The Boy Jesus In The Temple

A Meditation on the Word of God | Luke 2:40-52

This is not an act of teenage rebellion. Jesus knows what his mission from the Father is. He must be about his Father’s ‘things’—not in his Father’s house, or about his Father’s business, as many English translations have it—that is what the Greek of verse 49 literally says, when Jesus replies to his mother—that he must be about his Father’s things.

So, what are the ‘things’ of his Father? Think of where Jesus was standing: in the temple, where the sacrifices took place. Jesus must be among the sacrificial animals because he is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world. Jesus must be in the temple, where the presence of God dwelt with his people in the holy of holies, because Jesus is the presence of God in human flesh. Jesus must be among the teachers of the Law, because Jesus is the Word of the Father, incarnate, come down to earth. The things of our Lord’s Father are the stuff of sacrifice and Word. Jesus knows who he is as the only Son of God, and he knows what he has come to do— to give his life as a ransom for many on the cross. He is Chief of his Father’s things.

Holy Mary loses her son to her great distress, and finds him again on the third day. This is a picture of our Lord’s death, when he would depart from his disciples to their sorrow. And the finding him is a picture of the resurrection, when his disciples would see him again to their joy.

How did the Lord know all that he knew, so that he impressed the teachers of the Law with his wisdom? We might think that, because he is God, he is omniscient and knows all things, and that is why he was able to give them such impressive questions and answers.

But that would be drawing a wrong conclusion.

When our Lord entered the state of humility, he set aside the glory that was proper to his divine nature, so that he could be like us in every way. Human beings have to grow in wisdom. Jesus too had to grow in wisdom as a man (V40). If he came into the world knowing everything, he could not properly grow in wisdom. How can God grow in wisdom? Jesus had to learn the Law and the Scriptures the way every human being learns the Word of God: by diligent study.

Here is the big takeaway from this text: Jesus shows such impressive wisdom in the temple because he is the man of perfect faith. With perfect faith, Jesus knows what is important in life, what really matters: the Word of God. Jesus applied himself to the study of the Word of God with all his heart because he loves his Father in heaven with all his heart. Doing the will of his Father—growing in the knowledge and understanding of the Father’s wholesome Word— was his meat and drink in this world (John 4:34). You and I as sinners often lose sight of what really matters. We chase pleasure and instant gratification. Seeking to satisfy our selfish desires, we forget the Word, and put the study of it on the back burner. But here is the Gospel: we are saved through the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ, that man of faith, who attends to the Word of God. He is our example. This time of year, people make New Years’ resolutions as they consider how they would like to grow and change. Take an example from the Lord Jesus and apply yourself to God’s Word as if it is the one thing needful in your life. Because it is the one thing needful in your life. Grow in wisdom like Jesus. Make this your aim in 2026.