This is the third of a series of blogs about Luke 2:1-52.
In the previous blog, we were contemplating Luke 2:41-50. I proposed that you read this passage of scripture and ask yourself a question. Why would this event in the life of Jesus, Mary, Joseph be difficult for Jesus’ mother and father to comprehend?
Did you come up with an answer? I hope so!
What is taking place? The Baby has grown through Boyhood and now He has reached the time of ‘Becoming’… becoming what?
Luke 2:41 sets the scene. “Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast”(TLV). Why? Exodus 23:14-17 and Deuteronomy 16:16 tell us that “Three times a year all your males are to appear before Adonai your God in the place He chooses–at the Feast of Matzot (Unleavened Bread, Passover), the Feast of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks, Pentecost), and the Feast of Sukkot( booths, Tabernacles)No one should appear before Adonai empty-handed–the gift of each man’s hand according to the blessing Adonai your God has given you. (Deut. 16:16-17, TLV) [Inserts mine]
As was shared in verse 39, Jesus’ parents “had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai” (TLV); it is no surprise that the family is still keeping the guidelines of the Torah. Remember, Jesus’ words, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”(Matthew 5:17 TLV)
Joseph is leading his family according to the Law of Moses. Therefore, in keeping with the Law, verse 42 (TLV), says, “When He became twelve years old, they were going up according to festival customs.” This is what we read previously in Deuteronomy 16.
The commentary footnote in my study Bible, says, “2:42, At the age of 12 a Jewish boy became a “son of the Law” and began to observe the requirements of the Law.” It is easy to leave this statement alone and move on looking at the passage of scripture; however, Him being 12 didn’t begin with me reading the commentary in my study Bible. I am using the Tree of Life Version and it has no commentary; so I did some digging, or should I say, googling.
Here is what I found? Many believe that a boy turning 12 or 13 has reached the age of accountability. For a Jewish family, a 12 year old son, would be making his transition from Boyhood (my emphasis) to Adulthood. That is why I described this event in Jesus’ life as being on the precipice of Adulthood.
I do not believe that it is out of order to say that Jesus was having His ‘Bar Mitzvah’. Don’t turn me off! Give me some slack.
According to gotquestions.org, “The term ‘bar mitzvah’ means “son of the commandment…” Within Judaism the idea ‘bar mitzvah’ (for a boy) or ‘bat mitzvah’ (for a girl) is relatively new. The ceremony of ‘bar mitzvah’ is a recognition of adulthood; a boy becomes a man…as an adult…he shares the responsibilities and privileges of a full member of the Jewish community…For the past hundred years or so, the ‘bar mitzvah’ ceremony has become more important. In the past, the new ‘bar mitzvah’ (son of the commandment) was eligible to wear telifin (phylacteries) during prayer…In addition, the ‘bar mitzvah’ (son of the commandment) is allowed to read publicly from the Torah in the synagogue on the Sabbath.”
What I have just shared is not explained in the Hebrew Bible. Question: Is it explained in the scriptures? No.
I find it interesting that when Jesus was 12, He remained behind in Jerusalem after the Feast of Passover and did not return home in the caravan with His family.
I would like to share from another article I read. The words from the this article were reprinted with permission from the Second Jewish Catalog, published by the Jewish Publication Society. The article that I will be sharing is Deborah Lipstadt’s, ‘What Does Bar Mitzvah Mean?’. She writes, “…one is a full-fledged member of the Jewish community, able to participate in all aspects of its religious expression and existence, even if one has never had a bar/bat mitzvah celebration. All that is necessary is that one be 12 years old if a female and 13 years old if a male (those years are arbitrary due to the custom of puberty) …it is important that one remember that the essence of bar/bat mitzvah is the age of the individual. The obligations and responsibilities become theirs whether there is a formal celebration or not.” (insert mine, but her thought)
(This obviously helps us understand what has been written in the Torah and what Jesus and His family are responding too when He turned twelve. )[insert mine]
This is extremely important because as Deborah Lipstadt writes, “the ceremony which is of fairly recent origin, does not make one a bar/bat mitzvah; it merely marks the time when one becomes a ‘son/daughter of the commandments’. The real meaning of the phrase is not (emphasis mine) ‘son/daughter of the commandments’ but ‘one of the commandments’ (in the sense of “one who is responsible for performing the commandments”) [insert mine]
What does this mean in the narrative of Christ? I submit that Jesus ‘had a ceremony’ in Jerusalem; but not one as a Jewish family would celebrate today. What Jesus experienced was a Divine appointment created by His Heavenly Father as a ‘Coming of Age’ moment as the Son of Man. God, His Father, presented His Son, at the age of twelve, before the religious leaders, to acknowledge His transition from Boyhood to Becoming ‘Bar Mitzvah’.
Unfortunately for His earthly parents this was a frightening experience.
That is covered in verses 43-50.
Let me ask you another question about Jesus. Was Jesus a precocious Child?
Ponder that thought.
But remember to consider Jesus as precocious,I am sure that you understand, this can only be considered in a positive context because Jesus is the Son of God/Son of Man, Who is without sin.
Blessings, following the Lord, deo
Part 3
Living Words of Encouragement 