Introduction
Most folks are going to be doing lessons and carols this week, and that’s wonderful. But if you’re interested in preaching this week, this text can be a lot of fun.
Jesus Growing Up
It’s a bit strange to think of Jesus as a child. And even stranger to think that Jesus, God incarnate grew up. But that’s exactly what our reading tells us today. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years.” More colloquially, Jesus grew up.
I think it can be easy for us to think about Jesus being this wise, old spirited, child. Just walking around as a four-year-old, “Bless you mother, thank you for this wonderful bread and juice. Let us give thanks for it and partake of this meal!” But what this text tells us, is that Jesus grew up.
There’s a cartoon that goes around on social media every now and then where Mary is sitting on the side of a tub and point into the water and saying, “In.” But Baby Jesus is standing on the water and refusing to take a bath. Jesus grew up. Like any child.
Jesus probably had cranky days. Jesus had to learn new rules. Even Jesus walked away from his parents without telling them where he was going. Even Jesus learned how to talk with people. Even Jesus gave really snarky answers to his parents. “I mean, did you not know that I would be in my Father’s house?” (I would have gotten quite the look from my parents if I’d given that answer.)
Even Jesus grew up.
Absurdity in the Text
Now, some more fun is the wildness of the text. This is a very Home Alone moment. Jesus is left behind (really, he just stays behind) and Mary and Joseph don’t realize because they are traveling in a caravan. But then they return to Jerusalem, but it takes them three whole days to find him. Now Jerusalem as a big city, but three whole days and not check the temple on the first day? As the center of everything, you could at least start there after checking the place you were staying.
The absurdity of it all does show one contrast between Jesus and other children, he is completely comfortable in the religious spaces. Jesus feels comfortable in the temple. He is listening and learning from the teachers. And he even jumps into the conversation with some answers of his own. This is comfortable space.
But what is interesting is that Jesus won’t really think of this at home. While he calls it his “Father’s house,” Jesus won’t return to this place to do ministry or for a profession. This will not be the place that he teaches and preaches. Jesus will leave this space of comfort, and almost all of his ministry will happen outside the walls of this place. Most of it will happen outside of Jerusalem altogether. Jesus’ home will be among the people. Wherever he is needed.
Preaching Possibilities
Growth
What does it mean for us to acknowledge that Jesus grew up? What does it mean for us that Jesus learned and listened to others in the temple? What does it mean for us that the Son of God grew in wisdom?
As we enter into New Year’s Resolution time and “New Year, New Me!” time, there will be lots of conversation around changing and growth. New Gym memberships, Dry January, reading more. None of these things are wrong to try and I always support trying new things and seeing how they work for you. However, there is an opportunity for us to again reflect on growth as something longer term. The growth that God calls us to in scripture, the growth and wisdom that Jesus talks about and undergoes takes years.
How do we invite folks into resolutions and commitments of growth for the long term? How do we invite folks into conversations around growth in love? A commitment to explore what loving our neighbor really means in our lives and as a church community. Or a commitment to explore generosity and scarcity. To explore food insecurity around us and the housing crises for those who are unemployed or underemployed. A commitment to better understand immigration, asylum, and refugee statuses. How do we make a commitment to better understand the Holy Scriptures? Not to just read them and memorize a few verses. But how do we wrestle with the nuances, the contradictions, and the tough passages to better hear God’s Word still speaking in our midst?
“And he grew in wisdom and in years.” Jesus had to learn and grow in order to better understand the people that he would be serving. He needed to be in the temple and see who was there and who wasn’t. Jesus needed to come after John the Baptist and listen to his preaching about bearing fruit worthy of repentance. Jesus needed to see tax collectors, roman soldiers, and ordinary folk asking about how to usher in the kingdom of God.
How can we invite longer term growth in addition to our resolutions this year?
Home and Belonging
The child Jesus refers to the temple as his “Father’s house,” yet his ministry in adulthood moves him far beyond its walls. With this season of returning to childhood homes and being around folks who remind us of different versions of ourselves, there is an opportunity for us to talk about how “home” can change. There is an opportunity to reflect on where we find “home” and how God often calls us beyond our comfort zones. There is an opportunity for us to say that it’s okay that your old “home” is no longer home.
Micah Krey 
Leave a comment