Second Presbyterian Church

"Temple Talk, the Sequel
(12 Years Later):
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
January 25, 2004

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2004 » Sermons for January 2004 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#7 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Luke 2: 41-52

Luke is the only Gospel in the Canon, or our Bible, that contains a story from Jesus' adolescence. The story seems to serve several purposes. It serves as a transition from Jesus as an infant to Jesus who is a grown man. It demonstrates that Jesus grew in his understanding as to who he is, the Son of God.

The story begins with a statement that Mary and Joseph annually attended the Feast of the Passover when it was celebrated at the Jerusalem Temple. This story indicates that the following events took place when Jesus was 12 years old. Some commentators think that it was the year before his Bar Mitzvah (Jewish rite of recognition for becoming a man) so that the indication was that Jesus was still a child. Some commentators think that it was the year of his Bar Mitzvah. As I read it, it could go either way. The point of the story does not hinge upon whether this was the trip in which Jesus was recognized as man. The story expressed Jesus' humanity. He was an infant who had to learn and grow. In this lesson we experience Jesus as a burgeoning adolescent. In addition the point of the story hinges upon how Jesus was gaining an understanding of whom he is (the Messiah) and that he felt compelled to be about his father's business.

Let's look a little closer. They, the family of Jesus, including other relatives were in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It seemed to be a family custom. It is also what very pious people did in that day, if they lived close enough to attend the Passover. The family came, celebrated the feast and then they headed home.

The first question that comes to mind is why would Mary and Joseph leave home without knowing that Jesus was with them? It seems like a strange situation for us. But for them in their day and time, it wasn't. Women traveled more slowly than the men, so the women left Jerusalem first. The men followed later. They would catch up with each other at the place where they spent the night. So Joseph assumed Jesus was with Mary. Mary assumed Jesus was with Joseph. Neither suspected any problem until Joseph arrived and found out that Jesus was not with Mary.

I can only imagine how they must have felt when they realized that Jesus missing. As a father my fear and anxiety would be tremendously high. Joseph and Mary rushed back to Jerusalem to search for Jesus. They found Jesus after three days of searching.

Personally, I believe that the three days that Jesus was missing alluded to his coming crucifixion. After all that was the only time Jesus was truly missing; he was dead in the grave!

Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple learning and asking questions from the teachers. Evidently, Jesus pretty good; Luke recorded that the teachers (the Rabbis) were amazed at his understanding and answers.

But the heart of this story comes during the dialogue that Jesus had with his mother, Mary. Mary and Joseph found Jesus and she said, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." Mary clearly felt what any parent would feel: first, great anxiety and fear, relief - when Jesus was found, then some anger - for what he had put them through.

Jesus answered, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's House (…I must be about my Father's business)?

These words are significant words that Jesus spoke. First of all, these are the first words that Jesus spoke in Luke's Gospel. One of the reasons I entitled this sermon Temple Talk, the Sequel was that these are the first words that anyone recorded in which Jesus spoke. Second, you can sense how he is already beginning to feel his mission to obey God and to do His will on earth. Jesus experienced a growing and compelling sense of call - to go and do the will of God, the Father. Thirdly, and similarly, Jesus had a sense that he was the Son of God even before his baptism.

Perhaps this is no big deal to you, but realize that in the other Gospels, Matthew, Mark and John, there is absolutely no data to demonstrate that Jesus had a sense of being the Messiah before he was baptized by John the Baptist. Our passage today is the only passage that gives us that data.

Finally, note how Jesus does this by discretely and carefully rewording what his mother said to him. Mary had said, "your father and I," and she meant Joseph. Jesus' reply reframes "father" into a divine context. "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's House?" Jesus WAS home. He was in the Temple where the presence of the Lord was assumed. God is the Father of Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God. Again, Luke is telling us who Jesus is - the Son of God.

The rest of the story wraps up the situation. Jesus not only returned with Mary and Joseph, but he submitted to them as a child does to parents. Even the Divine, the Son of God, who was also very human, obeyed the 5^th commandment to Honor your father and your mother. One could also note, tongue in cheek, that Jesus' remaining in Jerusalem was as close to an adolescent rebellion as he was going get.

The last verse summarizes, like verse 40, that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom, stature and in favor with God. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.