I love that no matter how many times I read the Bible or think about a familiar story, there’s always the potential for something new. I was meditating on Jesus’ visit to the Temple when he was 12 years old. Here’s the exchange with his parents when they finally found him:

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?” … Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them…And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2.48 – 52, NIV)

This is an interesting exchange. “ Son, why have you treated us like this?” In fact, it didn’t occur to Jesus that he was doing anything to them. Maybe he thought it was natural that he would be in his (real) Father’s house. Maybe he thought that, like Samuel, he would just stay there. 

Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but [Samuel] ministered before the LORD under Eli the priest… And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people. (1 Samuel 2.11, 26, NIV)

This incident may have been pivotal. Jesus understands that he will stay in Nazareth until the proper time. After the visit to the temple, Jesus learns that he will be “about his Father’s business” while he is about his father’s business. Not a professional hanging out in the temple but among real people, working, in Nazareth.

And I just noticed that the same phrase was used for both Samuel and Jesus: they grew in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people. Except Jesus grew in obscurity with no official or religious position. Jesus was a layman! I’ll write more about that tomorrow.

The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? …Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” (John 7.47, 48, 52, ESV)