Luke 2:41-52 · Read 4 min · think and write 15 min
Joseph took Mary with him to Bethlehem. There she gave birth: “She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Shepherds came, and spread what the angel had told them about the child; “But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
When the days of purification were over, they brought the child up to Jerusalem “to present him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). In the temple, Simeon said to Mary: “Behold, this child is appointed for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against” (Luke 2:34). “Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:35).
Then “they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth” (Luke 2:39). “The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). This lesson reads the year he was twelve.
41His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
42When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;
43and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,
44but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”
49He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
50They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.
51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Every year. “His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover” (v. 41). “When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast” (v. 42).
A day’s journey. “And when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it” (v. 43). “Supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey; and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances” (v. 44); “When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him” (v. 45).
After three days. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (v. 46). “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47).
Anxiously looking for you. “When they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you’” (v. 48). In this passage, the one who speaks is Mary.
My Father’s house. “He said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?’” (v. 49). This is the first saying of Jesus that Luke records.
They didn’t understand. “They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them” (v. 50). The passage says plainly that they did not understand, and adds no comment.
Kept in her heart. “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart” (v. 51). After that night in Bethlehem, the passage had said the same of her: “But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
He increased. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (v. 52).
Afterwards. Many years later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and “Jesus’ mother was there” (John 2:1). The next lesson begins there.
Long before, in the house of the LORD at Shiloh, the passage said of another child: “The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with the LORD and also with men” (1 Sam 2:26). This is in Before We Begin in Samuel, Lesson 1.
Readers can see this: at the end of this passage, Luke writes, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (v. 52).
Perhaps there is something that worries you and that you cannot understand: a child’s choice, a family member’s decision, something you have searched for a long time and asked many people about, still without an answer.
This lesson does not say that those who believe in God never fail to understand; nor does it say that you need to make sense of what you do not understand quickly. What it shows you is this: Mary said what was in her heart — “your father and I were anxiously looking for you” (v. 48); of Jesus’ answer, “They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them” (v. 50); and the passage goes on, “his mother kept all these sayings in her heart” (v. 51).
This week: Think of one thing you still do not understand. Choose a day this week to write it down; then bring it to God in prayer once a day, without hurrying for an answer.
Scripture: World English Bible.