1st Sunday after Christmas: Jesus in the Temple

We're in the middle of the 12 days of Christmas until Epiphany. While you might be tempted to pack Christmas up, wait until January 6 for the Magi to appear. We'll talk about the meaning of that next week, but this week we have one of my favorite stories -- 12-year-old Jesus in the Temple. Of course, at the time, it wasn't a favorite story for Mary and Joseph. As a child, I also remember learning the King James' Version of the concluding verse of this passage -- "And Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man." My mother may have taught me that verse for a reason! No audio this week, but I hope you'll join me when the Wisemen make their appearance next week. It's still Christmastide, after all!

At Home in His Father’s House: Jesus in the Temple

Luke 2:41-52 NIV

Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

The Journey of Understanding

Standing on the threshold of a new year, the story of the young Jesus in the temple invites us to reflect on our own journey of faith and understanding. The Christmas season, with its joy and wonder, gives way to the everyday rhythms of life, much as the holy family's pilgrimage to Jerusalem transitioned into their journey home. It is in this transition that we find a profound lesson about seeking deeper understanding in our faith.

A Curious Mind in Sacred Spaces

Imagine a bustling marketplace in 18th century England. Amid the clamor of street vendors and the plodding of horses hooves, a 14-year-old boy named William Carey became apprenticed to a shoemaker -- a cobbler. Carey's apprenticeship would lead to much more that a lifelong career, however. It became the means by which he followed his own insatiable hunger for the things of God. 

Carey, while plying his cobbler’s trade, taught himself Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Italian and Dutch. And his fixation on geography and the world beyond the English shores would eventually lead him to become one of the pioneers of the modern Christian missionary movement. Eventually, Carey served as English Baptists’ first missionary to India, a remarkable and daring decision for a young man whose motto was -- 

“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” 

His inquiring mind, much like that of the young Jesus in the temple, was not content with surface-level knowledge. He sought to understand the world and his place in it, driven by a deep desire to know God's purposes.

Just as Jesus engaged with the teachers in the temple, asking questions and offering insights, Carey's early fascination with the world was the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning and service. His story reminds us that curiosity and the pursuit of understanding can lead us to unexpected and transformative paths in our faith journey.

The Temple: A Place of Learning

To fully appreciate the significance of Jesus' actions, we need to understand the context of the Temple in Jewish life. The Temple in Jerusalem was not just a place of worship and sacrifice; it was the epicenter of religious learning and debate. The outer courts often hosted discussions between rabbis and their students, creating a vibrant atmosphere of questioning and discovery.

For a 12-year-old boy to engage in these discussions was extraordinary. Jesus was at the age when young Jewish boys were preparing for their transition into religious adulthood. His presence among the teachers demonstrates not just curiosity, but a deep hunger for understanding divine matters.

Luke's account paints a vivid picture: Jesus sitting among the teachers, both listening and asking questions. This was not a one-sided lecture, but a dynamic exchange. The Greek word used for "listening" implies active attention, an engagement that goes beyond mere hearing. Jesus was absorbing, processing, and responding to the wisdom shared in that sacred space.

The Power of Questions

"Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers," Luke tells us. This amazement likely stemmed not just from Jesus' knowledge, but from the depth and insights of his questions. Good questions have the power to unlock new realms of understanding, to challenge assumptions, and to spark transformative insights.

In our own faith journeys, curiosity can open the door to new ways of understanding both the Bible and our place in God’s plan. Asking difficult questions and probing deeper into the mysteries of our faith are not forbidden practices, but absolute necessities for our growth. The example of the young Jesus encourages us to cultivate an inquisitive spirit, not out of doubt, but out of a desire for deeper understanding.

Think about the questions that have shaped human understanding throughout history. Galileo's skepticism of the earth-centric model of the universe, Einstein's ponderings about the nature of light and time, or Martin Luther King Jr.'s probing of social injustice – all these began with the courage to ask "why" and "how."

In matters of faith, too, questions can lead to profound truths. When we ask, "Why do we suffer?" or "How can we know God's will?" we embark on a journey of discovery that can deepen our relationship with God and our understanding of ourselves.

Growing in Wisdom

Luke concludes this episode with a summary of Jesus' development: 

"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

This simple statement carries a powerful truth – growth in understanding is a process. Even for Jesus, in his human nature, there was a progression in his development.

This should be tremendously encouraging for us. Our journey of faith is not about arriving at a destination of complete understanding, but about continuing growth. Each question asked, each insight gained, each moment of wonder at God's ways contributes to our spiritual maturity.

In addition, Luke's words suggest Jesus’ growth as a well-rounded person – spiritually, physically, and socially. He grew… 

• in wisdom (intellectual and spiritual understanding), 
• in stature (physical and personal development), and 
• in favor with God and man (spiritual and social maturity). 

Our pursuit of understanding in faith should inform and enhance our overall development as human beings. As a teenager, I remember hearing a youth leader say his prayer was that God would make him “intensely spiritual, but perfectly natural.” That advice has served me well for 60+ years. 

Balancing Seeking and Obedience

The conclusion to this Jesus-in-the-Temple story is sometimes overlooked. After his profound experience in the Temple, Jesus "went down to Nazareth with them [his parents] and was obedient to them." This demonstrates a beautiful balance between seeking understanding and respecting family and social traditions.

In our own pursuit of deeper faith, we need this balance. Seeking understanding should not lead us to arrogance or rebellion. Instead, it should humble us, making us more compassionate and more faithful in our commitments and relationships.

Practical Applications for Today

How can we apply the lessons of this story to our lives today? Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Cultivate curiosity: Make it a habit to ask questions about your faith. Don't be afraid to explore difficult topics or to seek out resources that challenge your thinking.

2. Engage in dialogue: Find opportunities to discuss matters of faith with others. This could be in a small group, with a mentor, or even in interfaith dialogues. Remember, understanding often grows through conversation.

3. Study scripture actively: When reading the Bible, don't just passively consume the words. Ask questions of the passage – I like to call it “interrogating the text.” What does this mean? How does this apply to my life?What would this look like in practice?

4. Look in the right places: Jesus returned to the Temple – His Father’s house – because he knew it was the hub of spiritual teaching in the first century. Seek out opportunities for continued learning in the right places – from other people whose faith journey you respect, from time-tested resources, and from different perspectives. The goal isn’t religious novelty -- the goal is discovering the Father’s will.

5. Practice reflection: Take time regularly to reflect on your experiences and insights, much as Mary"treasured all these things in her heart."

6. Balance seeking with action: Remember that understanding should lead to transformation, not just knowledge. Look for ways to practice what you learn in your daily life and relationships.

Conclusion: A Lifelong Journey

The image of the young Jesus in His Father’s house, the Temple, serves as an inspiring model for our own faith journeys. It reminds us that seeking understanding is not just an intellectual exercise, but a deeply spiritual practice that can draw us closer to God and to the people God intends for us to be.

As we move forward from the Christmas season into the new year, cultivate this spirit of curiosity and engagement. Like Jesus, we can grow in wisdom and in favor with God and others, always seeking, always learning, always growing in our faith.

Prayer

Lord, instill in us a hunger for understanding and a curiosity about Your ways. Guide us as we ask questions, seek answers, and grow in our faith. Help us to balance our pursuit of knowledge with obedience and love. Amen.

Reflections for the Week Ahead

- Monday: Identify one aspect of your faith that you don't fully understand. Spend time researching and reflecting on it.

- Tuesday: Have a conversation with someone whose faith perspective differs from yours. Listen with an open mind.

- Wednesday: Read a passage of scripture and write down three questions it raises for you. Seek answers through study or discussion with others.

- Thursday: Reflect on a time when a new understanding changed your faith. How did it impact your relationship with God?

- Friday: Practice active listening in your conversations today, truly seeking to understand others' perspectives.

- Saturday: Write a prayer expressing your desire to grow in wisdom and understanding, and your openness to God's guidance in this journey.