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Increased in wisdom

“… the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.” (Luke 2:43b)

Do you remember this story? Every year Jesus’ parents, and a group of family and friends from Nazareth, went to the Passover festival in Jerusalem.

When Jesus was twelve years old he stayed behind at the temple unbeknownst to his parents.

How could that happen? The text says, “Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey.

Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.” (2:44-45)

Oh my! As parents, I think we can all imagine the shock and concern that Mary and Joseph must have had. They had lost their son!

The text says that “after three days they found him in the temple.” So, that’s four days total that Jesus was “lost from” his parents.

Was Jesus concerned? It seems not. The text says that his parents found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions!

Think about this for a minute. This is a 12-year-old boy, mixing with and conversing with teachers (rabbis) in the temple! This was not a normal happening.

Were the teachers annoyed by his presence? Absolutely not! The text says, “And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (2:47)

This is the first indication in scripture that Jesus did something extraordinary. Before this, we just have the story of his birth, and although I would imagine he was a beautiful and wonderful baby, he didn’t do anything extraordinary (he was just a baby - remember).

Okay, so mom and dad have found Jesus (after four days). I’m sure they were relieved and glad, but they also mildly chastised Jesus as they said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” (2:48b)

Remember how Jesus responded? I think these words had to perplex his mom and dad. He said, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (2:49)

Wow! We don’t know how much Mary and Joseph had told Jesus about his miraculous conception, but somehow he realized that his “real” father was God. He was knowledgeable beyond his years.

The text tells us that he went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph “and he was obedient to them.”

And the last verse of the text of this story is very important.

It says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.” (2:52)

Generally we think of wisdom as a characteristic of older people who have lived enough to develop a broad perspective on life.

However, Jesus showed much wisdom as he listened to and spoke with the teachers in the temple.

He really displayed wisdom as he told his parents - why didn’t you look for me in my Father’s house?

The wisdom we seek is found in the one who amazed the temple teachers so many years ago.

Remember, Jesus was fully human when he came to earth, and he needed to prepare for the work before him. He increased in wisdom.

He calls upon us to do so as well, and to use that wisdom to do God’s work here on earth.

I think he would say to each of us today, “Go and do likewise.” Amen.