Text: “So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him” (Luke 2:45).
Story: “When Orders Conflict”
A young man about to enter the regular army was talking with an old soldier. The old soldier had been giving him some strong advice on the subject of obeying orders. “But suppose, General,” said the young man, “orders sometimes conflict. What am I to do in a case like that?”
“Well, in the first place,” replied the old soldier, “they never will if they emanate from persons who have the right to order. If you find yourself at some time seemingly subject to such conditions, you may depend upon it that there has been a mistake somewhere. In that case, however, the safe way is to find out who the superior is and obey him.”
There are a good many times in ordinary life when at first glance orders seem to conflict. In times like this the safe plan is to take the old soldier’s advice and obey the superior. You remember that at one time Peter and John were ordered by the magistrate to quit preaching. I have no doubt that under ordinary circumstances these men would have given heed to the voice of the officers of the law. But in this case there was the order not to speak, from the magistrates, and the order from God to hold not their peace. They settled the matter by obeying the superior Commander. (The Lookout)
According to our Scripture, Jesus was a young man of 12 years when he went to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate the great festivals spoken of in the Old Testament and recorded in the book of Deuteronomy 16:16. Three times a year all young males were to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread; Feast of Weeks which is also known as the Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Harvest, or the Day of the Firstfruits; and, Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated the release and deliverance of the Jews from captivity in Egypt and established Israel as a nation. The Feast of Pentecost or Feast of Harvest or Day of the Firstfruits was a one-day celebration and marked the culmination of the wheat harvest. The third festival, the Feast of Tabernacles brought to light the completion of the harvest as well as the remembrance of the 40 years of wandering around in the wilderness.
Jesus lived most of his life in Nazareth which is in the hills of Galilee. He was a normal little boy like all of his friends. His earthly parents raised him in the light of the Jewish customs. For example, after a baby was born to a Jewish family, three ceremonies came into play. The first ceremony was that of circumcision and was carried out on the eighth day of life. This was in accordance to God’s law and is specified in Leviticus 12:3. This was symbolic and indicated separation of the Jews from the Gentiles. In addition, this ceremony showed a special relationship between the baby and God.
The second ceremony was the redemption of the firstborn as specified in Exodus 13:1. The firstborn sons were to be consecrated or set apart as belonging to God. This ceremony also had a clause of redeeming or buying back the child from God. This was done by presenting an offering to God. Parents were aware that this child belonged to God because God has the power to give life. This ceremony took place at the age of one month.
The third ceremony was the purification of the mother. After a woman gave birth to a son, she was considered ceremonially unclean for 40 days and could not enter the temple. If the woman delivered a daughter, she was considered ceremonially unclean for 80 days and could not enter the temple. This ritual was to separate the unclean from the holy. This practice may or may not sound too clear to us, but it was adhered to and practiced in Jesus’ day.
At the end of the 40 or 80 days of separation, the parents would bring a lamb to the temple for a burnt offering and one dove or pigeon for a sin offering. If the family could not afford to bring a lamb, a dove or pigeon could be substituted. Mary brought the latter which was “a pair of doves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24).
Mary and Joseph were following God’s law to the very letter. They were obedient in every area of their daily life. They went through each of the ceremonies in accordance to God’s Word. Mary and Joseph were obedient to the will of God. They were given the privilege of raising a son and that son was the Son of God.
What does God think of our obedience? Do we do what His Words commands? Are we fully obedient or are we partially obedient? Do we do what God wants us to do or do we do what we want to do? Do we listen to the still small voice of God speaking to us?
Story: “No Partial Obedience”
When A. J. graduated from college and seminary he received a call from a fashionable church in Boston to become its assistant pastor. Everyone congratulated him. His mother and sister rejoiced that he could live at home with them and do his life work, but A. J. shook his head. “My work is not here,” he said. “God is calling me beyond the seas. To stay here, even to serve God in His ministry, I feel would be only partial obedience, and I could not be happy in that.” Although it cost him a great struggle he left mother and sister to follow the heavenly call. The fashionable church in Boston still stands, rich and strong, but A. J’s churches in Burma have fifty thousand converts, and the influence of his consecrated life is felt around the world. –Forward
God is not pleased with partial obedience. Mary and Joseph knew this and thus did everything according to God’s law. What about us? Are you and I partially obedient or fully obedient to God’s will for our lives?
Each year Mary and Joseph would go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of the Passover which was the most important of the three annual festivals. Jesus would travel with them. Now that Jesus turned 12-years of age, he was obligated to attend the Festival of Passover because he was considered an adult according to Jewish custom. The Festival of Passover combined with the Festival of Unleavened Bread lasted 7 days. The Festival of Passover was actually 1 day. The women were not required to attend the festivals, but most did accompany their husband. They were only required to stay the first two days, but most stayed the entire 7 days. I believe that most people stayed the same length of time because they traveled as a caravan for safety sake.
Our Scripture specifies that after the festival, the families started the long trip back home. Luke writes: “…the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:43). This brings up a good question. We know that little boys sometimes do think that are contrary to what their parents expect. Jesus was a boy of 12 years and did not join the caravan for the trip home. Like any other parent, Mary and Joseph assumed that he was with the traveling group. Mary thought he was with Joseph and Joseph thought he was with Mary. I say this because the women were in the lead or front of the caravan of travelers and the men comprised the back part of the caravan. It is very conceivable that some of the children did join their mothers at the front of the caravan.
Luke tells us that when the caravan left Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind. It appears that Jesus was being disobedient. Nevertheless, the caravan left Jerusalem and traveled an entire day before stopping for the night. When the caravan did stop, families and relatives joined each other for the evening. Mary and Joseph looked for Jesus in the crowd of people but did not find him.
This is a very heart-sinking experience. Those of us who have lost our children either in a crowd, a store, a mall, a sports event or anywhere else have been faced with horrible thoughts. We read in the newspaper about a child who goes to their friend’s house after school. The parent expects them home and when they don’t show, the parents become very worried. Are these children being disobedient or are they just not thinking about their parent’s concern?
Did Jesus deliberately disobey his parents? Did he consider that sooner or later he would be missed? Did he think his actions would worry Mary and Joseph? Was Jesus trying to teach his parents a lesson concerning responsibility? Did Jesus not want to go back home to Nazareth?
Mary and Joseph retraced their steps in an effort to locate Jesus. They had traveled a day so now they must travel another day back to Jerusalem. Once they arrive in Jerusalem, they will spend another day looking for Jesus. This is exactly what they did and it was on the third day they located Jesus. They were looking for a 12 year-old boy, but they found a young man sitting in the temple discussing religious issues with the Rabbis or teachers. How could this be? Luke tells us in verse 40 these words: “And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.”
This is an indication that Jesus was not only filled with wisdom and knowledge, but he had a strong desire to increase his knowledge and to communicate that knowledge to other people. Jesus is an example for children and young people to use the wisdom and knowledge given to them by God and to communicate with those who are more knowledgeable so that they may increase their knowledge. Learning involves listening, asking questions, and sharing what you know with others. Jesus was “…sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46).
Jesus sat in one of the halls of the outer courts of the temple with the Rabbis or teachers. They taught by asking questions, listening to answers, and then discussing the questions and answers. Luke tells us that all the teachers who heard Jesus’ profound questions and answers were amazed. They could not believe a child of 12 years could have such in-depth thinking and understanding. Mary and Joseph were astonished at what they saw and heard in the temple, but on the other hand, Mary’s expression of worry surprised Jesus. Mary said, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously” (Luke 2:48).
As parents, Mary and Joseph were very concerned about their Son just as parents of today are concerned about the safety and whereabouts of their children. It is abnormal for parents to not be concerned about their children and it does not make any difference of their ages. It is normal for parents to be concerned about their children even when the children become adults. Mary and Joseph’s concern for Jesus was normal and although Mary did not say Jesus was disobedient, I believe she felt it in her heart. When parents expect their children to act in a certain way or to do something they are instructed to do and the children do not follow through, the parents most likely consider this disobedience.
When Mary said, “Son, why have You done this to us?” she really was sincere. When Jesus responded with the words, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” or as the RSV states “…in My Father’s house”, neither Mary nor Joseph understood what Jesus meant. Verse 50 indicates this: “But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.”
Jesus was disobedient in the eyes of his earthly parents, but he was obedient in the eyes of his heavenly Father. Jesus was God incarnate or in the flesh. Mary and Joseph did not understand this although Mary most likely understood more than Joseph because of the Immaculate Conception or the way she became pregnant. She had more of an insight into God’s plan than did Joseph. It was difficult for Mary to accept the fact that this sweet 12 year-old boy was more than the average 12 year-old.
Many times it is difficult for us to let go of something. Some parents find it very difficult to let their children leave home when they reach that age. There are times when people are reluctant to move to a new area or leave a certain job or work. At times is it is difficult to step back and let life go on. In other words, we are resistant to change. Mary was not ready to give up her 12 year-old Son and let Him move on to greater heights.
Jesus was accepted by the Rabbis and the teachers at this time, but as Simeon said to Mary, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35). Simeon was saying that some would not accept Jesus, the Messiah, and would fall by the wayside, but others would accept Him and rise to greater heights.
As Catherine Marshall said, “It is good to remember that not even the Master Shepherd can lead if the sheep do not follow Him but insist on running ahead of Him or taking side paths”. Catherine Marshall, Adventures in Prayer, p. 54.
The opposition to Jesus would reach its peak at the Cross, where Mary would experience piercing suffering, agony, and torment.
Conclusion:
Was Jesus disobedient to his earthly parents? He was not disobedient to his parents. They just did not understand what He was doing. “Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these thing in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51 and 52).
Jesus knew he had a very distinct relationship with God. Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was God’s only Son, but they really did not understand his purpose or his mission. Mary and Joseph knew they had to raise Jesus along with his brothers and sisters. They knew Jesus was different, but they did not know what was going on in his mind. There is little known concerning the next 18 years of Jesus’ life. We know that He assisted Joseph in the carpentry business. All the other normal routine duties of life helped Jesus get a good solid understanding of the people.
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross” (Philippians 2:8).
During World War II, there were several soldiers huddled in a foxhole and a grenade was thrown in by the enemy. One of the soldiers covered the grenade with his body just before it exploded. He received the serious wounds to his own body and saved the life of his buddies. His legs had to be amputated. After the surgery the doctor apologized for having to amputate his legs. The soldier said to the doctor, “Doctor, you did not take them, I gave them.”
In obedience to the Father, Jesus gave his life for each one of us.
What was Mary asking of Jesus?
Strict obedience
What was God asking of Jesus?
Strict obedience
What is God asking of us?
Strict obedience
Story: “Obedience for Our Own Safety”
An aviation cadet, on a practice flight, temporarily stricken blind, in panic radioed that message to his control officer. The officer radioed back, “Follow my instructions exactly.” After keeping the blinded cadet circling the field until the whole field was cleared and an ambulance had arrived, the control officer radioed: “Now lose altitude.” “Now bank sharply.” “You’re coming onto the runway now.” The cadet brought his plane to a perfect landing, was saved, and later his sight returned. All the Lord is asking of us is strict obedience.
(Tom M. Olson – Sunday School times)
Amen.
