By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 2:41-52
On Passover, the Jewish people would recite Psalm 113-118. In one of those we read “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus, Joseph and Mary would have recited this during the Passover time in today’s reading.
Jesus knew He would be rejected by the very men that were teaching Him and yet He was still mature enough to listen to them as we read in today’s Scripture.
Jesus knew during a Passover in the not-too-distant future, He would be the rejected cornerstone. The word is also translated as “capstone.”
At His death, He would be the capstone, the last stone that would finish a building, and would proclaim, “it is finished.”
His death capped off the old covenant bearing the weight of our sin, the brunt of all evil, and God’s judgement and the resurrection would be the cornerstone of a new beginning.
I would like to finish with an acrostic concerning “MATURE” to see Jesus’ maturity and to also encourage ours.
Mature: I do not want to leave out the obvious that as a twelve-year-old, Jesus was on His own; “after three days they found Him in the temple” (Luke 2:41-52). In today’s society, we often have 24-year olds that cannot make it on their own for three days. But before we get on a soap box about Millennials and Gen Z, do we ever start questioning God when things are not going the way we want? Do we ever act immature in our faith?
Attentive: Jesus was “sitting in the midst of the teachers” (v. 46). One of the ways we mature in our faith is listening to people that are further along in their faith than we are. Jesus is The Word and yet He still was willing to sit in the midst of teachers and learn. Who are you learning from?
Teachable: If you want to know if someone is maturing, watch what they do when people are teaching them. Jesus was, “listening” (v. 46). Jesus was teachable, He sought answers, knowledge and wisdom. No matter your age, are you teachable?
Understanding: Jesus isn’t just listening, He is “Asking questions” (v. 46) to gain a better understanding. Do you have spiritually mature people in your life that you can ask questions and you are willing to let them ask you questions?
Results: We see that the teachers asked Him questions as well and “all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers” (v. 47). As a spiritually mature person, there will be results in your life, there will be fruit. Jesus maturity was evident to “all who heard Him.”
Explanation: Jesus did not respond to His parents questions by making excuses, instead, He reminded them of who He was. “Why did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?” (v. 49). Even at Jesus explanation we see the sad answer, “but they did not understand” (v. 50). Sometimes even those closest to us do not understand our response to God in our life. Maturity hears from God and obeys regardless.
As we begin a new year, don’t just make a resolution, make a plan to grow more mature in your faith this year.
