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Rev. Ronald C. Purkey, an ordained Baptist minister, claims no originality for the contents
of these Bible study outlines. However, every Bible study posted on this website has been
taught by Rev. Purkey. To see more Bible study outlines go to the Archives Page:
rcpbibleoutlines.com/index10.htm_

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THE BOY JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

July 6, 2025

SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:39-52

KEY VERSE: And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49).

INTRODUCTION: This New Testament incident is only recorded by Luke. He is a doctor, and he does this because he is a pediatrician and is interested in the Lord as a boy as well as a man. Luke lifts one scene out of the boyhood of Jesus when He was twelve years old. Since nothing is recorded in the Gospels about the early life of Jesus, some people call this segment of His life the “silent years.” I do not consider them silent years; I believe that the Old Testament Scriptures fill in these years if you look closely. Luke’s account is a detailed, isolated incident that took place when Jesus was twelve years old.

WHO IS JESUS?
By Charles Stanley

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

1. Jesus is eternal. “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1-5). Jesus didn’t come into existence when He was conceived and then born as a baby. He existed before time even began.

2. Jesus is God. “The Word was God” (John 1:1). He has always been and will never cease being divine.

3. Jesus is with God (John 1:1-2). The Son and the Father, along with the Holy Spirit, have always existed eternally as separate persons while being one in nature.

4. Jesus is the Creator (John 1:3). “All things came into being through Him” (John 1:3). In fact, nothing came into existence apart from Him.

5. In Jesus is life (John 1:4). Jesus is the source of all life, both temporal and eternal.

INSIGHT: Is this the Jesus you’ve trusted for your salvation? Though He became a man, we must never cease to recognize and worship Him as the Son of God.  -- Adapted from Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries, September 3

I. JESUS’ FAMILY RETURNED TO NAZARETH (Luke 2:39–40).

39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him (Luke 2:39–40).

Luke is presenting the perfect Man. Luke looks at the Boy not only through the eyes of an obstetrician but through the watchful eye of a pediatrician. The Lord Jesus grew (physically), waxed strong in spirit (spiritually), and was filled with wisdom (mentally). The grace of God was upon this Boy, and He grew physically, spiritually, and mentally.

II. A COMMENDABLE ATTITUDE. (Luke 2:41-48).

A. Jesus Was A Normal And Healthy Boy (Luke 2:41-48).

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him (Luke 2:41–45).

INSIGHT: This is the record of the visit of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Jerusalem when Jesus was just twelve years old.

1. Mary and Joseph were raising a normal, healthy child.

He did not run around wearing a halo, friend. The artists of the Middle Ages had some strange conceptions about the Lord Jesus, both as a child and as an adult. I do not believe He looked like any of their ideas. He was just a normal boy. In every area the Lord Jesus was growing into perfect manhood.

2. In those days people traveled in companies.

When the time came to leave Jerusalem, the folks going to Galilee gathered together at a little town right north of Jerusalem to begin the journey home. That is where they missed Him. Joseph probably said, “Where is Jesus?” And Mary replied, “I thought He was with you.” They looked for Him among all the people they knew, and when they discovered that He was missing, they returned to Jerusalem. They looked for Jesus for three days, and where do you suppose they found Him? He was in the temple.

B. Jesus Was A Wise Boy.

46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously” (Luke 2:46-48).

When Mary and Joseph finally found Jesus in the temple, He was standing in the midst of the learned doctors of that day, both hearing them and asking them questions. Apparently He was asking them questions they could not answer. And they were astonished at His answers -- remember, He was only twelve years old! I think it is clear that Mary and Joseph were a little provoked with Him.

III. A CONTINUAL LEARNER (Luke 2:49-52).

A. Jesus Was A Spiritual Young Man (Luke 2:49–50).

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them (Luke 2:49–50).

The answer of Jesus revealed His surprise that they did not realize He should be about His Father’s business. Now, if Joseph were the father, he could have stepped up and said, “Well, what are you trying to do -- get some carpenter work here in Jerusalem?” No -- His Father was not Joseph. He was speaking of the business of His heavenly Father. Mary, at this point, did not exactly appreciate who He was and what His work entailed, but she pondered these things in her heart.

B. Jesus Was A Maturing Young Man (Luke 2:51–52).

51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (Luke 2:51–52).

1. Jesus was subject to His parents.

This is interesting in the light of the fact that young people today are rebelling and are demanding to be heard. They say we ought to listen to them. I have listened to them, and I have not heard them say anything yet, regardless of all the publicity they are given on the television and radio. I personally do not think a college student has much to say. He is still green behind his ears, regardless of his I.Q. The information he has been given is limited and biased, and he does not have the experience to evaluate it. It is remarkable to see that this Boy, Jesus, the Son of God, obeyed His parents and was subject unto them!

2. Jesus was growing to manhood.

Luke gives us a report about those silent years when Jesus was growing to adulthood. He grew (1) intellectually (wisdom), (2) physically (stature), (3) spiritually (in favor with God), and (4) socially (in favor with man); and (5) He is still the greatest example for children and young people. In every area the Lord Jesus Christ was growing into perfect manhood.

INSIGHT: Bible teacher Dr. Tony Evans said this.

First, Luke 2:41–42: “Jesus grew up in a godly Jewish home, demonstrated by the family’s regular observance of the Passover Festival in Jerusalem (Luke 2:41). Luke describes an occasion in which Jesus’s wisdom and grace (see Luke 2:40) was evident even when he was twelve years old (Luke 2:42).”

Second, Luke 2:43–47: “When the festival days were over in Jerusalem, Jesus lingered behind, while his parents assumed he was in the traveling party returning to Galilee. They would have been in a caravan with many relatives and friends (Luke 2:43–44), so it would have been easy to assume Jesus was among the group somewhere. When they realized he was missing, they returned to Jerusalem and found him after three days of searching (Luke 2:45–46). He was in the temple, interacting with the teachers and amazing them with his understanding (Luke 2:46–47). When his parents asked why he had worried them, Jesus replied, Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?”

Third, Luke 2:48–52: “They did not understand that he had a unique kingdom mission from his heavenly Father (Luke 2:50). Nevertheless, he also had a responsibility to honor his earthly father and mother (see Exodos 20:12), so he obeyed and went home with them (Luke 2:51).”

“Though her young son confused her, Mary kept all these things in her heart (Luke 2:51). One day, she would understand. Meanwhile, Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people (Luke 2:52). This demonstrates his true humanity. He wasn’t simply God disguised as a man. He had both a perfect divine nature and a genuine human nature that matured as he grew.” – From: The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (p. 962).

THE GIFT OF PEACE
By Estera Pirosca Escobar
Our Daily Bread
May 18

You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation (Luke 2:29-30).

READ: Luke 2:25–35.

“I believe in Jesus and He is my Savior, and I have no fear of death,” said Barbara Bush, the wife of former US President George H. W. Bush, to her son before she died. This incredible and confident statement suggests a strong and deep-rooted faith. She experienced God’s gift of peace that comes from knowing Jesus, even when faced with death.

Simeon, a resident of Jerusalem during the first century, also experienced profound peace because of Jesus. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went to the temple when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to be circumcised as required by the law for a newborn boy. Although not much is known about Simeon, from Luke’s description one can tell he was a special man of God, just and devout, waiting faithfully for the coming Messiah, and “the Holy Spirit was on him” (Luke 2:25). Yet Simeon did not experience shalom (peace), a deep sense of completeness, until he saw Jesus.

While holding Jesus in his arms, Simeon broke into a song of praise, expressing full satisfaction in God: “You may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations” (Luke 2:29-31). He had peace because he foresaw the future hope of the whole world.

As we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the promised Savior, may we rejoice in God’s gift of peace. – By Estera Pirosca Escobar

PRAYER: “Dear Father, thank You for Jesus, Your gift of peace.”

QUESTION: Have you experienced this deep sense of satisfaction and completeness that comes from knowing Jesus Christ? How can you celebrate God’s gift of peace today?

CONCLUSION: What have we learned from our lesson today?

FIRST: We learned that Jesus Christ’s coming touched worshipers, and His coming also touched scholars (Luke 2:39–52).

SECOND: We learned that teachers listened to Jesus Christ and marveled, and He is still the focal point for all truth and wisdom.

THIRD: We learned that in Jesus Christ’s development, He was perfectly balanced: (1) intellectually (wisdom), (2) physically (stature), (3) spiritually (in favor with God), and (4) socially (in favor with man); and (5) He is still the greatest example for children and young people.

FOURTH: We learned that Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our worship! He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the SAVIOR. Oh, come! Let us adore Him!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” -- Hebrews 13:8.

 

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