I want to become a wise Christian who lives a New Jerusalem-centered life of faith.

I want to become a wise Christian who lives a New Jerusalem-centered life of faith.

 

 

  

 

“Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.  After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.  Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.  After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.  When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’  ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked.  ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’  But they did not understand what he was saying to them.  Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.  And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:41–52).

 

As I meditate on the Word from Luke 2:41–52, I desire to receive the grace God gives through this meditation.

 

(1)   First, I noticed the word “Jerusalem” appears three times (vv. 41, 43, 45), which made me think that Jesus’ parents lived a Jerusalem-centered life.

 

(a)    The reason I came to this conclusion is that Jesus’ parents not only brought baby Jesus to Jerusalem to perform the purification rites according to the Law of Moses on the eighth day after His birth (vv. 21–22) but also went every year to Jerusalem for the Passover festival (vv. 41–42).

 

(i)               When Jesus was twelve years old, they again went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast (v. 42).  After the festival, while returning home, Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem (v. 43), but His parents, thinking He was among their group, traveled a day’s journey before realizing He was missing.  After searching among their relatives and friends (v. 44), and not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for Him (v. 45).

 

·        From these accounts, we see that Jesus’ parents made the long journey from their hometown Nazareth in Galilee to Jerusalem [approx. 120 miles in straight distance, but historically longer due to avoiding Samaria; total walking time could take around 35 hours (Internet)].

 

-        Their reasons for going were: (1) To perform purification rites for baby Jesus in accordance with the Law (v. 22), (2) To observe the Passover (vv. 41–42).

 

n  According to the Law (Deut. 16:16), all Jewish males were to attend the three major feasts—Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles—in Jerusalem.  However, after the Babylonian exile, many Jews were dispersed and unable to attend regularly.  Nevertheless, many devout Jews at least made the effort to attend the Passover, and Jesus’ parents were among these faithful observers (Hokmah).

(b)   In the same way, we must live a “Jerusalem-centered life of faith.”  In the Old Testament, this meant centering life around the temple in Jerusalem and the hope of the Messiah.  In the New Testament, it means centering our life around the church as the body of Christ, living with God and Jesus Christ at the center (Internet).

 

(i)               More specifically, a “Jerusalem-centered life of faith” involves:

 

·        God-centered living: Seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, rather than pursuing worldly desires like the Gentiles who do not know God.

 

·        Christ-centered faith: Recognizing that salvation is not earned by good works but comes through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior—this faith is the core of Christian belief.

 

·        Church-centered life: Just as the temple in Jerusalem was the center of worship in the OT, in the NT, believers live out their faith centered on the church—the body of Christ.

 

·        Life from a new nature: Since we are now made righteous in Christ, we naturally live according to God's nature, free from sin and the curse of the law.

 

·        A life that reveals God: Rather than living for a false self, we live with the desire to reveal the God who dwells within us (source: internet).

 

(ii)             Even more practically, a “Jerusalem-centered life of faith” looks like:

 

·        Prayer: Having sincere conversations with God and sharing your heart with Him.

 

·        Word and evangelism: Learning God’s Word and spreading the gospel to expand the kingdom.

 

·        Righteous actions: Living out a faith that includes both belief and obedient action.

 

·        Values of the Kingdom: Experiencing righteousness, peace, and joy distinct from the world—living under God’s rule (source: internet).

 

(c)    When I reflect on Luke 2:49, where Jesus says, “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”, it reminds me of the “New Jerusalem” mentioned in Revelation (Rev. 3:12; 21:2).

 

(i)               Although Jesus is referring to the temple in Jerusalem as “My Father’s house” in this context (vv. 45–46), ultimately, this temple points toward the New Jerusalem—the heavenly city described in Revelation.

 

·        The “New Jerusalem” is the glorious city of God that descends onto the new heaven and new earth, where God dwells eternally with His people (Internet).

 

-        Therefore, to live a “Jerusalem-centered life of faith” means to live with the eternal heavenly kingdom in view, centered on the glorious New Jerusalem where God eternally dwells with us.

 

n  Living such a glorious, heaven-centered life means obeying Jesus’ twofold commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mt. 22:37, 39).

 

(2)   The next word that caught my attention while meditating on the passage Luke 2:41-52 was “wisdom”: “Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers” (v. 47).

 

(a)    I became interested in the word “wisdom” because in the previous day’s meditation on Luke 2:39–40, verse 40 says: “The child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him.”  And again in verse 52: “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

 

(i)               So, the word “wisdom” appears in verses 40, 47, and 52—three times in total.  What's interesting is that verse 47, where people marvel at Jesus' wisdom, is situated between verses 40 and 52.  

·        This reminded me of a “sandwich structure”:

 

   A     “The child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom,

                                                 and the grace of God was on Him.” (v. 40)

 

                                                  B     “Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding

          and His answers.” (v. 47)

 

                                      A’     “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (v. 52)

 

-        The structure shows that between the beginning (A) and end (A’) statements about Jesus' wisdom and growth, the central focus (B) is the response of the people to His wisdom.

 

n  The point is: Jesus was full of wisdom (v. 40), amazed others with His wisdom (v. 47), and continued growing in wisdom (v. 52).

 

(3)   Though Jesus was full of divine wisdom, Luke 2:51 says He went down to Nazareth with His parents and was obedient to them.

 

(a)    Jesus then lived with His parents and siblings in Galilee for 18 years, until He was baptized by John (3:21).  During that time, He worked as a carpenter like His father Joseph, cared for His younger siblings, and supported His mother Mary (Mark 6:3) (Hokmah).

 

(i)               Eventually, Jesus obeyed even unto death on the cross during His public ministry (Phil. 2:8).  This shows that the wise Jesus, full of divine wisdom, also lived in full obedience to God the Father.

 

·        May we also become wise Christians, following Jesus' example, obedient to our Heavenly Father.

 

-        Let this reflection encourage and challenge us to live a New Jerusalem-centered life of faith, growing in wisdom like Jesus, and walking in loving obedience to God.