“My Father’s House”

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. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house? But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Luke 2:46-52

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.

Isaiah 50:4-6

Jesus had the heart of a learner-disciple. He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. On his way home, His parents realized He was not with them. And when they found Him, three days later, He was in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers. He was listening to them, and asking them questions. The Bible notes the teachers were “amazed.”

Jesus’ example challenges us to be listeners to God’s Worde. We too can become learner-disciples if we will keep our hearts open to God’s teaching.

The highest goal of learning is to know God.

Our Daily Bread – September 19, 2008