Among the Jews, the 12th birthday was the dividing line between childhood and youth. On completing this year, a Hebrew boy was given opportunities for religious instruction and was expected to participate in the sacred feasts and observances.
There were three annual feasts—the Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Tabernacles. So when Jesus reach the required age, Mary and Joseph took Him with them to the Passover feast in Jerusalem.
All the ceremonies of the feast were a type of the work of Christ, and as Jesus participated, His keen mind sensed these were symbols of His ministry, portraying the purpose of His life as God’s Son—the slain lamb, the unleavened bread, the sheaf of first fruits.
In Christ’s time the ceremonies had lost their meaning in the minds of the people. Their minds had been directed by the rabbis to the Scriptures that pointed to the coming of Christ as a King, freeing them from the yoke of Rome.
Jesus was so wrapped up in what He was seeing, He didn’t leave when the crowd started home. Instead, He slipped into the apartment connected to the temple where there was a school of religious instruction. There He listened to the rabbis teaching about the coming Messiah as King. He then humbly directed them to the overlooked Scriptures that pointed to the Messiah’s death as foretold in Isaiah 53. Amazed at His insight they started asking Him questions.
And today if we prayerfully ask, Jesus will show us truths in God’s Word we never thought of before. Maybe there are Scriptures you have wondered about. Feel free to share them and let’s prayerfully explore them together, claiming the promise in James 1:5: “If any man (person) lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all.”
If you have a question for Bible Mentor Marie Odell you can contact her by emailing: marieodell04@gmail.com
Marie Odell is a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
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