“Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers”
Luke 2:47 (NIV)
As we explore child leaders in the Bible, we can examine the account of Jesus at twelve years old in Luke 2:46-47 (NIV), which captures the moment when His parents found him:
“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
Do you know who else was amazed at this young boy? His own parents!
Scripture tells us they did not understand His response about focusing on His Father’s business but “His mother treasured all these things in her heart.”
We often see our youth through the eyes of parents, teachers, pastors, or mentors with an assignment to nurture. We often believe that the manifestation of our nurturing is for the future without ceding value to their spiritual and intellectual maturity as babes. Our seven-year-old once made the clear choice that his beloved football tournament was important but not a priority over Sunday school. He has also provided tips about visiting the doctor to address hair growth (smile).
The challenge to us is to nurture them for both the present and future as they must lead from now, and may also lead us in the future as they may even be required to make decisions for us as we become older (e.g., health care, business, etc.).
This biblical account gives insight into the parenting style of Joseph and Mary. They were not helicopter parents (or they wouldn’t have taken a day to miss him in the crowd). However, they provided a godly Jewish home, demonstrated by their regular observance of the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. The result: verse 40, confirms His growth in every way – physically, spiritually, and intellectually – even before the temple teachings.
Franklin D Roosevelt is credited with the quote “We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future.” We can ponder this in our hearts as Mary did concerning her son.
Read: Matthew 19:14; Luke 2:40-42
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 11:9-18; John 4:1-26; Judges 1; Judges 2:1-5
