Sunday in the Octave of the Epiphany

No recording available.  Text only.
The account of the boy Jesus in Jerusalem is one that gives us insight into both the life of Our Lord and what is expected of us as His brothers and sisters.
 
The life of Our Lord was a life of submission.  St. Luke takes us to the Passover and the Holy Family’s annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast.  Faithful to God’s command Joseph showed his family what it meant to be normed by God’s Word, to hold it sacred and gladly hear It and learn it.  It was instilled into the boy Jesus that God’s children do what He asks of them.  In their case, that meant doing what was required of Jews at the Passover.  Taught by the head of His household, Jesus subjected Himself to the Law’s commands, even if the trip was long, the offerings costly, and going to Jerusalem meant having to miss a game or take some time away from work to go to church.  But more than that, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus took in the events of the Passover differently than any other boy His age or anyone else in Jerusalem, and with even more questions and understanding than the greatest teachers.  He knew that what happened to the lamb would be done to Him in twenty years’ time.  He knew that He was going to lead His people through the Red Sea of Baptism into the Promised Land of heaven after being executed and shedding His Blood, being roasted whole in the fire of the Father’s righteous wrath, and have His Body eaten and Blood drunk by His faithful for the forgiveness of their sins.  So, the Passover instructs the boy Jesus of His fate.  He knows this, accepts it, and is eager to do it.  It is for this reason that He tells His mother that it was necessary for Him to be about His Father’s business.  He knew where He belonged and was eager to see the  Temple curtain torn in two when He entered into the Holy of Holies, not with the blood of bulls and goats or the ashes of a heifer but with His own Blood to atone for the sin of all humanity.  Jesus, even at twelve years old, knew where He was supposed to be, where He took on flesh to be, where He was meant to go from the foundation of the world.  That’s why I don’t like part of the translation of today’s Gospel when it says that Mary and Joseph began the journey home but Jesus “lingered behind in Jerusalem.”  “Lingered behind” sounds disobedient, a violation of the Fourth Commandment for doing His own thing rather than following His  group back to Nazareth.  The Greek word hupomeno, is not lingering behind.  It can also be translated as remain or wait.  It carries more weight than just that, often being used with the meaning of staying calm without fear in the face of the assaults of destiny and cleaving ferociously to God with confidence in Him.  Jesus does not linger.  He remains in Jerusalem calmly observing sacrifices, patiently looking ahead to His own sacrifice.  He knows that it is necessary for Him to take the lamb’s place so His own Blood can sprinkle His people for the new covenant of salvation through that Blood.  He submits to this fate, perfectly obedient to His Father.
 
As Jesus stood fast in the face of things that certainly had to terrify Him at such a young age, so are we called to stand fast, entirely trusting in God our heavenly Father when we see what it truly means to be a Christian: Not only to face persecution by people who hate us because of the Word that condemns sin, but standing fast when things are uncomfortable, not fun, or frustrating.  After Jesus was found by Mary and Joseph, what did He do?  He endured a lecture by His mother who sinned against Him!  She scolded Him as if He had sinned when it was her who failed to keep track of her Son and was subpar in her vocation as a mother.  Despite her flaws, Jesus went home and was subject to her.  He did not hold her sin against her.  He did not rebuke her, roll His eyes, or make her work more difficult.  He was subject to her, obedient as the Commandment requires.  As pre-teens how many of us would have did what Jesus did?  Not many of us!  How many of us do it now?  We’re quick to hold people’s shortcomings against them.  We’ve seen athletes yell at coaches and referees.  We’ve seen people refuse to comply in traffic stops that turn into high speed chases.  We’ve seen an all-around increase in people quick to quarrel with others, quick to divorce for unbiblical reasons, and the list goes on.  Our fallen nature wants to do anything but be subject to earthly authorities, but especially to the Word of God.  In the face of life’s trials we tell God He’s doing it wrong, that He’s got it all wrong, that we shouldn’t be bearing crosses.   
 
The example of Jesus here and His perfect obedience in Jerusalem condemn us for our trespasses.  We truly are what we confess: rebels, poor, miserable sinners in thought, word, and deed against God and one another.  With this mirror held up to us we can do nothing but confess our sin and unworthiness, imploring God’s grace and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
 
Confession has two parts: first that we confess our sins, and second that we receive absolution.  When the Law does its accusation we look to Jesus, even as the boy in Jerusalem, and see His compassion for sinners and find comfort.  He was patient with Mary and Joseph in their sin, and He is patient with you in yours.  He absolves you for your lack of submission to Him and His Word.  He does not abandon you in your sin, but instead remains with you because you are Baptized into Him.  He daily and richly forgives you your sins.  By His Holy Spirit He fills you with His Word, all that He has said to you for rebuke, admonition, comfort, and forgiveness.  By His consoling Supper He again forgives your sins, but also joins His flesh and Blood to yours to go with you all the way.  He remains in you so that you remain in Him.
 
All of this is caught up in a seemingly minor incident in Jesus’ life, His visit to Jerusalem for the Passover.  He has shown you there that your salvation has been His single-minded focus from His incarnation until the moment He breathed His last and declared His saving work finished.  He does not let sin against Him enrage Him or give up on you.  Rather, He holds fast to you with nail-pierced hands, not letting you be torn out of them.  His Holy Spirit given to you conforms your life to His, one of trust in the Father, patience and forgiveness when you are sinned against, and knowledge that the God of Israel who only does wondrous things will not fail or be discouraged until you are standing in His courts for eternity.