LUKE LESSON 6
We will begin this lesson in Luke 2:40 "And the child grew, and
waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was
upon him."
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus back to Nazareth to live until He
grew to manhood. He was to be called a Nazarene (Matthew 2:23). In
Isaiah 11:2. we read about the abundance of His Spirit. Isaiah 11:2
"And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of
knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;" you see, Jesus has all of
these to the utmost; the grace of God. Colossians 2:9 "For in him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Jesus Christ is the
fulness of God on the earth.
Luke 2:41 "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the
feast of the passover."
It was a requirement to go to Jerusalem on the feast of the
passover each year. Mary and Joseph tried to keep the Mosaic law, and
they went each year 3 times to worship at the temple (feast of
Passover, feast of Pentecost, and feast of Tabernacles). Verse 41
doesn't mean that Joseph was Jesus' father, but rather that is what
everyone thought. The men were the only ones required to go, but in
this case, the whole family went.
Luke 2:42 "And when he was twelve years old, they went up to
Jerusalem after the custom of the feast."
I personally believe that Jesus came to the temple at 12 to show
that this is about the time when we are old enough to make the
decision to follow the Lord. This particular time is very important in
the life of Jewish young men. They begin to worship with the men at
this age.
Luke 2:43 "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned,
the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother
knew not [of it]."
The feast of Passover and Unleavned Bread are really covered
together. the Passover meal was on the 14th of Nisan and unleavened
Bread extended for 7 days after. After this time was fulfilled, Mary
and Joseph started back to Nazareth. They were not aware that Jesus
had not come with them, but stayed behind.
Luke 2:44 "But they, supposing him to have been in the company,
went a day's journey; and they sought him among [their] kinsfolk and
acquaintance."
This was a large company of people who had gone to Jerusalem with
them. All Hebrews were required to go to Jerusalem, so this was indeed
a large group. Mary and Joseph began to look for Jesus when they
noticed He wasn't with them.
Luke 2:45 "And when they found him not, they turned back again to
Jerusalem, seeking him."
Perhaps, He had lived such a normal childhood that His mother had
forgotten who Jesus really was.
Luke 2:46 "And it came to pass, that after three days they found
him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing
them, and asking them questions."
Had they remembered that Jesus was the very Son of God, they would
have gone to the temple immediately. As it was, it took them 3 days to
find Him. These doctors were doctors of theology. We know that Jesus'
style was to ask them questions. Even when He was questioned later, He
answered with questions that they could not answer.
Luke 2:47 "And all that heard him were astonished at his
understanding and answers."
Here was a 12 year old boy, who had not been trained in the
temple, who knew the Word more than those who had studied all of their
lives, How could this be? This young man they were talking to was the
Word of God. In St. John the 1st chapter, He is called just that.
Luke 2:48 "And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother
said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy
father and I have sought thee sorrowing."
As we said earlier. His childhood was probably fairly normal. His
mother had perhaps forgotten why Jesus had come to the earth. and she
felt that He. as other children, was obligated to tell her before He
disappeared. Of course, after three days of looking without finding
Him, they feared the worst.
Luke 2:49 "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me?
wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"
Here, we see again, that Jesus answers questions with another
question. Possibly, Jesus did not like Mary referring to Joseph as his
Father. Jesus' Father was God. This moment (at 12 years of age)
possibly launched Jesus into the Father's business. At least we know
that He left a lasting impression on these scholarly men in the
temple. There has been very little written about the time between
Jesus' visiting the temple at Jerusalem and when He starts His public
ministry when He is 30 years old. We do know that Mary knows of His
miracle ability because she tells them at the wedding to do whatever
He asks. This is an indication to me that Jesus had been performing
miracles before her from the time H was 12 until then. I believe His
formal ministry begins at 30, and that he had been ministering all
along privately. What was the Father's business? It was ministering
to those less fortunate.
Luke 2:50 "And they understood not the saying which he spake unto
them."
It is pretty obvious that Jesus had not been performing miracles
before He was 12, because the Scripture here says they (Mary and
Joseph) understood not. We know that Mary understood when Jesus was
30, so this fuels the idea that He ministered privately in their home
between 12 and 30 years of age.
Luke 2:51 "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and
was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her
heart."
After this Jerusalem experience. Jesus returned with them to the
little town of Nazareth where He would grow to manhood known as a
carpenter's son. Mary remembers all of these happenings as any mother
would. Jesus was not rebellious but obeyed Mary and Joseph (was
subject unto them).
Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in
favour with God and man."
We know that Jesus had all knowledge and wisdom. I believe the
statement above means that those looking on perceived more of His
wisdom as He grew older. They became more and more aware of just how
wise He was. He was totally obedient to Father God and stayed in good
favour with Him, but man realized His unselfishness and attitude. They
could not help but love Him and respect Him more and more as they knew
Him better.
Luke 6 Questions
1. The child grew and waxed strong in _____________.
2. What was upon Him?
3. In Matthew 2:23, we find out why He lived in Nazareth. Why was it?
4. What does Isaiah 11:2 tell us about Jesus?
5. In Colossians 2:9. "for in him dwelleth all the fulness___________
________ _______".
6. What 3 celebrations were all males to go to the temple?
7. What specific celebration was this one?
8. How old was Jesus at this time?
9. What city was the temple in?
10. Why does the author believe this specific age of Jesus is
important?
11. What is meant by fulfilling the days?
12. Why do you suppose Mary and Joseph did not know that Jesus was not
with them earlier?
13. What 2 feasts or festivals overlapped here?
14. What time of year were these festivals?
15. Where did Mary and Joseph look for Him first?
16. Why didn't Mary look at the temple first?
17. How long were they looking before they found Him?
18. Where was He found?
19. Who had He been with?
20. What had He been doing?
21. How did Jesus answer questions?
22. How did His answers affect them?
23. Where can we read about Jesus being the Word?
24. What did His mother say when they found Him?
25. How did Jesus answer her?
26. How old is Jesus when He launches His public ministry?
27. What do you believe He did between 12 and then?
28. What is the Father's business?
29. What tells us that Jesus did not perform miracles before He was
12?
30. What makes the author believe that He did miracles privately
before He was 30?
31. Who would those around them believe that Jesus was?
32. How do we know that Jesus was a good son, not rebellious?
33. Jesus increased in favour with ______ and ____________.
34. What does verse 52 really mean about Jesus growing in wisdom?
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