Reflections from July 1, 2010

Today we read in Luke about the birth of Jesus and the beginnings of His coming forth to do His Father's business. As a young boy, Jesus stayed behind unnoticed by His parents and spent three days in the temple listening and learning from the priests and teachers. We read about this in Luke 2:46-47 which states, "...they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers."

Have you ever wondered what type of student Jesus was? Whether or not He came to earth already full of all the knowledge of God and Heaven? Did He have to study at all? Luke helps to answer this question with these verses by indicating that Jesus was in the role of student asking questions, and responding to those of the teachers. He began His lifelong process of education, learning, and growing through on-the-job training from experts in the field.
Jesus was a model student. His interaction at the temple was with some of the preeminent experts in Judaism who researched, developed, and applied the body of the Old Testament Law and rabbinical tradition to issues of the day. Some were members of the council, the governing body of Judea. Jesus made strategic use of these resources during His visit to Nazareth. At 12, He was considered a man, and thus went to the temple to begin His learning of the law. He did not offend anyone by going on and on with all He knew (He wrote much of it), but instead listening and asking questions, humbly subjecting Himself to the discipline of education.
This is a great example for all of us that go to school or have some type of education to go through. Like Jesus, we need to learn all we can from the best teachers we can find. And also, and most important, we must show ourselves teachable, with an attitude of humility.

Blessings to all