We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ childhood. We know God personally selected Mary and Joseph for the important task of rearing Jesus. We know Jesus learned His earth father’s trade of carpentry. Joseph undoubtedly guided Jesus’ little hands, teaching Him how to cut and fashion wood into new creations. I wonder if Joseph knew He was teaching Him, Who had seen much bigger acts of Creation than the transformation of wood? I wonder if Joseph ever cautioned Jesus about how to drive a nail in the right way, so He would never end up with a nail in His hand?
But while Jesus was learning Joseph’s trade, He was also learning His Heavenly Father’s business. We don’t know if God the Father shut off a portion of all the Heavenly Knowledge Jesus carried with Him to earth in order that Jesus might learn it again as a human does. But it is an interesting thought.
Scriptures are largely silent on Jesus’ childhood activities except to say, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52) Jesus was not only getting taller, but He was also growing in wisdom. And both His Heavenly Father and earthly father, as well as other earth people liked Him!
When Jesus was 12, He went up to Jerusalem with His parents for the Feast of the Passover. The only problem was when everyone else went home, Jesus didn’t go. He was obviously considered a responsible boy by His parents, who didn’t look for Him when they first left. In a classic “Home Alone” take, they thought He was with them. But He wasn’t.
Where was He? When He was found a day later, He was in His Heavenly Father’s House, the Temple. Thirsty for knowledge of His Real Father, He was listening to the teachers and asking questions! Not only that, He was understanding and even answering questions Himself!
Do you have the sense within you that you are not truly home? As much as you like this place and the people here, perhaps something inside you longs to hear news from your real Home. Perhaps even now, there is a small Voice inside you that says, “It’s time to be about my Father’s Business … and I’ve got so much to learn!”
No matter how old you are or how much you have already learned, there is always more to know. Jesus Himself wants to sit down with you and teach you and answer your questions, so you gain understanding. When you begin talking, you will discover you have some answers God has already stored within you, like gifts waiting to be unwrapped!
Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s Business?
Luke 2:49
This is what I have asked of God for you;
that you will be encouraged
and knit together by strong ties of Love,
and that you will have the rich experience of knowing Christ
with real certainty and clear understanding.
For God’s Secret Plan, now at last made known,
is CHRIST HIMSELF!
Col. 2:2 (TLB)
