THE GOSPELS: LESSON 7:
THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS AND THE “LOST YEARS”

TEXT: LUKE 2: 40 - 52

          From the time that Jesus’ family moved back to Nazareth after Herod’s death until the incident at Jerusalem in his twelfth year, nothing is known about Jesus. There have been many apocryphal tales of miraculous deeds of the boy Jesus, but all are wrong, for the scriptures tell us that the miracle at Cana was his FIRST miracle (John 2: 11). We learn what Jesus was like as a boy, from one incident recorded in Luke.

LUKE 2: 40 – THE TRANSITION FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADOLESCENCE.

Notice four things told us about the young Jesus:

1. He grew. From the Greek auxano, literally, “to enlarge.” He got bigger and taller.

2. He became strong. From the Greek krataioo, literally, “to become powerful or vigorous.” He became a strong young man. The addition of “in spirit”of the KJV is unwarranted. The increase in “spirit” is included in the next two items.

3. [He became] Filled with wisdom. From the Greek on pletho sophia, literally “became endued or furnished with wisdom.” Where did his wisdom come from? See Proverbs 1: 7, 8.

4. The grace of God was on him. This word “grace” here means “favor or influence.” In other words, God was pleased with this young man because he studied God’s word and then applied it to his actions.

VERSES 41 - 50: THE VISIT TO JERUSALEM.

Verse 41: What was the occasion? Passover

How often did they go to Jerusalem for this? They went every year.

Why?. Because they were devout people and the Law told all males to do so.

          Halley’s Handbook says that this was Jesus’ first trip to Jerusalem, but it obviously wasn’t. His family went EVERY year. This was required in Exodus 23: 14 - 17. ALL MALES were required to “go up before the Lord” (go to the High Priest at the Tabernacle or Temple) THREE times a year: Passover (feast of unleavened bread), Pentecost (feast of harvest) and Sukkoth (feast of tabernacles).

Verse 42: Jesus is twelve years old. They are going up to Jerusalem for Passover, in the spring of the year (the Sabbath after the first full moon after the vernal equinox). They were NOT going to Jerusalem for Jesus’ bar Mitzvah. The bar Mitzvah ceremony (done at age 13) did not even begin until sometime after 1000 AD.

What did they do at Jerusalem during this time? Here is what Smith’s Bible Dictionary says: (Ellipses indicate words left out. Square brackets are my explanations.)

Observance of the Passover in later times . — As the original institution of the Passover in Egypt preceded the establishment of the priesthood and the regulation of the service of the tabernacle, it necessarily fell short in several particulars of the observance of the festival according to the fully-developed ceremonial law: the head of the family slew the lamb in his own house, not in the holy place; the blood was sprinkled on the doorway, not on the altar.

          But when the law was perfected, certain particulars were altered in order to assimilate the Passover to the accustomed order of religious service. In the twelfth and thirteenth chapters of Exodus there are . . . . distinct references to the observance of the festival in future ages . . . . Besides the private family festival, there were public and national sacrifices offered each of the seven days of unleavened bread. (Numbers 28:19) On the second day also the first-fruits of the barley harvest were offered in the temple. (Leviticus 23:10)

Mode and order of the paschal meal . — All work except that belonging to a few trades connected with daily life was suspended for some hours before the evening of the 14th Nisan (beginning of the Passover). It was not lawful to eat any ordinary food after midday. No male was admitted to the table unless he was circumcised, even if he were of the seed of Israel. (Exodus 12:48) It was customary for the number of a party to be not less than ten. When the meal was prepared, the family was placed round the table, the paterfamilias [oldest male head of the family] taking a place of honor, probably somewhat raised above the rest. When the party was arranged the first cup of wine was filled, and a blessing was asked by the head of the family on the feast, as well as a special, one on the cup. The bitter herbs were then placed on the table, and a portion of them eaten . . . . The unleavened bread was handed round next and afterward the lamb [from the sacrifice] was placed on the table in front of the head of the family. The paschal lamb could be legally slain and the blood and fat offered only in the national sanctuary. [the temple] ( 16:2) Before the lamb was eaten the second cup of wine was filled, and the son, in accordance with (Exodus 12:26) asked his father the meaning of the feast. In reply, an account was given of the sufferings of the Israelites in Egypt and of their deliverance . . . . and the first part of the Hallel (a contraction from Hallelujah ), Psalms 113, 114, was sung. This being gone through, the lamb was carved and eaten. The third cup of wine was poured out and drunk, and soon afterward the fourth. The second part of the Hallel, Psalms 115 to 118 was then sung. . . .

          The Israelites who lived in the country appear to have been accommodated at the feast by the inhabitants of Jerusalem in their houses, so far its there was room for them. (Matthew 26:18; Luke 22:10-12) Those who could not be received into the city encamped without the walls in tents as the pilgrims now do at Mecca.

Verses 43 - 45: The Passover feast lasted seven days. They obviously traveled in a large company of friends and relatives. We are told by historians that sometimes whole villages traveled together for company and protection from bandits. They had traveled for one day (about 20 - 30 miles) and noticed that Jesus was not with them. Obviously Jesus was normally a very self-reliant and responsible kind of child, one who didn’t need worrying over. This would have placed them near Alexandrium, on the road east of Samaria. (Jews did not normally travel directly through Samaria, but went east to Jericho and followed the road through the Jordan Valley, thereby avoiding all the Samaritan cities.) When they did not find him among the large company, they decided to go back to Jerusalem and search for him there. (Note: Jesus’ family is described in Matt.13: 55, 56.)

Verses 46 - 47: Jesus was found back at the Temple (in the temple courtyard, not inside where only priests were allowed), listening to the “Doctors of the Law” and questioning them. These were not common Rabbis, but men who were well-educated in the Hebrew scriptures and taught others. Those who heard him were amazed at his understanding of the scriptures. The word sunesis, translated here as understanding, is “the ability to put related concepts together into a consistent and rational whole.” In other words, the PROPER use of knowledge. The normal means of teaching among the Jews was along the lines of Platonic Discourse where they exchanged questions and answers in turns.

Verse 48: When Jesus was found, his “parents” were amazed. Why? Because he was not the sort of boy to disobey or distress them; he was a GOOD boy. Notice that Mary calls Joseph “your father.” Jesus’ absence had caused his parents “sorrow or torment.” Why? It was not unusual in those days for strong young boys to be stolen away by unscrupulous persons and sold as slaves in Rome or Egypt.

Verses 49, 50: Jesus, in his turn, was amazed. Why? Because Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what sort of man he was to become. Not just a carpenter, but the Messiah, promised for ages.

What Jesus asked them: “Didn’t you know I must be in my Father’s house?” Or alternately “about my Father’s business.” This is not literally what he said, but what he did say is very hard to interpret. He said (loosely translated) that “he must be about the things of his Father.” Or possibly, “in the place of my Father.” It is no wonder his parents didn’t understand.

Verses 51, 52: Jesus went back with them to Nazareth and obeyed them. Mary stored this up in her heart, as all mothers do. Jesus grew up (matured) in four ways: mentally, physically, spiritually, socially. Obviously the experience at Jerusalem helped him grow socially.

NOTE: After this episode at age twelve, there is an 18 year gap in the story of Jesus’ life. This period has been dubbed by Bible scholars as “the lost years.” Nothing else is recorded about Jesus until he is 30 years old. Since Joseph is never again mentioned directly in the Biblical text, he must have died during these 18 “lost years.”  

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