Episode 918
Challenging Authority: The Young Jesus in the Temple
The "Daily Bible Refresh" is presented each day by Rev. Dr. Brad Miller who has a goal of speaking a bit of the bible into two million ears (one million people) in three years (2025-2028).
He is the author of "The A, B, C-1,2,3 Bible Study Guide" Free to you by clicking HERE.
Brad served as a local church pastor for forty years and has a background in radio and podcasting. Moreover, he is a life-long student of The Bible.
He believes in the words of Jesus that “scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21)
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Remember… “All scripture is God-breathed and useful”(2 Timothy 3:16)
The passage from the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 2:41-52, provides an intriguing glimpse into the formative years of Jesus Christ, particularly emphasizing his profound engagement in sacred questioning at the age of twelve. The narrative unfolds as Jesus' parents dutifully travel to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover, a customary pilgrimage for devout Jews. However, upon their departure, they inadvertently leave Jesus behind, culminating in a frantic search that leads them back to the temple. Here, we find Jesus seated among the learned teachers, engrossed in dialogue, asking questions, and offering insights that astound those around him. This scenario not only highlights the youthful curiosity of Jesus but also serves as a poignant illustration of the sacred nature of questioning itself. Through this lens, we recognize that inquiry is not a sign of doubt but rather a vital component of spiritual maturation. Jesus' willingness to engage with authority figures while simultaneously challenging traditional norms invites listeners to reconsider the often rigid structures of faith and spirituality that discourage doubt and inquiry.
Moreover, the episode delves into the implications of familial dynamics as exemplified by the tension between Jesus' divine calling and his earthly parents' concerns. The narrative reveals a fundamental conflict: Mary and Joseph’s legitimate worry for their son contrasts sharply with Jesus' commitment to his spiritual mission. This dichotomy resonates deeply with contemporary audiences, particularly those who find themselves navigating familial expectations while pursuing their own paths of faith and justice. The conversation encourages a reflection on how individuals can maintain their sacred calling amidst familial pressures, suggesting that such tensions are part of the spiritual journey. This reflection fosters an understanding that authentic spiritual growth often necessitates the courage to question not only external authorities but also familial expectations that may hinder one's divine purpose.
In conclusion, the episode emphasizes the transformative power of holy questioning, inviting listeners to embrace their inquiries as a sacred practice. Listeners are encouraged to cultivate a spiritual journal, documenting their questions and uncertainties without the immediate pressure for resolution. This practice serves as a pathway to deeper engagement with faith and justice, acknowledging that questioning can lead to profound spiritual insight and growth. Ultimately, the episode reaffirms the notion that both questioning and the pursuit of justice are vital to the Christian experience, encouraging a proactive approach to spirituality that honors both personal convictions and communal relationships.
Takeaways:
- The narrative of young Jesus in the temple exemplifies the importance of sacred questioning, emphasizing how inquiry is a crucial component of spiritual development.
- Jesus' choice to engage in dialogue rather than preach models an approach to faith that values curiosity and challenges traditional authority structures.
- This story illustrates the tension that can arise between familial obligations and one's divine calling, highlighting the struggles of progressive individuals in faith communities.
- The passage encourages the practice of journaling one's questions about faith and justice, fostering an environment where inquiry is welcomed and celebrated.
- The episode underscores that questioning should not be perceived as a weakness but rather as an essential act of deep engagement with one's beliefs and values.
- Finally, the discussion calls attention to the need for recognizing voices from unexpected backgrounds, challenging the norms that often dictate who is heard in religious discourse.
Links referenced in this episode:
Transcript
Sacred Questioning the Young Jesus A Study of Luke 2:41 52 on the Daily Bible Refresh with Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Mellor hello my good friends.
Speaker A:Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller here with Daily Bible Refresh inviting you to join me today and every day for reading of the New Testament.
Speaker A:We use the message verse to be understood.
Speaker A:We make it relatable by giving you some points to ponder and applicable, giving you an action step to take.
Speaker A:We do all of that in under 10 minutes with the prayer.
Speaker A:We are in Year C of the Pentecost season of a three year cycle of readings for the Revised Comment Lectionary and it's all brought to you by our website voiceofgoddaily.com the home of the ABC1, 23 Bible Study Method here's today's reading from the Gospel of Luke 2:41 52 Reading from the message they Found him in the Temple Every year, Jesus parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover when he was 12 years old.
Speaker A:They went up as they always did for the feast.
Speaker A:When it was over and they left for home.
Speaker A:The child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn't know it.
Speaker A:Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors.
Speaker A:When they didn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.
Speaker A:The next day they found him in the temple, seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
Speaker A:The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers.
Speaker A:But his parents were not impressed.
Speaker A:They were upset and hurt.
Speaker A:His mother said, young man, why have you done this to us?
Speaker A:Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.
Speaker A:He said, why were you looking for me?
Speaker A:Didn't you know that I had to be here dealing with the things of my father?
Speaker A:But they had no idea what he was talking about.
Speaker A:So he went back to Nazareth with them and lived obediently with them.
Speaker A:His mother held these things dearly deep in our heart.
Speaker A:And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.
Speaker A:We have this pretty famous passage here about the young Jesus, the young boy Jesus questioning his parents.
Speaker A:And we get this glimpse into the youth of Jesus and the story that challenges assumptions about authority and spiritual growth.
Speaker A:And yes, we deal with family dynamics.
Speaker A:Here's three points to 1.
Speaker A:Is the sacred art an act of questioning?
Speaker A:Young Jesus isn't found preaching in the Temple.
Speaker A:He's asking questions.
Speaker A:This models a progressive approach to faith where questioning is holy work the divine God isn't threatened by our questions.
Speaker A:Rather, authentic spiritual growth requires us to challenge, probe and seek deeper understanding.
Speaker A:And this is a passage that affirms that doubt and inquiry are part of healthy spirituality.
Speaker A:Another point is about challenging traditional authority.
Speaker A:Jesus rose from a working class family, and a working class youth from Nazareth wasn't usually found in the temple engaging in dialogue with religious scholars.
Speaker A:This scene subverts the hierarchical power structure which was the expectation of the time, and showing how wisdom can flow from unexpected sources.
Speaker A:It challenges us to recognize how age and class and status often limit whose voices we're willing to hear in religious spaces.
Speaker A:One more point is about family systems and divine calling.
Speaker A:This story presents real family tension.
Speaker A:You feel it, don't you?
Speaker A:Mary and Joseph's legitimate concern versus Jesus sense of divine purpose.
Speaker A:It acknowledges that following our sacred calling sometimes creates conflict with society and in family and expectations.
Speaker A:And this speaks to many progressive Christians navigating family relationships while living out their values for justice and inclusion.
Speaker A:Here's your action step.
Speaker A:Let's talk about the practice of holy questioning.
Speaker A:Create a spiritual journal where you write down your deepest questions about faith and justice and purpose.
Speaker A:And don't rush to get answers.
Speaker A:Go to get questions and share these questions with others who might feel similarly, or others you may just want to take a bit of a risk with and trust that they will take you seriously.
Speaker A:Remember that questioning isn't a sign of weak faith but of deep engagement.
Speaker A:Pay special attention to questions that challenge traditional power structures or comfortable assumptions.
Speaker A:We'll have a closing prayer.
Speaker A:Just a minute.
Speaker A:A reminder.
Speaker A:We have a great resource for you about your own personal Bible study.
Speaker A:It is called the ABC 123 Bible Study Method.
Speaker A:I just implore you to go over to our website, voiceofgoddaily.com click on the link and you'll get a free copy of that sent to your e box right away.
Speaker A:The ABC123 Bible study method@voiceofgoddaily.com let's pray.
Speaker A:Oh God, you are the divine source of wisdom.
Speaker A:We thank you for the gift of questions.
Speaker A:When we feel pressured to have all the answers, remind us of young Jesus sitting among teachers unafraid to ask and probe deeper.
Speaker A:Give us courage to challenge systems that silence.
Speaker A:Questioning voices help us hold space for both divine calling and our human relationships.
Speaker A:When our pursuit of justice creates tension with loved ones, grant us wisdom and grace.
Speaker A:May we recognize your presence in our doubts as much as in our certainties.
Speaker A:In the spirit of the one who never stopped asking questions, we pray.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Well, my my good friend, it is so good to be with you here at Daily Bible Refresh.
Speaker A:I hope that you join me again tomorrow.
Speaker A:We usually drop these episodes before 6am Eastern Time.
Speaker A:We're here every single day.
Speaker A:That's why we call the Daily Bible Refresh with a reading that is both helpful and enlightening to you.
Speaker A: on years, a million people by: Speaker A:You can help us by subscribing to the podcast and inviting someone to join us.
Speaker A:Till tomorrow, friends.
Speaker A:My name is Dr.
Speaker A:Brad Miller, reminding you that God's loyal love doesn't run out.
Speaker A:His merciful love hasn't dried up, it's created new every morning.
