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

• Though He was hidden, God resided within the Old Testament temple; Jesus is the unveiled, human Most Holy Place and is truly accessible to all, enfolding believers in the arms of His Word and Sacraments.
• Law: In my sin, I want to keep God at a distance; I don’t want Him to see who I really am.
• Gospel: God, in His love, draws me near to Him; in Jesus, He tabernacles (dwells) among all believers through Word and Sacrament.

Context

David desired to build a “house of cedar” for God, to replace the tent in which his Lord had been residing (2 Samuel 7:1–29). But the Lord declared it would be Solomon who would build such a house. Work on the temple was begun 480 years after Israel left Egypt, around 967 BC (1 Kings 6:1), and was completed seven years later (1 Kings 6:38). It consisted of two main parts: the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) and the Holy Place. It was a sight so dazzlingly beautiful that it was deemed an “exalted house” for the King of kings (1 Kings8:13). Yet it was only temporary. The Babylonians bulldozed it in 587 BC.

Discussion Points

1. All people who believe in a higher power invent some form of worship by which they show reverence to their deity. What makes Christian worship (along with the now obsolete Old Testament temple worship) unique among all religions? See Psalm 50:7–15; Matthew 18:20; and 20:28. Why have Lutherans traditionally called their worship Divine Service?
2. Compare 1 Kings 5:3–7 with 1 Chronicles 22:6–10. Why was David prohibited from building “a house for the name of the LORD”? Who is the main actor in these passages?
3. The Bible calls the temple by many different names, but one of the most intriguing is “a house for the name of the LORD [Hebrew: YHWH]” (1 Kings 5:3). It seems odd that the Lord would need a house for His name. But according to Exodus 34:4–9, what was so significant about His name? Who is given this name in the New Testament?
4. Solomon built “the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah” (2 Chronicles 3:1). What else happened on that mountain? See Genesis 22:1–2, 9–14. Why is this location so appropriate for the temple?
5. What instructions and promises did the Lord give Israel concerning the tabernacle and later the temple? See Exodus 20:24; 29:38–46; Numbers 6:22–27; and 2 Chronicles 7:15.
6. Solomon’s temple would not last forever. Because of Israel and Judah’s stubborn unbelief, God used the Babylonians in 587 BC to destroy much of Judah and take the people into exile. The temple was completely razed. But the Lord was not finished with Judah or the temple. According to Ezra 1:1–3 and 6:14–18, what would the future hold? What does Haggai 2:9 predict about the temple? How does Jesus fulfill this, according to John 2:18–22?
7. At the temple and tabernacle, Israelites had access to God, where He blessed them. Where is God accessible for us today? See Matthew 1:23; 18:20; 26:26–28; and 28:20. In what way is God’s presence with us both individually and corporately? See 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 and Ephesians 2:18–22.
8. The Bible certainly has much to say about how we are to live today, but eternal life always is kept in view. In 2 Corinthians 5:1 and Revelation 7:13–17, what comfort does God give us about our eternal residence?
9. What is the difference between the promises given in 1 Kings 6:11–14 and those in Hebrews 13:5–6? What ensured this difference for us? See Matthew 27:45–51.
10. One of the most striking features of 1 Kings 5–6 is the enormous quantity of time and resources devoted to constructing the “house of the LORD” (6:1). What could this example suggest to the Christian churches today? Also consult Matthew 26:6–13.

Key Points

• Because the temple was the place of God’s faithful dealings with His people, Joash, his workers, and their donors dealt faithfully in repairing it.
• Law: We often allow God’s house and worship to be a low priority in our lives.
• Gospel: Being with His people by Word and Sacrament is always God’s highest priority.
• Law: Too often we fail to bring God the first and best of our treasure—sometimes because we disagree with how it is being used.
• Gospel: God did not withhold His own Son, but freely gave Him up for us.

Context

Lesson 5 described the building of the Lord’s temple (1 Kings 5–6). There He dwelled in the midst of Israel to hear prayers, receive sacrifices, and bless His people. By the time of Joash, the temple had fallen into a state of disrepair on account of aging, neglect, and abuse.

Joash (also known as Jehoash) ascended the throne of Judah at the age of seven and reigned forty years (2 Kings 11:21–2:1). Prior to this, the wicked queen mother Athaliah sought to wipe out all of King David’s lineage (the Messianic line) so that she could control the throne, but the Lord rescued Joash from her hand (2 Kings 11:1–3). The godly high priest Jehoiada anointed Joash and secured the throne for him.

Joash reigned well as long as his counselor Jehoiada lived, but later the king backslid into idolatry (2 Chronicles 24:15–27). Joash’s life reminds us to live each day in repentant trust in the grace which God delivers in His Word and Sacrament, knowing that we can lose our salvation by leaving the church or living in persistent, intentional sin (Hebrews 10:23–27).

Discussion Points and Questions

1. Examine 2 Kings 11:17-12:16. How does Joash follow the lead of the priest Jehoiada in renewing the covenant between God and his people?
2. Why was it important to Joash to have repairs made to the temple?
3. What did Joash use to pay for the repair work?
4. God blesses us with the opportunity to support the ministry of His Word by offering money to the Lord through the church. Sometimes, we do not give our offering very willingly, for different reasons. Sometimes, it’s a low priority for us. We might want to buy things for ourselves, or we might disagree with how the money is spent at church. What offering was given for us, freely and willingly?
5. What is the best reason to give offerings to God?
6. Read the Seventh Commandment and meaning. What are other ways we are guilty of breaking this Commandment, besides just taking something that does not belong to us?
7. How did God work through the humans in the Bible story to deal faithfully with His people?

For next week, read Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23; Luke 11:11–12; Ephesians 6:1–4; and 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12. Focus on Joseph’s role as a father.

Key Points

• The temple was a magnificent structure that symbolized God’s even more magnificent dwelling with His people: Christ Jesus.
• Law: The temple was a constant reminder of God’s presence with Israel, but we often forget that God is with us.
• Gospel: In Holy Communion, Christ is with us personally in His body and blood.
• Law: We take for granted that God is with us when we avoid coming to His house.
• Gospel: Each time His Word speaks to us and His Sacraments are given to us, He forgives us for our indifference.

Context

Solomon succeeded David as king of Israel (1 Kings 1:1–2:46) and continued the Messianic line (Matthew 1:6–7). He asked for and received a special gift of wisdom from God and Israel prospered in unprecedented ways (1 Kings 3:1–4:34). Solomon’s glory provided a point of comparison for Jesus’ teaching on God’s generous provision for His creatures, which offers Christians a life without anxiety (Matthew 6:25–34). Solomon’s proverbial wisdom set the stage for “something greater than Solomon” (Matthew 12:42), namely, Jesus, “whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Though Solomon’s reign was initially characterized by peace and prosperity, his personal sins later cast a dark cloud over his reign. His decadence and intermarriages with pagans brought outright idolatry into Israel and invoked God’s anger and judgment (1 Kings 11:1-43).

Discussion Points and Questions

1. Where does God dwell?
2. What is God’s purpose for the temple?
3. Why did Solomon build the temple?
4. Examine 1 Chronicles 28:1-21. In what ways do these verses demonstrate the hand of God in the building of the temple?
5. God dwelled with His people in the temple as He had in the tabernacle. In what other way did God later come to dwell with His people? read John 1:1 and 1:14.
6. How does God dwell with us today? How is God present today for His people?
7. Some churches today are magnificent structures. Others are simple in architecture and appointments. What is more important than what a church looks like?
8. How do we “remember the Sabbath”?
9. We don’t always remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. We show that we don’t appreciate that God is with us when we avoid coming to His house or when we forget that God is with us. But God does not forget us. How does God remember us?
10. What attitudes toward worship are suggested by Psalm 95:1-7?
11. How did God work through the humans in this story to provide for His people?

For next week, read 2 Kings 5:1–14. Consider how God sometimes uses simple means to accomplish His goals.

Key Points

• Jesus’ cleansing of the temple carries a twofold message for the Jews and for us: first, that the true Lord of the temple was here in the flesh and, second and more important, that Jesus is the true temple, who houses and perfects us, raising our bodies to be like His.
• Law: I sin when I turn God’s house into a place of business, soiling His sanctuary.
• Gospel: Jesus is my holy temple who, by His sacrifice on the altar of the cross, purged my sin and made me a member of His Body.

Context

John recounts this cleansing at the fore-front of his Gospel in order to highlight it. Other evangelists place the same or a similar cleansing later, during Holy Week (e.g., Matthew 21:12–17). When worshipers arrived at the temple, usually from far away, they exchanged their “unclean” Greek currency for Jewish coinage. They used this cash to purchase animals for sacrifice, rather than leading (or dragging!) a lamb or ox all the way from their often distant homes.

Discussion Points and Questions

1. What feast is being celebrated at the time of these events? Recall the meaning and significance of this feast. On how many different occasions does St. John refer to this feast? What great acts does Christ perform on these different occasions?
2. Who is gathered in the temple? Why are they there? What is the problem with what they are doing?
3. Describe what Jesus does in verses 15–16. Does this seem characteristic of Jesus when compared to the other parts of the Gospels? Consider the perceived inconsistencies in Jesus’ behavior, and discuss how His actions really are consistent with the rest of His ministry.
4. From where does the quote about “zeal for my house” come? What is the context and meaning of that original passage, and what does it have to do with Christ clearing the temple?
5. Jesus’ very act of cleansing the temple is a sign: it confirms the prophetic words of Psalm 69. Yet the Jews stubbornly seek another sign. What is the significance of their question and Jesus’ answer?
6. In the days before Jesus was born, God was worshiped in His temple. Where do we worship God today? In what ways do we make our Father’s house a house of trade?
7. How has God consecrated us to make us His temple? See 1 Corinthians 3:16.
8. What is the significance for us that Jesus is the temple of God?

For next week, read Mark 12:41–44, the offering of the widow’s mite. Consider what true thankfulness means and think about what God really wants of us. Who needs our money, God or our neighbor?

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.