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Jesus (the Radical Teenager)

To me this is one of the most exciting stories of Jesus in the entire Bible. Here we see the young man Jesus at 12 years old being the radical teenager, His radical normal Self.

I want you to stay with me on this story and you may be very shocked. Please read the following passage from the Bible then I will comment.

After returning with Mary and Joseph from Egypt they lived in Nazareth.
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey,
and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
Now so it was that after three days 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.
So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him,
“Son, why have You done this to us?
Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
And He said to them,

“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

But they did not understand the statement, which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them,
but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:40-52 in the Holy Bible)

Firstly, each year Mary, Joseph and Jesus walked from Nazareth to Jerusalem. The usual route was to cross over the Jordan River and travel along the East Bank up to the crossing near Jericho and then on to Jerusalem. This was about 120 miles each way or round trip 240 miles. Lets just say Jesus was about five when He returned to Nazareth. This means Jesus would have made 8 round trips at least to Jerusalem. 240 x 8 = 1,920 miles plus 350 miles he traveled as an infant to Egypt and then about 400 miles back to Nazareth for a total of 750. This totals a distance of about 2,690 miles by the time Jesus was 12 years old! That is the distance from New York to Los Angeles. Jesus had walked the distance across America by the age of 12.

All of this was in very primitive times with very few facilities for toilet, health, or bed.

Jesus was a very tough young man. A real outdoors man and at home in nature.

Secondly, do you want your child to be like the child Jesus?

Well, yes you may say.

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;

and the grace of God was upon Him.

Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

This sounds great and it is. The above story is the only information about the early years of Jesus life from Egypt until Jesus appeared with John the Baptist at about 30 years of age.

But please consider the facts of this story:

Jesus stayed in Jerusalem and did not tell Mary and Joseph where He was!

His parents thought Jesus was with relatives but when they looked at the end of the first days walk back to Nazareth Jesus was nowhere to be found.

They returned in anguish trying to find Jesus.

They searched for ‘Three Days’ before they found Jesus!

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple,

sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

Think for a moment parent. What if your 12 year old left your presence on a trip and you could not find that child for 4 days? Would you tell that child to ‘be like Jesus’? ha.

This is radical. This 12 year old was living in ‘another’ world. And truly this was so. Hear Jesus as He responds:

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him,

“Son, why have You done this to us?

Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them,

“Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business ?”

Mary asks Jesus why He had done this. His behavior was not normal or acceptable.

Jesus response was even more shocking “Why did you seek Me?’ Jesus ‘was’ living in another world. He seemed oblivious to their despair. Then Jesus makes the profound and revealing response’¦ I must be about My Father’s business!

No apology just a short simple declaration of His call and mission. Even at this age Jesus knew Who He was and What His Mission was.

The story ends with:

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them,

but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus did return with Mary and Joseph and was subject to them. The word subject means obedience.

Oh, I love Jesus! From His Birth through His teenage years and through His Life He broke the norm everywhere.

God in the Flesh! Seeking to be ‘normal’? No!

Jesus was radical and I love it.

Today many have set religious patterns in life. Church and church services become stayed and ‘normal”¦ Jesus breaks the norm and sets you free! Glory.

I have been a part of raising 6 now adult children and am now the father of an 11-month old girl. I want Sophia to live following Jesus as I have desired for all my children.

I remember how at 10 years old my son Joshua felt called to carry a cross with me and go on the road. I remember when Joshua felt called at 12 years old to go with me into the war in Lebanon and walk with me and carry his cross into the battlefields of Beirut! This he did in the face of danger and war and death. Joshua is now 39 years old and a full-time evangelist and teacher and still carries the cross on several missions a year. Glory.

Family Values!? Consider Jesus the teenager! Consider Jesus!

Oh, worship the Lord Jesus! Worthy is the Lamb! He gave His life for you and me.

Give your life to Jesus now in every way and follow Jesus.

Pilgrim followers of Jesus,

Arthur and Denise Blessitt

Luke 18:1