Key Points

• As a boy, Jesus was found in His Father’s house. In God’s house, I hear His Word, see that Jesus is my Savior, and receive His gifts of forgiveness and salvation.
• Law: Because of sin, I, like Jesus’ parents, do not understand what God says to me.
• Gospel: God makes His Word clear to me through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think that Luke 2:41–52 is the only account we have of Jesus’ words and deeds between His infancy and adulthood? See John 20:30–31; 21:25.
2. Studying our Lord’s childhood at Christmas reminds us of the truly ordinary and human aspects of His life. Of course, the visits from Gabriel and the shepherds were quite exceptional, but otherwise the experience of Mary and Joseph was not so different from that of any first-time parents. We are told that Mary treasured all these things in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51). Like any mother, she cherished the memories of her child’s early days. But what else could Mary’s careful remembrance of all of these events suggest? See Luke 1:1–4.
3. Jerusalem plays a major role in Luke’s Gospel. In fact, Luke can be read as a description of Jesus’ journey to, from, and around the city as He works toward accomplishing His mission. We see in Luke 2:22 that Jesus was presented at the temple in Jerusalem at the age of forty days. Luke 2:41 tells us that Jesus’ family went annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Why was Jerusalem such an important place? For what would Jesus eventually journey up to Jerusalem? See Luke 18:31–34. How would Jerusalem factor into the mission of the early Christian community? See Luke 24:46–49. As Christians, where is our true Jerusalem? See Hebrews 12:22–24.
4. The institution of the Passover is recorded in Exodus 12. God was going to inflict His final plague on Egypt, the death of every firstborn male. But for the children of Israel, the angel of death would pass over every house that had a sacrificed lamb’s blood on its lintel and doorframes. This final plague opened the door for Israel’s exodus from Egyptian slavery. Every year, the children of Israel would celebrate the Passover, recalling God’s salvation of Israel. Part of the celebration involved the sacrificing of a lamb and then a family meal consisting of that lamb and unleavened bread. The fact that Jesus was present in Jerusalem as a child for this feast is significant. The only other time in Luke’s Gospel when the Passover is mentioned is in chapter 22, the account of the Last Supper. Read Luke 22:7–20 and John 1:29. How are the Passover Feast and the Lord’s Supper related?
5. How does Luke show in this lesson that Jesus is the Son of God? Where else does he teach this doctrine? See Luke 1:35; 10:22; 22:29; and 24:49. As the Son of God, is Jesus less God than the Father? Why or why not?
6. We have seen above how Luke shows that Jesus is true God. His true humanity is also seen in this lesson. Where do we see that Jesus grew and developed just as any other child? How is His development possible, since as God He is omniscient and omnipotent? See Philippians 2:5–8 and Hebrews 5:8.
7. Mary and Joseph had both been visited by Gabriel concerning Jesus’ miraculous birth and had heard amazing things about Him from the shepherds and Simeon. Yet they expressed astonishment at the knowledge He displayed in the temple (Luke 2:48) and did not understand His answer to their questions (Luke 2:50). Why might they have been so confused about His knowledge of God and His reference to being in His Father’s house? See Mark 3:20–21. Who else often misunderstood Jesus’ words? See Luke 9:44–45; 18:31–34.
8. Luke 2:49 says that Jesus asked His parents, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” The word must indicates necessity. There was simply no other way for Jesus to act than to seek out His Father’s house. What other part of His mission had the same sense of necessity? See Luke 4:43; 9:22; 17:25.
9. In today’s lesson, Jesus goes to the temple at age twelve. We learn that He was asking and answering questions about the Old Testament. Jews considered twelve to be the age of religious maturity. Though there is no direct correlation, it is interesting that many Lutheran churches enroll students in confirmation classes around this age. Why is confirmation important? Is the rite absolutely necessary? How can we help children and adults who are going through confirmation classes?
10. Did Jesus sin by remaining in Jerusalem and not going back to Nazareth with His parents? No! Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was like us in every way except for sin, so it would be impossible to interpret this as disobedience. In any case, Jesus was patient with His parents who did not understand His words (Luke 2:50). This text shows us two realities: Jesus is foremost our Savior from sin, and He is also our example for living the Christian life. This does not mean we need to continually ask the question, “What would Jesus do?” Actually, we can never know exactly what Jesus would do in a specific situation. The better question is, “What has Jesus already done and what is He still doing to save me?” Read Matthew 20:25–28. How does Jesus show that He is both the Savior of all people and their example?
11. The temple in Jerusalem was not simply a religious building. The most common name for the temple in the Bible is the house of the Lord. This shows that it was understood as the residence of God, where sacrifices could be made to Him. It was not simply a place of public worship and prayer. Read Mark 14:58; 15:29–30; John 2:18–22. What does Jesus teach us about the temple in these passages? Where does the presence of God dwell under the New Testament?

Key Points

• Just as Hezekiah prayed in faith to God and was delivered, so Jesus, our mediator and advocate with the Father, intercedes for and with us, granting us deliverance from sin, death, and the devil.
• Law: My sin makes me proud; thinking I can be self-sufficient and don’t need God, I avoid Him.
• Gospel: My heavenly Father is always ready to hear me and my cries for help, giving me His Son for my salvation.

Context

In the late eighth century, Assyria was the world power of the ancient Near East. Led by Sennacherib, their armies went on a blitzkrieg across various lands. Ruling Judah was Hezekiah, a top-notch king. Along with Josiah, he was one of the two Israelite rulers after David who received not a word of criticism from the biblical writer (see 18:1–8). Though he initially caved in to Assyrian pres-sure, paying them tribute (vv. 13–16), Hezekiah later refused to bow to their demands. As the story in 2 Kings 18–19 recounts, Sennacherib would pay dearly for his mocking of the true God. Assyrian records echo the biblical account of his demise, that he was slain by his own sons as he knelt praying before a god who could not save (19:37).

Discussion Questions

1. This lesson focuses on the faith and prayer of Hezekiah. If you overheard someone say, “I have strong faith and my prayers are powerful,” how would you gently critique that statement?
2. This lesson focuses on Judah, the southern kingdom. However, 2 Kings 18:9–12 mentions what happened to Israel, the Northern Kingdom. What became of Israel, and why? What was Judah to learn from all this?
3. The prophet Isaiah plays an important role in this narrative. In fact, Isaiah 36–37 tells the same story as 2 Kings 18–19, and it is necessary to keep many of Isaiah’s prophecies in chapters 1–35 in view while studying what happened to Judah in 2 Kings. What did Isaiah say was wrong with Judah? See Isaiah 1:2–4. According to 1:7–9 and 10:5–6, what would eventually happen to Judah?
4. Hezekiah was praised for his faith and many good deeds. What were these? See 2 Kings 18:1–8.
5. Hezekiah was a great king, but we should not get the impression that he was perfect, as if he were so faithful to the Lord that he never sinned. In what ways had he displeased the Lord, failing to heed His prophet’s advice? See Isaiah 30:1–3.
6. What tactics and threats did the Assyrian delegates use to attempt to get Jerusalem not to follow Hezekiah but to surrender? See 2 Kings 18:19–35.
7. Why would Hezekiah respond to Assyria’s threats by tearing his clothes, covering himself with sackcloth, going to the house of the Lord, and sending for Isaiah (19:1–4)? See 2 Chronicles 7:11–15. What appeal does Hezekiah make to the Lord? See 19:14– 19.
8. What moved the Lord to answer Hezekiah’s prayer with a “Yes!” and save Jerusalem? See 2 Kings 19:20–34.
9. The angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night to save Jerusalem. What act of “salvation” had the Lord accomplished in a similar fashion centuries before? See Exodus 12:12– 13. When the Lord went about saving the whole world, what different approach did He take? See Matthew 26:52–54 and Philippians 2:5–11.
10. What do Hezekiah’s actions in 2 Kings 19:1–4 suggest to us about our Christian prayer life?

Key Points

• Jesus is always about His Father’s business—and that business is always earning our salvation! No thing and no one can stand in His way.
• Law: God doesn’t act the way we want Him to act. He acts in harmony with His will, not ours. But we try to cage Him, tame Him, force Him to be a circus deity. In our hearts, if not even in our prayers, we list conditions for Him to meet. We are in a vain—oh, so vain—power struggle with heaven.
• Gospel: The Lion of the tribe of Judah is no tame lion. He won’t roar on our cue or jump through our hoops. Even at the age of twelve, the boy Jesus shows that He is no ordinary boy. The Son of Mary, yes, and the “Son” of his foster father, Joseph, yes, but also their Lord. He is about His Father’s business. And that business is always earning our salvation.

Context

This is the only event recorded in the Scriptures of Jesus’ life between the days of His infancy and His baptism by John at the age of thirty (Luke 3:21–22). Luke places it here between the account of Jesus’ presentation in the temple (Luke 2:22–38) and the genesis of John’s ministry (Luke 3:1–22). The story is illustrative of what Luke summarily writes in Luke 2:40, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”

Adult Jewish males were legally required to attend the three major feasts of the Israelite calendar: Passover and Pentecost in the spring and Tabernacles in the fall (Exodus 23:14–17). Typically, their families would journey with them, as in this story (Luke 2:41). Estimates of the swelling population in Jerusalem at these three feasts number in the hundreds of thousands. Also, families or communities traveled in bands. This, it is not too surprising that Mary and Joseph would lose track of Jesus, supposing Him to be with their relatives and friends (Luke 2:44).

Discussion Points and Questions

1. The narrative says that they went up every year at the Passover. How old is Jesus when this particular event occurs? What does this number twelve remind you of?
2. How many days did Joseph and Mary search for Jesus? What do three days remind you of?
3. What “method” does Jesus use to teach the teachers of the temple? Why do you think He does this? Read Matthew 21:12–16, and, if you have time, Matthew 23:1–39 (which also occurs in the temple). How has Jesus’ method of teaching changed between His childhood and His adult ministry? Why is this?
4. What does Mary ask Jesus in Luke 2:48? Is she really wrong to be wondering or asking this? What does this mean for our own daily lives?
5. Whom does Mary call Jesus’ father? How does Jesus respond to this, and what is the twofold implication of His response? Who really is Jesus’ Father, and what is the business of His Father?
6. What does Jesus do after Joseph and Mary find Him, in spite of the fact that He has been about His Father’s business? What does this tell us about the nature of Jesus?
7. What does this lesson tell us about true, godly work? Where is this work done?
8. Jesus followed the customs of His day and worshiped at the appointed place. How are our own places of worship designed to serve the work of God?

For next week, read Mark 1:1–13, the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan. Start thinking about wy Jesus, who is without sin, underwent Baptism, which forgives our sins.