Year C December 27

First Sunday after Christmas

Luke 2:41-52

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them." (v 50-51)


These few verses mark a transition from the infancy narratives. They are the only Biblical record we have of the years from his presentation at the Temple until the commencement of his ministry. While some non-canonical texts (e.g. the Infancy Gospel of Thomas) provide stories of childhood, these accounts do not line up with what the gospels reveal of the nature of Jesus as an adult. Some are creative, but none have been seriously considered as reflecting the childhood of Jesus.

The few verses in Luke's gospel point us to the fact that Jesus had a childhood something like those of his peers. He was a boy who grew up in the family of a Jewish tradesman. Part of tradition was the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and it was expected of all adult males. While it was not necessary for Mary to be present one would expect her to accompany Joseph and care for the children when they made tahe pilgrimage.

At the time of this incident Jesus was approaching the legal age of adulthood (around 12 or 13 years of age). We learn of his presence only when his absence is noted. We should not be surprised that they did not notice his absence immediately. Unlike our nuclear families and small caring circles it is likely that there was a group of people, adults and children, who had journeyed to Jerusalem together and planned to return en masse (the relatives and friends of v.44). It would be expected that this growing young man would have been with them, without the need to check on him every moment. As we read the story is seems that the reached their overnight stop before noticing his absence, and it took another day to walk back to Jerusalem. On the third day they found him in the Temple.

Some commentators might suggest that this incident reveals Jesus as a precocious child. Some Greco-Roman biographies include this motif, but being alert and intelligent, or having maturity beyond you years, is not the same as being precocious. Many brilliant people have given evidence of great potential in their childhood years. One analyst and leadership writer (Alastair Mant) believes that leadership qualities can be detected at a very early age simply by observing children interact with others. The leader of the pack is noticeable by their actions and interactions. We should not be surprised that these qualities could be seen in Jesus.

This linking passage serves a number of purposes in Luke's story of Jesus.
It gives an indication of the passage of time, and reminds us that Jesus is no ordinary child. Here there is no supernatural or divine intervention, no angels singing to a strange and awed crowd, just a boy whose intelligence and understanding cause the learned teachers to be amazed by his answers in the cut and thrust of rabbinic dialogue.
It points us the human dimension of Jesus life on earth. He had a family, he participated in religious festivals, and he 'increased in wisdom and in years'.
Some thirty years passed before Jesus began his public ministry. Thirty years of common ordinary existence that drew no attention beyond his family and his home village. We know next to nothing of those years, but so much of the final three. Those of us engaged in ministry might just need to take a step back and reflect on this for a while. Thirty years of common ordinary existence, and three engaged in full time ministry. The one who was sent to earth did normal ordinary things for the majority of his time on earth. He did not spend all of his adult life preaching the good news of the kingdom, in fact it seems he only spent 3 of his 20 adult years in that task.

Maybe it is time for driven people to kick back and relax a little. If the Son of God and Saviour of the world had time to spend with family, to enjoy time with friends, to develop his skills as a tradesman and to hang out at the village local (wherever that was) then its OK for us to do that as well. Along the way we must remember that we, too, are about "our Father's business".

Other readings:
1 Sam 2:18-20, 26;
Psalm 148;
Colossians 3:12-17