A Divine Self-perception

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

God of the Ages, on this last day of 2015, I celebrate the truth that You are God of the present and of the future, too.

Read LUKE 2:41-52

^[41] Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ^[42] When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ^[43] After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ^[44] Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ^[45] When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ^[46] After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ^[47] Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ^[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.” ^[49] “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ^[50] But they did not understand what he was saying to them. ^[51] Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ^[52] And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Meditate

Reflect on Jesus’ humanity and divinity. What does it mean to know him as one of us? What does it mean to know him as God?

Think Further

We know surprisingly little about Jesus’ childhood. Thankfully, Luke gives us an important glimpse. We learn that even at age 12, Jesus stood out and knew who he was. The story begins with his family traveling to Jerusalem for Passover as they did each year. We see again the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph. Jesus is 12, one year before he came of age. It was an important year in which to prepare for that event. After the festival, Joseph and Mary head back towards Nazareth thinking that Jesus is with them. However, they soon realize he is not. They search their party and then head back, spending three frantic days searching for him. Eventually, they find him at the Temple sitting as a student among the Jewish teachers, listening and asking questions.

Luke quickly tells us that Jesus is no ordinary student. First, he amazes the teachers with his understanding. Second, he responds that he “must be in my Father’s house” (49, NLT), showing that he has full awareness of his identity. “Must” (dei) indicates a sense of divine necessity to be at the Temple. “My Father’s house” speaks of Jesus’ awareness of his unique relationship to God his Father. This is the high point of Luke’s infancy narrative, as Jesus introduces himself as God’s Son!
Thus he is introduced to us. Let us worship the Son!

Luke shows us the two sides of Jesus’ nature. First, he is truly human. He has parents. He grows. He learns. He asks questions as we all do. He continues to grow in wisdom, stature and favor before God and others. Second, it shows us that Jesus is unique; he is no mere human, he is the Son of God. Jesus is truly God and truly man. He is both one of us and the God we worship.

Apply

Has your desire for God ever been misunderstood by your family? How? How did you handle it?

Closing prayer

Sovereign God, on this last day of the year, I thank You for the past, and I look forward to the future> I can’t wait to see what You will do!

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

Yesterday’s reading

View all readings

Tomorrow’s reading