Encounters with Jesus - Pt 3

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. (Luke 2:41-48 ESV).

We have very little Biblical information about Jesus before he began his ministry. Our reading today gives us one of the stories when Jesus is found teaching the Jewish leadership at the Temple. We are not told what the content was. We know he was asked questions and posed others questions in response. We are not told what the Jewish teachers said to him, nor the answers he gave in response. We do know the impact his words made on “everyone who heard him” and on his parents: they were “amazed” and “astonished”. These words translate two Greek words which literally mean “they were beside themselves” and “they were struck out.” His understanding and his knowledge surprised and confounded them. They, not knowing his true identity, not knowing that he was God incarnate, could not understand how this child could know and understand so deeply, so clearly, so exhaustively. We, looking back from the perspective of what he said and did as a grown man, looking back from his statement that “no one knows the Father except the Son”, ought not to be so surprised. However, we should be amazed. We should be amazed that God would condescend to come to us in human form; we should be astonished by the immensity and awesomeness of this revelational incarnation. And above all, we should be grateful. Grateful that God has come to us, and that he has shown us the truth about who he is in this flesh and blood Jesus Christ. There is no reason for us to doubt or wonder what God is like, or who He is. To see Jesus is to see God. To know Jesus is to know God. In awe filled adoration and wonder we look at this child, this man, this Jesus, and know that here, in perfect clarity, we see God. He is no longer unknown. We may know Him intimately. With that knowledge we can face all the other uncertainties of life with strength and peace. Noting surprises Him and he always works everything to our good!