The Realness of Jesus

Jesus Loses His Parents

One of the key features of the Gospel of Luke is that it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we get a glimpse into the fact that Jesus was fully human and experienced human things. This gives us a sense of the Gospel's realness and the realness of Jesus Christ specifically.

Luke 2:39-40: "And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him."

Notice that Jesus is growing, gaining strength, and being filled with wisdom. The favor of God was upon him, and by verse 52, he is still growing in wisdom and gaining favor with people. This shows Jesus was totally human. He grew in muscles, height, and wisdom. As fully God, he is also fully human.

This has been important throughout church history: Jesus had to be fully man to represent us and die for our sins, and fully God so his death has infinite value. Even as a 12-year-old, he demonstrates the reality of his humanity. He learned things and grew in obedience, as Hebrews says he learned obedience through the things he suffered.

We must believe in the right Jesus. It's like describing my wife inaccurately—people would question if I really know her. Luke writes to Theophilus to ensure he believes in the real Jesus and recognizes his place in God's redemptive plan.

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus go to Jerusalem every year for Passover, observing the law faithfully. They are pious, legitimate believers, and Jesus is the perfect Jew. After the feast, they return, but Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem without their knowledge.

Luke 2:41-45: "Now, his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was 12 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, and 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. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem searching for him."

This is an ordinary, even embarrassing experience: pious parents lose track of their son. Why include it? Because it's real. Jesus came from a relatable Jewish family that made a blunder. If inventing a deity, you wouldn't create one left behind like this—unlike made-up gods with mind-blowing backgrounds. Luke is honest about a real historical person.

Jesus Surpasses His Teachers

Luke 2:46-47: "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."

Jesus is in the temple, listening to teachers, asking questions, and astonishing them with his insight and answers. These were likely legitimate teachers giving sound biblical teaching, and a 12-year-old grasps and surpasses it in three days.

This emphasizes Jesus' humanity as the ideal human—what sinless humanity should be. We are flawed by sin, but Jesus shows what true humanity looks like, creating a longing to be like him and revealing the horror of our sin that prevents it.

Jesus relied on his Father, doing nothing on his own initiative. At 12, he wows teachers who memorized the Old Testament, proving he's trustworthy for interpreting Scripture and giving revelation from God.

Jesus Submits to His Parents

Luke 2:48-52: "And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.' And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

Mary says, "Your father and I," but Jesus replies, "My Father's house," distinguishing his heavenly Father. He did nothing wrong—he was where he was supposed to be, already ministering as Messiah.

Yet he leaves with them, submissive to his earthly parents. The temple is his; he has every right to stay and receive worship. But he condescends, willingly submitting—not under compulsion, but like the willing submission in Ephesians 5.

The Creator submits to his created parents for the purpose of suffering and dying on the cross to save us. Like Philippians 2, equal with God, he humbles himself. Mary treasures this, remembering his mission.

This ordinary, pious family shows the real Jesus: sinless humanity learning amazingly, leaving his Father's house to live humbly, suffer, and die for our sins. This is our Savior.