Code Adam
Luke 2: 41 – 52
Intro: Code Adam was created in memory of 6-year-old Adam Walsh, who was tragically abducted from a Florida department store and found later murdered. Code Adam is a program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, a nonprofit co-founded by Adam’s parents, John and Revé Walsh. / There was no CODE ADAM when Jesus was a child.
I This story is only shared with us in Luke’s gospel. Why? The context of the story is important.
A Just before this story, Jesus is presented in the temple to Simeon and Anna who had been awaiting the coming of the Messiah.
B The baptism of Jesus by John follows this story.
C Luke uses this story as a transition from the childhood of Jesus to the beginning of his ministry.
II SO, LET’S LOOK AT THE STORY AND WHAT IT MIGHT REVEAL TO US.
A VS. 41 – Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover.” Not a new experience for Jesus.
B VS. 42 – When he was 12 years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. At 12 Jesus is beginning a process.
C Luke shows us the developmental task of childhood, teenage and young adult years as a time of discovering and affirming one’s identity. Jesus was no different.
III VS. 48 – When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
A Key words: ASTONISHED and ANXIOUS. Spoken by Mary to her son.
B ASTONISHED = GK. ek-place-so / more accurately, TO STRIKE WITH ASTONISHMENT
C ANXIOUSLY SEARCHING = GK odunno / more accurately, TO GRIEVE, SORROW OR TORMENT.
Concl: If you have ever been separated from a child in a busy place, you can understand how Mary and Joseph must have felt. Yet, the rest of the story seems odd to us. Jesus seems almost indignant and upset with his parents.
Three possible translations of VS. 49
1) Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?
2) Did you not know that I must be among those belonging to my Father?
3) Did you not know that I must be involved in my Father’s affairs (business)?
Jesus has been lead, as we are, to discern our place within God’s plan.
