BEN F. VICK, JR.
Luke records, “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.” (Luke 2:51.) This verse is within the context of Jesus having gone up to Jerusalem with his parents to observe the feast of the Passover. Having fulfilled their responsibilities of keeping the feast, they headed back home to Nazareth about sixty miles as the crow flies. His parents traveled a day’s journey, having assumed that Jesus was with their kinfolk and friends. When they realized he was not with them, they headed back to Jerusalem. Imagine the consternation they must have felt!
After three days, they found him in the temple. Have you ever wondered where twelve-year-old Jesus stayed during those three days? During the Lord’s ministry, a scribe said to Jesus that he would follow him wherever he went. Jesus responded, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20.) The text does not tell us where Jesus stayed during those three days. Perhaps some good-hearted soul took him in during that time.
When his parents found him, he was in the temple. He was not running around playing, but he was sitting among the doctors. The word “doctors” has reference to teachers. They were teachers of the Jewish religion. What was Jesus doing amid these religious teachers? He was listening and asking them questions. Those who heard Jesus were amazed at his “faculty of comprehension, intelligence, acuteness, shrewdness.” (BDAG.) One might say: Well, he was God in the flesh. True. But he was also human. Were Jesus’ questions based on his being God? Or were they based on his training as a child? His parents, who were faithful to the law of Moses, must have surely been teaching him all along (Deut. 6:4-7). He grew just as any child would. He became strong in will and was filled with wisdom, indicated by his questions. The people who heard him in the temple were amazed at his answers.
Mary and Joseph must have had mixed emotions. They were relieved to find him. They were upset because he had not been with them. They were amazed to see him conversing with the religious leaders of the day. His mother said: Son, why have you dealt with us this way? “Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” They had been “anxiously looking” for him. Thayer says on the Greek word translated “sorrowing” (ὀδυνάω) “to torment or distress one’s self.”
Several years ago, my son, grandson, and I went on a run on a golf course at Callaway Gardens, Georgia. The golf course had been closed, so we parked the car, got out, and started our run. It was getting dark, and my phone was dying. Somehow (I must take the blame), we got turned around and were on another golf course. We could not find our way back to the car; it was pitch dark outside, so we eventually found the main road and walked back to the cabin where the rest of the family was. We had been gone for at least a couple of hours. Lois and Wendi had sent out a search party for us. We thought they would be happy to see us, but their reaction was distress and relief: “Where have you all been? We sent out a search party for you!” They may have felt like Jesus’ parents, who had been terribly worried and yet relieved.
Jesus said to his parents, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Even at 12 years of age, Jesus was focused on obeying his heavenly Father. He was spiritually minded. His parents had formed and molded him. They set the right example for him. Children do not grow up to be spiritually minded by accident. There must be instruction and a good example set. They must be involved in their children’s lives. Parents, face it: When you bring a child into this world, your greatest responsibility is bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4; 2 Tim. 1:5; 3:14-15). You might as well plan on 18 years of training. If we try to save the world and lose our children, we are failures. But if parents will bring their children up to love the Lord, think of how strong the church can be. If parents set the example of service in the vineyard of the Lord, imagine how vibrant and strong the church can be. We have lost a generation or two because parents in the past have been too busy with other things to mold their children in the right direction.
Respect for authority begins with one’s parents. Jesus’ parents did not understand what he meant by being about his Father’s business. His mother kept all these sayings in her heart. Luke then states, “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” Here was the only begotten Son of God who was obedient to his parents. Many children and adults are not respectful of those in authority because their parents did not train them. They did not learn what “no” meant at a very early age.
It amazes me how some parents think they are wiser than God. They do not believe in spanking a child when it is needed. I am not talking about abusing a child or spanking a child when one is angry, but the Bible teaches that corporal punishment is in order at times. Read these verses:
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Prov. 13:24.)
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Prov. 22:15.)
“Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from hell.” (Prov. 23:13-14.)
Jesus was a child just as we were. We are not told if his parents had to apply the rod to him. However, he obeyed his parents. If children do not obey, it is because parents do not make them obey. Several years ago, I gave a mother a paddle to use on her boys. I do not think she ever used it. Later I visited them in prison. This idea of counting to ten, time out, or removing some privilege is more work for the parents than is necessary. Here is a principle: “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecc. 8:11.)