Bible Stories for Adults

The Boy Jesus Visits the Temple

Luke 2:41-52



Welcome and Announcements

    Next Week - John Baptizes Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17)

Opening Prayer


The Stories of Jesus' Life - So Far (Luke 1-2, Matthew 1-2)

    How did Luke begin the story of Jesus' life?
      Luke 1:5, 7, 13, 17, 24
    What similar, but more important, story came next?
      Luke 1:26-27, 30-33
    What crisis resulted that Matthew recorded to show God's plan being fulfilled?
      Matthew 1:18, 20-21, 24
    What did the pregnant fiancee do that further showed who the child would be?
      Luke 1:39-43, 56
    What final preparation does Luke record to prepare for Jesus' birth?
      Luke 1:57, 63-64, 66, 80

    How does Luke show the promise fulfilled that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem?
      Luke 2:1, 4, 6-7
    Who first learned of this great event in God's plan?
      Luke 2:8-12, 17
    How did Luke record the early days of Jesus' life to show His perfect obedience?
      Luke 2:21-22
    What happened in the temple that further confirmed who Jesus was?
      Luke 2:34-36a, 38

    How does Matthew begin his story of Jesus' life that show Jesus came for all people?
      Matthew 2:1-2, 11
    What story did this lead to that showed Jesus as the new Israel, head of the new covenant?
      Matthew 2:13-15
    What is Matthew's last story of Jesus before His ministry began at around age 30?
      Matthew 2:19, 21, 23


Luke's Comments on Jesus' Early Childhood (Luke 2:39-40)

    With a focus on Jesus' perfect obedience, what does Luke say about the Magi & Egypt?
      Luke 2:39
    Does Luke give us any more detail on Jesus' childhood?
      Luke 2:40


Jesus' Childhood (Luke 2:41)

    As a Jewish boy, what would have begun in Jesus' life around age 3?
      Deuteronomy 6:6-7
    What would Jesus have learned in synagogue school beginning at age 6?
      2 Timothy 3:14-17
    Who was responsible for Jesus' education - His teachers? priests? school board?
      Proverbs 1:8

    How likely would Joseph and Mary have brought Jesus up in the Jewish faith?
      Matthew 1:19
      Luke 1:30
    Did Joseph and Mary remain faithful as Jesus grew in childhood?
      Luke 2:41
    Are we told how regularly Jesus' family "went to synagogue"?
      Luke 4:16

    Did Jesus perform or practice miracles as a child?
      John 2:11
    Did His neighbors notice anything special in the boy Jesus?
      Matthew 13:54-56


The Completeness of Twelve (Luke 2:42)

    Hebrew Meanings behind Numbers
      3
      4
      7 (3 + 4)
      6 (7 - 1)
      12 (3 x 4)

    At 12 years old, a boy was considered to be completely a man
      Bar Mitzvah - "Son of the Law"
      Ceremony to celebrate passage into adulthood & personal responsibility to God


Jesus at Twelve (Luke 2:42)

    What was one of the commands a 12 or 13 year old would begin to obey?
      Deuteronomy 16:16
    What were these three major festivals?
      Leviticus 23:4-8
      Leviticus 23:10, 15-16
      Leviticus 23:34, 42-43
    Did Jesus' parents see to it that Jesus perfectly obeyed this command?
      Luke 2:42


Jesus Is Missing (Luke 2:43-46)

    What happened after Jesus' first visit to the temple as an adult?
      Luke 2:43
    How could M&J leave their oldest son behind and how long was it before they missed Him?
      Luke 2:44
    People traveled long distances in caravans to protect from attacks & provide help as needed
      Parties would separate into groups - fast/slow walkers, women & children/men
      Groups would meet at predetermined stopping point
    A lot of traffic would have been on the road the day after the festival
      Mary & Joseph assumed Jesus was with the other or with friends or relatives
      Didn't realize He was missing until they regrouped that evening at the stopping point

    What did Mary & Joseph do when they couldn't find Jesus among the travelers?
      Luke 2:45
    How long did it take Mary & Joseph to find Jesus and where did they finally find Him?
      Luke 2:46a
    What is significant about this length of time, when Jesus' parents likely feared their son's death?
      Acts 10:39-40
    What promise do we have that this searching reminds us of?
      Jeremiah 29:13


Teaching the Teacher (Luke 2:46-47)

    What was Jesus doing in the temple?
      Luke 2:46
    Did the teachers see Jesus as a typical "green behind the ears" boy with a lot to learn?
      Luke 2:47

    How did Jesus change roles for the rest of His life?
      John 3:2
    How did His teaching as an adult compare to His learning as a child?
      Luke 4:32
    How wise of a teacher was Jesus considered to be?
      Luke 11:31
    What did Jesus understand to be the basis of His wisdom?
      Proverbs 9:10


Jesus Perfectly Obeys His Father (Luke 2:48-50)

    After finally finding Jesus after 3 days, how did Jesus' frantic mother react?
      Luke 2:48
    How did Jesus respond to His mother?
      Luke 2:49-50
    Were people later able to understand what Jesus meant by this?
      John 8:19


Jesus Perfectly Obeys His Other Two Parents (Luke 2:51)

    What important note does Luke add to maintain Jesus' life of perfect obedience?
      Luke 2:51
    Why was it important for Jesus to obey Mary and Joseph?
      Exodus 20:12
    How obedient did Jesus remain?
      Philippians 2:8


Jesus From Thirteen to Thirty (Luke 2:52)

    What are we told about Jesus' life after the temple story?
      Luke 2:52
    When is the last time we hear about Joseph?
      Luke 2:48
    What might we understand from this about Jesus' life in adolescence and/or early adulthood?
      Mark 6:3
    At what point in Jesus' life do the gospel writers pick back up?
      Luke 3:23a
    How did Jesus "begin His ministry"?
      Luke 3:21-22


Closing Prayer



Copyright © 1997 by Kurt Rosenhagen

Use of this material is provided free of charge for use in personal or group Bible Study, no permission needed.
The author reserves all rights for use in published material or in uses where fees are involved.
For permission, or to provide your comments, insights and feedback, contact the author at:

kurt@biblestoriesforadults.com


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