Jesus at the temple
Jesus at the temple
This is the only story we have of Jesus’ childhood years. At the age of 12, Jewish boys completed their formal education. And now a Rabbi would be choosing them to follow him as his disciples. And then at the age of 30, they could then have their own disciples. So Joseph and Mary take Jesus to Jerusalem for the Passover and being that he is 12 he joins with the other 12-year-olds, including His cousin John, to be selected by a rabbi. But after much talking no one chooses Jesus. So he heads back home with his family and begins to learn the trade of His father, carpentry.
But Jesus knew He was different. He knew his real dad was God. He was not half man half God but he was fully God and fully man only lacking one point, His dad’s sinful nature. We all inherit our dad’s sinful nature. Our moms do not pass it down just our dads. The normal term for this is generational sin. Jesus was spending time in His Father’s house, with the people who were to be about His Father’s business, but I think He scared them with His intimate knowledge of the Old Testament, for he was around for it and knew all those people like Abraham, Moses, and David. I believe that he passed all the requirements for becoming a disciple of a rabbi but they all felt underqualified to disciple Him.
I think we often feel the same way. Who am I to disciple someone? But we learned in Matthew’s great commission that we are called to make disciples.
His cousin may have been picked by a Rabbi which is why we see him with disciples in John chapters 1 and 3.
Jesus was then picked and confirmed by two witnesses, John a disciple of a rabbi and God.
”The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!“
”After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!“
Matthew 3:16-17 HCSB
So there is more to the story of Jesus’ earlier years than the story we started with. Jesus had followed the educational practices of the time. They were to memorize the first five books by a certain age. They had to have a good understanding of the rest of the Old Testament. And He did! But He was not chosen. So He understands rejection.
”For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.“
”Though He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.“
To learn more about the early years of Jesus' education check out “In The Dust of the Rabbi” by Ray Vander Laan”. We need to take a lesson from Mary on learning from Jesus.
”She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said.“
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