The 11th Day of Christmas!

Luke 2:41-51
41 Now 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 after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

This passage is riddled with foreshadowing. Luke, knowing how the story will end, and inspired by the Holy Ghost, highlights details about Jesus’ young life that, in retrospect, broadcast what is to come several decades later.

[It should not surprise us that Luke does this. Afterall, he has to exclude some facts about Jesus early life, or, as Johns says, “I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” (John 21:25) If Luke has to decide what events to include and which ones to leave silent, it makes perfect sense that he would choose stories that highlight the ultimate mission of Jesus on earth, the goal of His life and ministry.] 

A few items stand out as examples of foreshadowing. The first is that this event takes place in Jerusalem. Jesus spent most of His life and ministry in Galilee, not Judea. Galilee is a Jewish occupied territory to the north of Judea with the territory of Samaria in between.Yet here we read about Jesus going to Jerusalem for the Passover. This is exactly what we see at the end of the Gospel. Jesus goes to Judea to Jerusalem for the Passover, not just to celebrate it, but to fulfill it. (Luke 19-23)  

Jesus is then left behind for 3 days. In the minds of Joseph and Marry it must have been as likely as not that Jesus was lost to them, kidnapped or murdered. They seek Him sorrowing.“ (Luke 2:48) Yet, their sorrow is turned to joy when they see Jesus teaching the teachers. Certainly this is meant to spring our minds forward to the cross, where Jesus is left dead for 3 days and 2 other Marys–Magdalene and the mother of James–will seek Him, sorrowing. (Luke 24:10) And their sorrow will transform into joy when they see the resurrected Jesus.

A third piece of foreshadowing is that Jesus amazes and astonishes Joseph and Mary with His wisdom and knowledge. Their sorrow is transformed into awe and wonder. Certainly the disciples of Jesus, His relatives and friends, were filled with wonder at His resurrection. Are you?

Do you wonder at the birth of God in human flesh? Are you amazed that He would take on your sins and die in your place? Does it astonish you that He rose three days later bringin life and immortality to light? I pray that the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus fills you with faith and wonder and hope, that you are amazed and astonished that all this was God’s plan to redeem you, save you from destruction, and grant you the status of “child of God”. ​