Amazing that in only 6 days Jesus went from being born to turning 12! In only 2 weeks he will be thirty and getting baptized! My how he grows up fast. Celebrating the milestones in Jesus early life go quickly, both in the bible and in our liturgical calender, yet we can absorb much from them. The gospel reading for today was Luke 2:41-52, when Jesus was left in Jerusalem when he was 12, then his parents returned to find him at the temple impressing the people with his knowledge and answers. The questions and answers he gave at only 12 years old! Already it appears he had become a prodigy of scripture and reasoning. Lighten up on that prodigy in youth group! It is good for older children to have such knowledge at the time hormones start kicking in.
What I like most about this passage is that it is the only one that describes Jesus during adolescence. I must admit, I have always felt a bit ripped off, especially as a youth minister, that this is all we know of Jesus between birth and 30 years old.
"40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him."
Left in Jerusalem story, then:
"51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."NIV, Luke 2
This is it! Some things about his life we can gather from cultural history, that he would have had schooling including religious studies up until around this point of his life when he would have entered into something like a trade school to be a carpenter/craftsman like his father. What a great inspiration and goal for any youth: to be obedient to their parents! Not only that, but to grow in wisdom and stature, in favor with God and man! That will be the source of inspiration for my relations with youth for years to come.
I love the opportunity to teach them Christianity from a wide variety of perspectives as they choose how to pursue faith in Christ in a way that fits their unique personalities. I feel so blessed to have been gifted with the experience of being taught how to pursue faith in Jesus despite cultural and sectarian differences. What a life mission for us, to share our faith with others as we grow in wisdom and stature, in the sight of God and men.
great post!
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