Luke
2:40-52
Lesson 107
2:40-52
Lesson 107
Luke 2:40-52
Jesus is left behind 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. |
Margin notes:
"Waxed strong in spirit." (2:40) - "Became strong in spirit." "Passover." (2:41) - Passover is the annual Jewish holiday commemorating the night the angel of death passed harmlessly over the enslaved Israelites in Egypt while killing the firstborn of all Egyptians (Exodus 12:13). This fearsome miracle convinced the Egyptians to let the Israelites go free after four hundred years of slavery. To begin the holiday, a sacrificial lamb was killed, without breaking any of its bones (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12), and roasted. The Passover feast was then prepared with bitter herbs (representing the bitterness of slavery) and sweet spices (representing the sweetness of freedom) and was followed immediately by the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:5-8). The two eventually became as one holiday (Mark 14:1) beginning on the fourteenth day of the seventh month (Abib) and lasting one week as prescribed in Deuteronomy 16:1-3. Jewish men were required to "appear before the Lord" (Exodus 23:17) on Passover, so thousands of Jews came to Jerusalem each year to celebrate their liberation and to offer up a religious sacrifice. Passover is sometimes called simply the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 23:15; Mark 14:1; Luke 22:1). Another interesting point is that Jesus was sacrificed on the cross the same day the sacrificial Passover lambs were killed in the Temple. Just like the sacrificial lambs, not a bone in Jesus' body was broken (John 19:36). To learn more about the Passover and its importance read Exodus 12:1-30; 12:43-50; 13:1-22; and Deuteronomy 16:1-8. "They went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast." (2:42) - Jewish law required adult males to attend three feasts each year; Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy 16:16). Women could attend but weren't required to. "They, supposing him to have been in the company." (2:44) - "They thought Jesus was in the caravan." People often traveled together in caravans for protection against thieves and other hazards. Men usually journeyed together while the women kept company in a different part of the procession. Joseph probably thought Jesus was with Mary, and she believed He was with Joseph. When they came together at the end of the day, they realized Jesus had been left behind. "Sitting in the midst of the doctors." (2:46) - "Sitting in the middle of the (religious) teachers." These teachers were probably scribes, experts on the Mosaic Law. "All that heard him were astonished." (2:47) - Even as a boy Jesus was amazing. He continued to astonish (Matthew 7:28-29; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 4:32) and amaze all His life (Matthew 8:27; 9:8; John 7:15). Why? See John 7:46. "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?" (2:48) - "Son, why did you do this to us." "Wist ye not." (2:49) - Means "didn't you realize." Jesus was surprised His parents looked for Him anywhere else but at the Temple. Where else would He be? "Was subject unto them." (2:51) - "Was obedient to them." Apparently, Jesus didn't upset His parents again. "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature." (2:52) - Despite being divine, young Jesus still went through the various phases of growth, intellectually and physically. |