Jesus Comes To His Temple Series

The last time, I spoke of all the signs that pointed to Messiah being born when He was and where He was and that no one seemed to care, remember or just plain covered it up.

I thought this would be a good starting point for a look at the life of Christ through the scriptures

We are told precious little about the early years of our Lord. He was perhaps as much as 2 years old when the Magi visited, but we read nothing again until Jesus is 12 years old. All we can do is presume he led a normal life as any other Jewish youth of His time.

Both John and Mark begin their gospels with Jesus as an adult and being baptized by John. This was as we will see in future messages the beginning of His earthly ministry

Matthew and Luke record many things surrounding Jesus’ birth as we saw last time.

Annunciation’s to both His mother and Father

The fulfilling that He would be born of a virgin and in Bethlehem

Shepherds and Magi are given an early look and both are consumed with worship

Two strangers in the temple praise God and give thanks

Then we have nothing from inspired writing. Oh some manuscripts from the second and third centuries and some even later have tried to fill in some blanks but they are filled with heresy and nonsense

We simply have to trust the scriptures and move to His youth, at the age of 12 and His first Passover in Jerusalem we have recorded. Anything else is opinion and speculation

Luke 2:41-52 (NASB)

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; 43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,

44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." 49 And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"

50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them. 51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

All Jewish men were required to appear in Jerusalem for the three main feasts every year, Passover and unleavened bread, the feast of first fruits and the feast of ingathering or Pentecost.

We are not told whom they stayed with or any details of this Passover. We are told they stayed the appointed days and this would be for about a week. We are told the women also went up at this time, similar to Hannah’s practice recorded in 1 Samuel 1:7

12 years old is a very important year in the life of a Jewish boy. At 12 he is considered a son of the law and so bound by its statutes. What we would call the age of reason.

He is also to begin training in fasting and temple worship as well as beginning to learn a trade. So here at 12 Jesus comes to the Temple for the first times as a young man.

What do you suppose was going through this young Jesus’ mind as he first sees the temple as a human with all the people who come every year? Lambs selected and killed and blood everywhere. How terrifying for any normal youth. How much more so for someone who knew He would one day be God’s Passover for all of mankind.

So many Psalms speak to this occasion

Psalms 26:8 (NASB) 8 O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house. And the place where Your glory dwells.

Psalms 42:1 (NASB) 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.

Psalms 87:2 (NASB) 2 The Lord loves the gates of Zion. More than all the other dwelling places of Jacob.