A YEARNING for LEARNING…!

Let’s read Luke 2:41-52

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.  When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

How many of us really like to learn?

Learning involves humility and commitment. Humility to accept the fact that the teacher is placed higher than us in terms of knowledge. Commitment to spend our time and reasoning in understanding that which is being taught or imparted.

Jesus, the Son of God was an obedient student first and then a teacher. Firstly, a student of His heavenly Father, then of the teachers and His elders.

Child Jesus had the option of spending some playful time with His friends and relatives but He chose to spend time at the temple courts listening and asking questions. He amazed the teachers with His understanding and His answers.

It was a delight for Jesus to be in His Father’s house. The Psalmist expressed this yearning of a child of God without any exaggeration “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” (Psalm 84:10a). There is joy in the Father’s house. There is peace in the Father’s house. There is learning and wisdom in the Father’s house…!

Jesus did not let His wisdom and understanding puff Him up with pride. He joyfully chose to be humble and obedient. He cheerfully chose not to settle down with what He already had but to grow in wisdom.

He grew in favour with God & man because of His humility and His readiness to listen, learn & obey.

Are you passionate about spending time in your Heavenly Father’s house just as Jesus was? Do you yearn to learn from the power-house of wisdom (the Word of God / Bible)?