Jesus’ Boldness

This is the sixth in a series of blogs about Luke 2:1-52.

This concludes a series that began with the Incarnation.

Mary and Joseph have found Jesus. Jesus had chosen to stay in Jerusalem after the celebration of the feast of Passover and talk with the teachers of the Torah in the Temple. All things considered that doesn’t appear to be wise. At least three days had come and gone since Mary and Joseph had left Jerusalem with a caravan assuming that Jesus was present traveling with “relatives and friends” (Luke 2: 44, TLV).

His parents have been through an emotional ‘hell’. Upon finding Jesus, Mary has confronted her Son with the question, “Child, why did you do this to us?” (TLV)

I would like to interject this thought. To our knowledge, no angel has showed-up during this episode in the life of Joseph and Mary to give them instructions about what was taking place; what was about to happen; or what they were going to experience. God, the Father, did it differently. The parents were on their own. The angels had served their purpose in the formative stages of the life of Jesus. Now, no more angels. The Torah has and is governing the family.

Therefore, I propose to you that this episode in the life of Mary and Joseph becomes an awakening in their hearts to see and experience Jesus with a new understanding. Mary must realize that ‘Jesus is no longer a Child’. Joseph must recognize that ‘the Child is a Bar Mitzvah, a son of the commandment’. Jesus, according to the Torah now ‘Belongs’ to the Jewish adult community. But, what does that mean with regards to His relationship with His mother and father, right now, tomorrow, and the future ?

Where did they find Him?

He was sitting, conversing with the teachers of the Torah. And, it appears that He was holding His own in the conversation. The teachers of the Torah were amazed at His understanding and His responses. Can we safely assume that Jesus was expressing ‘wisdom’ that the teachers of the Torah believed was beyond His years?

(remember, the definition of ‘precocious’; it said of a child, that it was expressing ‘wisdom’ beyond his/her years?) (insert mine)

Jesus has been separated from His parents for at least three days. Jesus obviously has exercised poised resourcefulness. For me, this speaks of His upbringing, His ability to take care of Himself, and His personal strength.

Verse 49 (TLV) is Jesus’ response to the moment, to His parents, and about His future. Jesus says, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?”

Sounds like Jesus has everything under control.

I believe that Jesus understood what being 12 meant at this time in His life. Jesus had remained in Jerusalem because that is what His Father had directed Him to do. Jesus is no longer a ‘Child’ in the eyes of the Jewish community; He has ‘Become’ a ‘son of the commandment’; and He, now, ‘Belongs’ as an Adult to the Jewish nation into which He was born, but don’t forget, He is 12.

Can we conclude that Jesus is exhibiting a ‘Boldness’? He is seeking to do His Father’s will. This boldness has caused a ‘tear’ in the relationship between Himself and His father and mother; and though it has caused momentary grief, it is a necessary grief, that will initially hurt, but be healed; however, we are aware that a greater ‘tear’ ‘will be experienced by His mother, as she witnesses Her Son’s ministry that leads Him to the cross to be crucified.

Read the narrative carefully of the life of Jesus in Luke 2. Directing our thoughts to two verses, verse 39 says (TLV) “When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret (Nazareth).” Verse 41 says, “Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast.” Jesus is in Jerusalem at this time because Joseph made sure his family kept the Torah. Jesus is being bold and in His Boldness, He is being strong: body, soul, spirit. Jesus is keeping the Torah, accountable for His own actions and responsibilities.

Returning to verse 49, there is nothing in Jesus’ response that is “childish’. It speaks of Luke 2:40 (TLV), “The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him.”

This 12 year old is manifesting the fruit of verse 40 in the presence of the teachers of the Torah and also expressing it to His parents. What His parents had witnessed for the past 12 years in their quiet, respectful home is now blossoming (remember that was part of the definition of the word ‘precocious’ that we considered in the previous blog). His blossoming is a manifestation of the ‘favor of God’ that was upon Him. That favor is Grace! The word “favor’ is the Greek word, ‘charis’-grace.

Simply put again, making a strong statement, this 12 year old ‘Bar Mitzvah’ standing before Mary and Joseph, responding to His mother is no long the Child as His mother had known Him.

I submit that verse 49, which is Jesus’ answer, respectfully responds to His parents with a quiet boldness that left them amazed by His answer; just as the teachers of the Torah had been amazed by His answers to them. Jesus is not challenging His parents; nor is He ridiculing them. Let’s look at Jesus’ answer again.

“Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?”

Luke provides for us what many of us may be thinking. To what degree of significance did His parents understand this moment in the life of Jesus at the age of 12 years old and coming to the feast of Passover? I would say that they envisioned their pilgrimage like the other family’s from their town of Nazareth. Their Son has turned 12; He has now passed from Childhood to being responsible as an Adult under the Torah; and He is responsible for His own actions. Nothing wrong with that, except, Jesus is more than a natural son, He is the Son of God/Son of Man. God in the flesh. He is unique. There is no one else like Him, then or now, or in the future. That is why what has transpired in the life of Jesus and His mother and father is significant.

Interruption: I just had this thought and I want to express it: Mary is ‘giving birth’ again. She is experiencing the ‘birth’ of an Adult Son. Do you see it? or am I imagining it? this time it is in her heart.

Verse 50 (TLV) tells us that “But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.” And if the teachers of the Torah heard this same conversation, I do not believe they understood it either.

And we know Pharisees and the teachers of the Torah didn’t understand Him when He was an Adult ministering for three plus years on His way to the cross.

Verses 51-52, are an incredible revelation in the life of Christ. Remember, Jesus is 12 years old. He has entered ‘Belonging’ to the Jewish community. He has been ‘Bar Mitzvah, a son of the commandment’; He is now recognized as being an Adult and responsible for His actions. As stated previously, it is easy to recognize that the ‘favor of God was upon Him’ based upon His interaction with the teachers of the Torah and His response to His parents. Ok, you have said this before; I know, but…

Question: How did this 12 year old young adult live with His earthly parents after having this spiritual encounter orchestrated by His Heavenly Father, in the Temple (His Father’s House) talking with the teachers of the Torah and causing disruption in His parents lives?

Verse 51 (TLV) tells us that He went back home to Nazareth with His parents and “was obedient to them.” Jesus didn’t flaunt His age before His parents. Jesus didn’t have an attitude that said, ‘I’m an adult now, and I will do things My way’. I am the Son of God, step aside. He didn’t think of Himself more highly than He ought to think. As the Son of Man, He continued to humble Himself and was obedient to His parents and to the Torah. (boldness mine)

Why are the words ‘humble‘ and ‘obedient‘ an important words?

Jesus is living out Philippians 2:5-8 (TLV) “Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua”…

“Who, though existing the form of God, did not consider being equal to God a thing to be grasped. But He emptied Himself–taking on the form of a slave, becoming the likeness of men (Incarnation) and being found in appearance as a man. He humbled Himself–becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (insert, boldness mine).

Remember Jesus is the Son of Man/Son of God, the Second Adam, in the flesh. He is living a sinless life. He is growing into Manhood. He is fulfilling the Word of God perfectly (See Matthew 5:48). I Peter 1:13-16 (TLV), the Apostle Peter exhorts us, “So brace your minds for action. Keep your balance. And set your hope on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah. Like obedient children, do not be shaped by the cravings you had formerly in your ignorance. Instead, just like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in everything you do. For it is written, “Kedoshim you shall be, for I am kadosh.” (You shall be holy, for I am holy) (emphasis mine) This requires walking humbly before the Lord. What did Jesus teach about humility? Matthew 23:12 (TLV), “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Holiness is the life that Jesus lived as the Son of God/Son of Man. He was perfectly Holy because in Him was no sin. Here is an acronym for the word H.O.L.Y. — Humble Obedience Loving Yahweh. This is the lifestyle that Jesus walked out here in human flesh.

Remember Philippians 5:5 (TLV) instructs us to “Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua.” That is a daunting statement. Apart from Christ in us it is impossible to fulfill. Only by the Grace of God can we learn to walk in the likeness of Christ.

This is the attitude that Jesus lived as He grew up in preparation for His Ministry, and the attitude that He continued to live while fulfilling His Ministry.

How long was He at home with His parents? To answer that question, we need to keep reading. Beginning with Luke 3:1 and following, we can find the answer to that question. Luke 3:23 (TLV) says, “Yeshua was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.” Doing the math, 30 -12 = 18. So Jesus apparently stayed home and helped His family for around 18 years; and since many believe that Joseph passed away while Jesus was still at home, then Jesus assumed taking care of the family, because He was the oldest Son. How can I say that with confidence? When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He spoke to John to take care of Mary His mother; and told Mary that John was now her son. He made sure His mother was taken care of. (John 19:26-27)

Simply stated, Jesus submitted to His father and mother and lived with them until the time came when He had to be about ‘the things’ of His Heavenly Father. That ‘thing’ was to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29)

Reflecting now on verse 51 (TLV), Luke writes about how all of this affected Mary.

“But His mother treasured all these words in her heart.” Sound familiar, the shepherds had come to worship the new born King. The shepherds had told Mary what had been revealed to them in the fields that night. Luke 2:19 (TLV) says that Mary upon hearing these words…”treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.”

Jesus’ words spoken to His mother, Mary, quieted her anxiousness, her sorrow and her fears.

I highlighted the words ‘treasured‘ on purpose. I found out in the Strong’s concordance that they are two different Greek words. The first one, used in Luke 2:19 means ‘to keep, observe, keep closely together; the second one, used in Luke 2:51 means ‘ to watch thoroughly, to observe strictly’.

Based upon these two different words, do you see a difference? The difference that I see, is why I am saying, a ‘birthing’ took place in Mary’s heart.

What I observe here is the ‘mothering process’ that explains about how Mary ‘handled’ the early years of Jesus’ life; and then how Mary “handled” the latter years of Jesus’ life. From Jesus’ birth to age 12, as a mother, she watched over Him, making sure everything was right. She was a ‘hand’s on’ mother that kept a ‘close watch approach on Him’, but was not suffocating. Now, at age 12, Jesus is entering the next official stage of His Jewish life. Mary needs to change her ‘mothering’ routine. Jesus is going to live out His Bar Mitzvah. This means that Jesus is no longer a Child. Mary musts take a ‘hand’s off’ approach as HIs mother. Realizing that He is 12, from now on she is to ‘observe’ Him living out His life as He matures into adulthood. This is the ‘birthing’ revelation that Mary had about Jesus in her heart– Birthed out of Childhood into Adulthood. Isn’t this the exact same thing that we as parents need to understand and embrace as we mother and father our own children.

In the beginning, before Jesus was born in the flesh, God, the Father, sent His angel to speak to both Joseph and Mary and tell them what was going to take place. God continued to use angels as they were necessary to establish this family in a safe place. Over the past 12 years the family has been dwelling in that safe place. The place is still safe; but the dynamics are changing because Jesus is now 12 years old. His Heavenly Father has come into the midst of this family through the Torah and showed Mary and Joseph that Jesus is now beginning a new stage of development at the age of 12. He now ‘Belongs’ to the Jewish community in a new way. From a practical parenting standpoint that means that the process of fathering and mothering must change with regards to Jesus’ age and development.

This brings me to a final comparison. Compare Luke 2:40 with Luke 2:52. What similarities and differences do you observe? (TLV)

This is what I would like you to observe ? Luke 2:40 is Jesus’ growth and development as a Child, as typified, by what Mary treasured in her heart. Luke 2:52 is Jesus’ growth and development as an Adult, as typified, by what Mary treasured in her heart. Luke 2:52 is the maturing of Luke 2:40. What Mary treasured in seed form, grew for 12 years and has now ‘birthed’ into what she will treasure watching her Son mature.

Notice the wording of each verse.

Luke 2:40 (TLV) “The Child kept growing and became strong, filled (to make full, complete,[picture to the brim]) with wisdom; and the favor [grace] of God was upon Him.” (inserts mine)

Luke 2:52 (TLV) “And Yeshua (not the word, Child) kept increasing(to advance in amount, to grow[picture what was originally given is now maturing])in wisdom and stature(as big as, how great), and in favor[grace] with God and men(His influence and recognition is expanding in the community; He was becoming an integral part of the community of Nazareth; His influence was beyond the ‘four walls’ of His household.) I would like to share a scripture that substantiates His integral part in the community showing how He grew in favor with men. Luke 4:16 (TLV) tells us, “And He came to Natzeret (Nazareth), where He had been raised. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on Shabbat and He got up to read.” I believe that this is a testimony of the type of life that He had lived from the time He was 12 years of age until He began His formal ministry about 18 years later. (inserts and emphasis mine)

Do you see the process in its beginning stages of His Birth through Boyhood to age 12; then from age 12, His Bar Mitzvah, through His Adult life until it’s time to enter into His ministry about age, 30? All of this, Mary had been and was now treasuring in her heart. Mary was in the transition. Her transition required embracing a ‘birthing’ into the next level of her ‘mothering’ responsibilities in Jesus’ life.

The nuances between the two verses are significant. A seed breaks forth out of the ground into the sunlight; the plant begins to grow; the plant becomes strong; the plant blossoms; the plant blooms; the fruit of the plant is partaken of… and then the plant dies. Why?

Jesus said (John 12:24 TLV) “Amen, Amen I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” What is Jesus referring too? His sacrificial death on the cross, as the Lamb of God.

But He is also referring to much more.

I want to close with the following verses found in John 12:25-26 (TLV),

“He who loves his life will lose it, and one who hates his life in this world will keep it forever. If any man serves Me, he must follow Me ;and where I am, there also will My servant be. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

To live out these words requires humility, obedience, and agape (God’s love).

In Christ, we ‘Belong’ to the Father; and we are all in the process of ‘Becoming’.

As we continue our walk with the Lord, we grow and blossom. I am sure that you are familiar with the words, ‘bloom where you are planted’. Those words are still true. Jesus bloomed where He was planted. And as we bloom where we are planted; we, too, will grow in favor/grace with God and man.

blessings, let us go forth, to serve in the Kingdom of God, deo

Part 6