Lessons Learned
Scripture – Luke 2:51-52: 51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Reflection: It’s striking to me that Luke makes it clear after this Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary. Does that mean He disobeyed them by staying in Jerusalem? I hesitate to go that far. At the same time, He was still learning what human life was like.
Then they went back to Nazareth. All we see is that Jesus grew in “wisdom.” I think He learned a lesson from this incident. He also grew in “stature” – getting taller and maturing physically. And He grew in “favor with God and men.” Favor with God would have been easy for Him, seeing that He was God. Part of raising children also includes teaching them how to get along with people. That, I think, is what Jesus was learning.
The next time we’ll see Jesus in Luke’s gospel, He’ll be thirty years old. The efforts of Joseph and Mary will show then.
Never underestimate the influence you have on people around you. This is especially true for those younger than you. They’ll be watching you. What will they learn?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, January 11
Scripture – Luke 3:1-6: 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
Reflection: It’s striking to me that Luke makes it clear after this Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary. Does that mean He disobeyed them by staying in Jerusalem? I hesitate to go that far. At the same time, He was still learning what human life was like.
Then they went back to Nazareth. All we see is that Jesus grew in “wisdom.” I think He learned a lesson from this incident. He also grew in “stature” – getting taller and maturing physically. And He grew in “favor with God and men.” Favor with God would have been easy for Him, seeing that He was God. Part of raising children also includes teaching them how to get along with people. That, I think, is what Jesus was learning.
The next time we’ll see Jesus in Luke’s gospel, He’ll be thirty years old. The efforts of Joseph and Mary will show then.
Never underestimate the influence you have on people around you. This is especially true for those younger than you. They’ll be watching you. What will they learn?
An Invitation: A small group will be meeting tomorrow morning from 9:45 – 10:30am to share what we’ve learned and seen in this week’s readings. We’ll meet in the Pastor’s office at Bethel Baptist Church, 13330 Trenton Road in Southgate. Everyone’s welcome to join us.
Reading for Sunday, January 11
Scripture – Luke 3:1-6: 1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. 3He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home