The Reality of Jesus on Display

Luke 2:41-52

I have always been interested in this story. Twelve-year-old Jesus gets left behind in Jerusalem as his band of family members return home. As they slowly became aware that He was not with them, they returned to find Him. So where was the young lad? Was He hanging out by the stables and the horses? Nope. Was He at the local playground with the children playing and frolicking? No again. He was in the temple courts (His Father’s house v. 49) listening and learning and sharing about His Father’s kingdom. The hearers were amazed and were delighted with His grasp of the subject matter. Even His parents were astonished. He was appreciated and revered and “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (v.52). But we know that wouldn’t last forever. Soon, He would be chastised and mocked for the very thing He was now being praised for.

Questions for further thought:
1. When have you experienced chastisement for something you were once celebrated for?
2. How did you handle that situation?

Challenge: Try to recall a time in which you were celebrated for something. Now try to recall an instance when you thought you should be celebrated, but weren’t. How did you react to God in those circumstances? Was it the same or completely different?