a different character. How would Mary’s telling of the story differ from Jesus’, or from one of the teachers in the temple, or from a fellow traveller? Jump into the story with the opinions, feelings and thoughts of all the characters. There are all kinds of interesting things to think about - like adding up how many days Jesus was away from his parents!
2. Invite elders, teachers or pastors from your community over for a snack or meal with your family. Read this story or another story from the Bible with them and have a conversation. How do they read it? What wisdom do the children in the room have to add to the conversation?
2. Invite elders, teachers or pastors from your community over for a snack or meal with your family. Read this story or another story from the Bible with them and have a conversation. How do they read it? What wisdom do the children in the room have to add to the conversation?
Pray It
God, thank you for your Word. Thank you for the way we can read it and interpret it and live it together. Amen.
