Your background does not determine who you become
Jun 14 in Just Follow ME
What do we know so far? Jesus was born under controversial circumstances, into a humble family and surrounded by drama. Warned of Herod’s intention to kill him, his family fled to Egypt years later returning to Nazareth (where he grew up) considered a place of disdain – “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).
- Your background does not determine you nor who you become, it does not limit you.
- Do not be defined by people’s opinions of you or by society’s expectations / prejudices.
As a young Jewish boy he was taken to Jerusalem for the yearly celebration of the Passover feast. He was twelve and according to tradition would be considering what trade/occupation he would be trained for in the coming years leading to adulthood. We read: ‘Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.’ They find him, in the Temple asking questions and surprising the teachers with his knowledge and understanding of the Word.
- We shouldn’t water down the Word of God to the young. We should be fearful to not stunt their spiritual growth.
- Temple teachers encouraged the questions and interactions of their youngest members.
- Young people should be as much a part of Church and encouraged to take an active part in Church life that later spills naturally into every day life. Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”
- There is a battle going on for our Children.
He was not afraid at being alone, His eyes were fixed and focused as was His heart. When his parents questioned him over his disappearance he said :
“How is it that ye sought (looked for) me?
Wist ye not (don’t you know) that I must be about my Father’s business?”
The greatest challenge during the teenage years is discovering your identity. Society sells a prefabricated ‘perfect’ that makes you feel the need to attain to. The body is changing, hormones raging, even brain activity and emotions are out of control plus the choices you make now will affect the rest of your life. It is a journey of self-discovery, finding ‘the real me’ in the midst of all the shouting voices, all the peer pressure, expectations and yet here Jesus aged 12 knew exactly who He was and exactly what He wanted to do with His life. He knew who He belonged to and already had that sense of destiny ‘that I must be about my Father’s Business’ for some of us it takes us a lifetime to discover who we really are and what our purpose is. He was to sow the seeds of the Kingdom of Heaven, show and provide man with a way back to a relationship with the Father although perhaps not yet quite realizing that in doing so the seed must die. Or had he already realized that He was the lamb of the Passover?
“Truly, truly, I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains only a seed; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” John 12:24
- Is being about my Father’s business a priority in my life? What drives me?
- What is my most important consideration? Is God my priority? What is my focus?
- Is there anything in my heart that I love more than God?
- Where your treasure is there your heart will be. There you will put your energy and pour your life into. Is He your treasure?
Jesus only said what He heard the Father say, only did what He saw the Father do. Intimates a relationship. Spending time with the Father.
A heart that is centred upon the Father.
The passage ends with Jesus returning home with his parents: ‘And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.’
Extract from ‘Life of Messiah’ by Arnold Fruchtenbaum says:
‘Notice in verse 52 he develops in the same four areas that all of us have to develop.
a. He develops mentally – he advanced in wisdom.
b. He develops physically – he advanced in stature.
c. He grew up spiritually – he advanced in favour with God.
d. He developed socially – He advanced in favour with men.
These are the same four areas we must develop as we grow up. That summarises human development from the age of twelve to about the age of 30 or more’.
He was obedient to his parents and in Mark 6 we find out that he learned the skills necessary for him to become a carpenter. (It is believed that Joseph had most likely passed away)
“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,a Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”
He fulfilled the work but there would be a preparation time of 18 years for a ministry that would last only 3 and yet He finished the work.
- Don’t neglect the time of preparation
“Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed…”Jesus’ prayer in John 17.