I wrote yesterday that by any definition, Jesus was a layman. He might have assumed he was to be raised in the Temple like Samuel was (see 1 Samuel chapters 1 – 3), but he grew up in Nazareth as the son of a carpenter, and, therefore, participating in the family business.

Before I say just a bit more about that, I hear a question: “You mean Jesus, as God, did not enter the world with complete knowledge? That it’s possible that he thought incorrectly that Samuel’s life might be an example to him?” Yes, exactly. Else, “Jesus grew in wisdom” (Luke 2.52) doesn’t mean anything. He grew. Therefore, at some point, he was less than full-grown. His understanding was incomplete.

Back to growing up in Nazareth: he experienced an ordinary childhood in an ordinary town. He helped run a carpentry business. He wasn’t raised in privilege at the Temple. No senior rabbi took Jesus under his wing. When he was grown, he chose working men to follow him.

There are many sources indicating that young boys were chosen to follow a rabbi around age 15 and that, therefore, Jesus’ disciples had already been rejected by other rabbis when he called them. But I haven’t seen pointed out that Jesus himself did not go through such an apprenticeship with a rabbi either. (Such an observation may be there, but I haven’t seen it.)

When people say Luke’s gospel is for everyone, we mean everyone. For example, Luke takes pains to include women (annunciation to Zechariah AND Mary, Simeon AND Anna in the temple, etc.). The angels appeared to shepherds. Jesus did not have a special Temple or rabbinical education.

The message is clear: Jesus is “like us” that we may be like him, participating in God’s mission.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4.13, ESV)