ACC ~ Luke 2 v41 - 52

OVERVIEW:

The story of Jesus in the temple at twelve years old teaches us about his humanity so that we might ascend into an understanding of his divinity. By beginning at twelve years old, Jesus is affirming his perfection (BEDE). The time notice of “three days” anticipates the resurrection narrative (AMBROSE). Jesus teaches by asking questions, showing the humility appropriate to a twelve-year-old (ORIGEN).

Although this passage is about Jesus doing the Father’s business, it is first stated by Mary that Joseph is Jesus’ father (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). Jesus must be present in the house of his Father, where the Father’s business is transacted, among those to whom this business has been entrusted (ORIGEN). To be about the Father’s business is to be coeternal with the Father’s power and glory (BEDE).

Jesus is subject to Joseph, the greater subject to the lesser, although Joseph must have known that Jesus was greater than he (ORIGEN). Mary learns from her twelve-year-old son not as her child, but as her God (BEDE). Jesus advances in wisdom and grace, as his humanity is taught by his divinity (JEROME), an advance in body and soul as a result of the personal union of Godhead and humanity (JOHN OF DAMASCUS).

2:41-45 | Jesus Is Lost in Jerusalem During the Passover

JESUS’ HUMILITY SHOWS US HIS DIVINITY

BEDE: The Lord’s coming every year to Jerusalem for the Passover with his parents is an indication of his human humility. It is characteristic of human beings to gather to offer God the votive offerings of spiritual sacrifices, and by plentiful prayers and tears to dispose their Maker toward them. Therefore the Lord, born a human being among human beings, did what God, by divine inspiration through his angels, prescribed for human beings to do. He himself kept the law which he gave in order to show us, who are human beings pure and simple, that whatever God orders is to be observed in everything. Let us follow the path of his human way of life. If we take delight in looking upon the glory of his divinity, if we want to dwell in his eternal home in heaven all the days of our lives, [1] it delights us to see the Lord’s will and to be shielded by his holy temple. And lest we be forever buffeted by the wind of wickedness, let us remember to frequent the house, the church of the present time, with the requisite offerings of pure petitions. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.19. [2]

[1] Ps 27:4 (26:4 LXX).

[2] CS 110:188-89*.

A SIGN OF JESUS’ PERFECTION

BEDE: This we may here affirm: By the number seven, as by the number twelve (which is made up from the parts of the number seven multiplied by each other), the whole universe of things, events and their perfection is signified. Accordingly, that he may teach in what manner all places and times are to be employed, the divine Light of Christ rightly makes a beginning from the number twelve. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.42. [1]

[1] SSGF 1:236*.

2:46-50 | Jesus Found in the Temple

THE THREE DAYS REFER TO THE RESURRECTION

AMBROSE: The beginning of the Lord’s disputation is taken from his twelfth year. This number of the evangelists was intended for the preaching of the faith. [1] Nor is it idly that, forgetful of his parents according to the flesh, he who according to the flesh assuredly was filled with the wisdom and grace of God is found after three days in the temple. It is a sign that he who was believed dead for our faith would rise again after three days from his triumphal passion [2] and appear on his heavenly throne with divine honor. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.63. [3]

[1] See Mt 10:1-2, 7.

[2] See Mt 26:61; 27:63.

[3] EHG 61**.

JESUS TEACHES THROUGH QUESTIONS

ORIGEN: Because he was a small child, he is found “in the midst of teachers,” sanctifying and instructing them. Because he was a small child, he is found “in their midst,” not teaching them but “asking questions.” He did this because it is appropriate to his age, to teach us what befits boys, even if they are wise and learned. They should rather hear their teachers than want to teach them and not show off with a display of knowledge. He interrogated the teachers not to learn anything but to teach them by his questions. From one fountain of doctrine, there flow both wise questions and answers. It is part of the same wisdom to know what you should ask and what you should answer. It was right for the Savior first to become a master of learned interrogation. Later he would answer questions according to God’s reason and Word. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 19.6. [1]

[1] FC 94:82-83**.

MARY CALLS JOSEPH JESUS’ FATHER

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: If, from the fact that some are called brothers of our Lord, people think that these are sons of Mary, take note that he was called son of Joseph. Not only did Jews call him the son of Joseph, but also Mary called him Joseph’s son. For “I and your father have been seeking you with much anxiety.” If the angel commanded Joseph to take Mary into his care, [1] this was to eliminate any suspicion from her slanderers, and especially so that he might protect her in case those who were scandalized in thinking that it was from the angel that she was pregnant might kill her. It was a great source of scandal to them that a virgin should give birth, because they were convinced that through her giving birth their city would be destroyed and that their kingdom, priesthood and prophecy would be abolished. It was for this reason too that they also killed the prophet Isaiah who announced these things, that a virgin would give birth to a child. [2] COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 2.7. [3]

[1] Mt 1:20.

[2] Is 7:14.

[3] ECTD 63-64**.

IN THE TEMPLE OF HIS FATHER

ORIGEN: Surely Jesus was in the temple that Solomon had built. He confesses that it is the temple of his Father, whom he revealed to us, and whose Son he said he was. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 18.5. [1]

[1] FC 94:78-79.

COETERNAL WITH THE FATHER

BEDE: Clearly the abode in the hearts of the elect of the holy Trinity, the nature of whose divinity is one and indivisible, cannot be disparate. Therefore, when he was sitting in the temple, the Lord said, “I must be about my Father’s business,” and this is a declaration of his power and glory which are coeternal with God the Father’s. However, when he returned to Nazareth, he was subject to his parents, and this is an indication of his true humanity as well as an example of humility. He was subject to human beings in that human nature in which he is less than the Father. Hence he himself said, “I go to the Father because the Father is greater than I.” [1] In that human nature, he was made a little less than the angels. [2] In that other nature, however, in which he and the Father are one, [3] and in virtue of which he does not go to the Father only now and then but is always in him, [4] all things were made through him, [5] and he is before all things. [6] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.19. [7]

[1] Jn 14:28.

[2] Ps 8:5 (8:6 LXX); Heb 2:9.

[3] Jn 10:30.

[4] Jn 14:10-11.

[5] :1–24:53 PRELIMINARY REMARKS | ON THE GOSPEL

[6] Col 1:17.

[7] CS 110:191**.

2:51-52 | Jesus Obeys His Parents and Is Faithful to His Heavenly Father

JESUS AND JOSEPH SHOW HOW THE GREATER IS SUBJECT TO THE LESSER

ORIGEN: Children, we should learn to be subject to our parents. The greater is subject to the lesser. Jesus understood that Joseph was greater than he in age, and therefore he gave him the honor due a parent. He gave an example to every son. … I think Joseph understood that Jesus, who was subject to him, was greater than he. He knew that the one subject to him was greater than he and, out of reverence, restrained his authority. So each one should realize that often a lesser man is put in charge of better men. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 20.5. [1]

[1] FC 94:86**.

MARY LEARNS FROM JESUS AS FROM GOD

BEDE: Consider the most prudent woman Mary, mother of true Wisdom, as the pupil of her Son. For she learned from him, not as from a child or man but as from God. Yes, she dwelt in meditation on his words and actions. Nothing of what was said or done by him fell idly on her mind. As before, when she conceived the Word itself in her womb, so now does she hold within her his ways and words, cherishing them as it were in her heart. That which she now beholds in the present, she waits to have revealed with greater clarity in the future. This practice she followed as a rule and law through all her life. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.51. [1]

[1] SSGF 1:240.

JESUS’ HUMAN NATURE INSTRUCTED BY HIS DIVINITY

JEROME: How does he who is Wisdom receive understanding? “Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace before God and men.” This means not so much that the Son was instructed by the Father but that his human nature was instructed by his own divinity. There is the seer’s prophecy of him who blossomed from the root of Jesse, “The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding.” [1] HOMILY ON PSALM 15 (16). [2]

[1] Is 11:2.

[2] FC 57:26**.

HYPOSTATIC UNION ASSURES PROPER GROWTH IN WISDOM

JOHN OF DAMASCUS: He is said to have progressed in wisdom and age and grace, because he did increase in age and by this increase in age brought more into evidence the wisdom inherent in him further. By making what is ours altogether his own, he made his own the progress of people in wisdom and grace, as well as the fulfillment of the Father’s will, which is to say, people’s knowledge of God and their salvation. Now, those who say that he progressed in wisdom and grace in the sense of receiving an increase in these are saying that the union was not made from the first instant of the flesh’s existence. Neither are they holding the hypostatic union, but, misled by the empty-headed Nestorius, they are talking falsely of a relative union and simple indwelling, “understanding neither the things they say, nor whereof they affirm.” [1] For, if from the first instant of its existence the flesh was truly united to God the Word—rather, had existence in him and identity of person with him—how did it not enjoy perfectly all wisdom and grace? It did not share the grace, and neither did it participate by grace in the things of the Word. Rather, because the human and divine things had become proper to the one Christ by the hypostatic union, then, since the same was at once God and man, it gushed forth with the grace and the wisdom and the fullness of all good things for the world. ORTHODOX FAITH 3.22. [2]

[1] 1 Tim 1:7.

[2] FC 37:326-27**.