Luke 2:41-52 (NRSV)
Read Luke 2:41-52 on biblegateway.com
Verse 41Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. Verse 42And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. Verse 43When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Verse 44Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. Verse 45When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. Verse 46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Verse 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. Verse 48When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety." Verse 49He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" Verse 50But they did not understand what he said to them. Verse 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Verse 52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.
Devotion
And Jesus increased in wisdom. … Sometimes we can easily overlook certain phrases in a passage of scripture. This is one of those phrases that would be easy to overlook but is filled with significance. Jesus increased in wisdom. These words suggest that Jesus did not come into this world as a super-genius with all the answers to life's questions. They point to our confession that Jesus became truly human while still maintaining full divinity. Many of us perhaps think first of Jesus as the miracle worker who walked on water, so he becomes someone we can’t easily relate to. But when we take hold of and consider this small phrase that points to Jesus' humanity, maybe it will help us to know the God who truly became one with us.
Prayer
Emmanuel, you came into this world to share my humanity. Help me in times when you seem distant to remember that you are still one with me. Amen.