Jesus, Boy and Man

Jesus evidently grew up in Nazareth of Galilee and made family Jerusalem visits.

Some is reliably known about Jesus in his growing years.

During those years the Romans were the dominant power; many had preceded Rome. (For example, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and then Greeks, were followed by the Maccabees. Parthia was a major power from the east.) In 6 AD 4 BCE nearby Sepphoris reportedly took part in a revolt against Rome and paid in total annihilation (so Josephus, re "Varus Revolt"*). Under Herod Antipas that city was his capital and a prominent Roman city. Jesus (and his people and neighbours) must have been all too fully aware of the local happenings.

Jerusalem was governed by Rome and about 6 decades later was also to feel the iron fist of the "Senate and People of Rome". That lay in the future, after Jesus' execution and resurrection. The large pavers (image) in Jerusalem today may be relics left after Rome did its best (or, worst; their "final solution") about 130 years after Jesus' childhood experiences. If so, Jesus surely saw these in the original configuration, whatever that was.

 

The one exception to our ignorance of Jesus' childhood and youth is of a Temple-focussed escapade in Jerusalem. (The "Second Temple" was rebuilt by King Herod during this period; part of his site retaining wall remains today.)

A Nazareth life summary: The child Jesus grew. He became strong and wise, and God blessed him (Luke 2:40, CEV). I wonder to whom Luke spoke to get this description of Jesus in his younger years. Perhaps it reflects his mother, Mary?

I see the note as describing a child's normal healthy growth and development, appropriate to his age. It is reasonable to think he would have acquired the language of his home. There must have been "potty training" - in its equivalent at that time and place, and all such things. Washing and dressing had to be learned, like everything else. Of course a lot of learning comes by observing and trying. (However, Jesus did not have an older sibling as a model.)

Joseph and family followed an observant pattern. Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival (Luke 2:41, CSB).

Thus a picture of the family consistently going to Jerusalem every year for Passover at the Temple. What age was Jesus the first time he went? Was he a toddler? No way to know how the preceding Egypt period fits into the pattern.

No doubt in Jerusalem Jesus would be with Joseph and be close to the dramatic observance events. Passover was the remembrance of the ancient deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. God set them free. There was a provision in their Law which required the observance (see below).

Luke records one particular event which has general implications.
And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers (Luke 2:42-47, ESV).
The family were part of a group; was it a regular group? Assuming they were all from Nazareth, or not far away, we see that Joseph, or Mary, or both, had relatives nearby to their Nazareth home. Young Jesus must have known his aunt(s) and uncle(s); maybe cousins? Certainly family friends.

We also see that Jesus was deeply interested; he thirsted for knowledge of God, presumably of their Bible (which we call the Old Testament). No doubt he asked questions at home of Joseph and Mary but perhaps the city teachers presented a special opportunity. In some way Jesus made the most of the chance to find out more and to clarify.

 

That his parents simply assumed Jesus was somewhere amongst their group indicates the size of the party and also the normal pattern of their lives. Joseph and Mary did not expect to be worried by Jesus' activities! (Perhaps they all learnt something new that particular Passover.) 

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them (Luke 2:48-50, NIV).

 

Once they became aware Jesus was not to be found where they fully expected they had become anxious. Seems clear that was a unique experience. (That anxiety seems contemporary - how often parents are worried these days and how much necessary attention is given to child protection.)

Without question Jesus did as his parents wanted. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people (Luke 2:51-52, NLT).

Once again, normal growth and development, appropriate to his age. No more being "lost" in Jerusalem. He learnt, and he earned respect.

The curtain drops again. It is safe to assume Jesus learnt Joseph's trade and developed a reputation of being a carpenter. He became known as the carpenter from Nazareth. Some natural questions can not be answered: Where did Jesus ply his trade? Was Joseph still doing carpentry in Nazareth all this time?

 

Had Jesus retained connection to Nazareth, perhaps as his residential address?

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali (Matthew 4:12-13, CEV). Thus we see that Jesus had been a resident of Nazareth but he re-located to Capernaum, which, as the crow flies, was 32 km north-east of Nazareth. Was it a more secure base for Jesus in Galilee? I take it the "withdrawal" was from Judea. Jesus had journeyed north, past familiar Nazareth, to settle in Capernaum, that "large Jewish village" (Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Luke alone gives us the glimpse of Jesus' early life. I ask myself, why did Luke include this material in his selection? Surely it adds to the insistence that Jesus was truly human. The parents clearly had a lot to think about in relation to their child, youth, young man, grown son, and that would be the case for receptive people throughout the time Jesus walked in Galilee and Judea. Does the same apply today?

Luke actually stated the clear overall purpose of his work: Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught (Luke 1:1-4, NLT). So, there were doubtful stories about - fanciful and unlikely stuff perhaps, like: "Jesus never cried, got dirty or made a spelling mistake or got his sums wrong". I think we are best advised to stick to the account passed on to us and beware of experience-based fiction extending the true story. (Some ancient alternatives, "other Texts/Gospels", are still to be found.)

Surely we can reasonably include Matthew and Mark amongst Luke's mention of "many people" writing accounts. So also for John, but John gives his own explanation of that work. (The author names on the Gospels, by the way, are not so secure, and may be used simply for convenience. A future topic?)

Passover

This month is to be the first month of the year for you. Tell the people of Israel that on the tenth day of this month the head of each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for his family to eat. If any family is too small to eat the whole animal, they must share it with their next-door neighbors. Choose either a sheep or a goat, but it must be a one-year-old male that has nothing wrong with it. And it must be large enough for everyone to have some of the meat. 

Each family must take care of its animal until the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, when the animals are to be killed. Some of the blood must be put on the two doorposts and above the door of each house where the animals are to be eaten. That night the animals are to be roasted and eaten, together with bitter herbs and thin bread made without yeast. Don’t eat the meat raw or boiled. The entire animal, including its head, legs, and insides, must be roasted. Eat what you want that night, and the next morning burn whatever is left. When you eat the meal, be dressed and ready to travel. Have your sandals on, carry your walking stick in your hand, and eat quickly. This is the Passover Festival in honor of me, your Lord.That same night I will pass through Egypt and kill the first-born son in every family and the first-born male of all animals. I am the Lord, and I will punish the gods of Egypt. The blood on the houses will show me where you live, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Then you won’t be bothered by the terrible disasters I will bring on Egypt.

Remember this day and celebrate it each year as a festival in my honor. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. And on the first of these seven days, you must remove all yeast from your homes. If you eat anything made with yeast during this festival, you will no longer be part of Israel. Meet together for worship on the first and seventh days of the festival. The only work you are allowed to do on either of these two days is that of preparing the bread. (Exodus 12:2-16, CEV).

And more: Earlier explorations -

https://www.jesussaviour4unme.com/2016/01/carpenter_29.html

https://www.jesussaviour4unme.com/2019/12/real-jesus-christ.html

https://www.jesussaviour4unme.com/2017/12/jesus-infancy.html 

* Re Sepphoris - archaeologists say no physical evidence of 4 BCE destruction by Rome, nor of fortifications (Meyers, Meyers & Gordon, 2015)  

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