The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States Grow Pray Study Guide for Monday, 14 May 2018 "A glimpse of Jesus as a maturing child" Luke 2:41-52.
Daily Scripture:
Luke 2:41 Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up for the festival, as custom required. 43 But after the festival was over, when his parents returned, Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim. They didn’t realize this; 44 supposing that he was somewhere in the caravan, they spent a whole day on the road before they began searching for him among their relatives and friends. 45 Failing to find him, they returned to Yerushalayim to look for him. 46 On the third day they found him — he was sitting in the Temple court among the rabbis, not only listening to them but questioning what they said; 47 and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked; and his mother said to him, “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you!” 49 He said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 So he went with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But his mother stored up all these things in her heart.
52 And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
Long before the cross, Jesus' mother Mary lived through a time of deep distress. During the three days of searching Luke reported, she surely must have feared that something bad had happened to Jesus. This story (the only one we have from Jesus' boyhood) gave a glimpse of Jesus' maturing process. Already he realized that the Temple, even more than Mary and Joseph’s home, was his Father’s house. And yet verse 51 also said he returned to Nazareth with his earthly parents and “was obedient to them.”
Read today's Insight by Roberta Lyle
Roberta Lyle has been on the Resurrection staff since 2006. She serves as the Program Director for Local Impact Ministries, concentrating on Education, Life Skills and Youth Focused Ministries.
We know that today's story ended well when Jesus was reunited with his anxious parents, but how stressful those three days of searching must have been for Mary and Joseph! No doubt Mary would have always remembered this event, but the fact that Jesus was found in the Temple and his surprising response when he saw his parents was perhaps the first indication she had that Jesus knew who he was and where his life would lead.
As a Mom of two grown sons I can look back at a few events that stood out to me at the time and recognize early indications of their interests, even though I didn't realize their significance at the time. I remember when my youngest son was two how he was zipping around the family room defying bedtime, when the music program Austin City Limits came on. He froze in his tracks, staring at the TV mesmerized by the music, which just amazed me. A year or so later on a trip to Silver Dollar City he was so fascinated by a performer playing a dulcimer that it was hard to coax him away to see the rest of the park. I know now that these were both early manifestations of his passion for music. But going from a young child who loved and appreciated music to being a professional musician required many years of lessons and hours of practice. Remaining proficient and playing to the best of his abilities still requires daily practice and continual instruction from master musicians.
We can't go from first learning about God to a life grounded in faith without intentional practice. Today's scripture verse indicates that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and favor with God. We know that throughout his life Jesus found time for prayer and solitude, practicing the disciplines needed to remain connected to God. Growing in faith and becoming a little more like Jesus each day requires me to make time for spiritual disciplines such as reading the Bible, praying, journaling, being in a small group, etc. These are the practices that keep me connected to God and listening for his direction for my life.
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Luke 2:41 Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up for the festival, as custom required. 43 But after the festival was over, when his parents returned, Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim. They didn’t realize this; 44 supposing that he was somewhere in the caravan, they spent a whole day on the road before they began searching for him among their relatives and friends. 45 Failing to find him, they returned to Yerushalayim to look for him. 46 On the third day they found him — he was sitting in the Temple court among the rabbis, not only listening to them but questioning what they said; 47 and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked; and his mother said to him, “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you!” 49 He said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 So he went with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But his mother stored up all these things in her heart.
52 And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God. (Complete Jewish Bible).
Reflection Questions:
Long before the cross, Jesus' mother Mary lived through a time of deep distress. During the three days of searching Luke reported, she surely must have feared that something bad had happened to Jesus. This story (the only one we have from Jesus' boyhood) gave a glimpse of Jesus' maturing process. Already he realized that the Temple, even more than Mary and Joseph’s home, was his Father’s house. And yet verse 51 also said he returned to Nazareth with his earthly parents and “was obedient to them.”
- It’s clear that Jesus' parents didn’t just make a beeline for the Temple. Luke said they were shocked when they found Jesus there. What might Jesus' precocious fascination with the Temple teachers have said about him? When he began to preach publicly, he said, “Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). How much of an appetite do you usually have for God? How can you maintain and increase that inner hunger and thirst?
- Jesus' parents lost Jesus for a day—and spent three days finding him. Luke didn’t write anything about what that experience felt like to Jesus. Have you ever made a mistake with a child, or did your parents ever make a serious mistake with you? If so, have you as a parent or child been able, like Jesus and Mary, to move on with your relationship without letting the mistake(s) haunt and poison the relationship?
Read today's Insight by Roberta LyleRoberta Lyle has been on the Resurrection staff since 2006. She serves as the Program Director for Local Impact Ministries, concentrating on Education, Life Skills and Youth Focused Ministries.
We know that today's story ended well when Jesus was reunited with his anxious parents, but how stressful those three days of searching must have been for Mary and Joseph! No doubt Mary would have always remembered this event, but the fact that Jesus was found in the Temple and his surprising response when he saw his parents was perhaps the first indication she had that Jesus knew who he was and where his life would lead.
As a Mom of two grown sons I can look back at a few events that stood out to me at the time and recognize early indications of their interests, even though I didn't realize their significance at the time. I remember when my youngest son was two how he was zipping around the family room defying bedtime, when the music program Austin City Limits came on. He froze in his tracks, staring at the TV mesmerized by the music, which just amazed me. A year or so later on a trip to Silver Dollar City he was so fascinated by a performer playing a dulcimer that it was hard to coax him away to see the rest of the park. I know now that these were both early manifestations of his passion for music. But going from a young child who loved and appreciated music to being a professional musician required many years of lessons and hours of practice. Remaining proficient and playing to the best of his abilities still requires daily practice and continual instruction from master musicians.
We can't go from first learning about God to a life grounded in faith without intentional practice. Today's scripture verse indicates that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and favor with God. We know that throughout his life Jesus found time for prayer and solitude, practicing the disciplines needed to remain connected to God. Growing in faith and becoming a little more like Jesus each day requires me to make time for spiritual disciplines such as reading the Bible, praying, journaling, being in a small group, etc. These are the practices that keep me connected to God and listening for his direction for my life.
Like this post? Share it!
You might also like:
- Prayer Tip: What Would Jesus Say on Mother’s Day?
- Jesus treated women like real disciples
- Jesus protected an entrapped woman
- Jesus welcomed a “sinful” woman Simon condemned
- Disciples: “Dismiss that hurting woman.” Jesus: “No!”
- Or download this week's printable GPS.
©2017 Church of the Resurrection. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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