74 Jesus forgives a woman who was caught in adultery.75 Jesus teaches in the Temple.76 Jesus sends another seventy-two disciples into the fields of ministry.77 A good Samaritan helping a Jew shows how to love others.78 Jesus heals a man who was born blind.79 The good shepherd cares for his sheep.80 Martha becomes frustrated with her sister’s behavior.
107 Two blind men want to see.108 Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume.109 People cheer as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey.110 Some Greek men want to see Jesus.
9 Jesus grows up in Nazareth.
Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zechariah 6:12; Matthew 2:19–23; Luke 2:39–52
How eager would Joseph have been to return to Israel (Matthew 2:19–20)?
Author’s Thoughts
Joseph would expect someone to assume Herod’s throne, most likely an heir. So what about Archelaus’s rule was so worrisome to Joseph (Matthew 2:21 – 22)?
Author’s Thoughts
Where do you think Joseph intended to live before he heard about Archelaus and was warned by the angel (Matthew 2:21–23)?
Author’s Thoughts
Why might Joseph have been apprehensive about returning to Nazareth (Matthew 2:21–23)? What motivation would he have had to go?
Author’s Thoughts
Compared to other children, what would have been different about Jesus’ behavior (Matthew 2:40)?
Author’s Thoughts
Do you think Jesus did miracles before the turning of water into wine (John 2:1–11)? Why or why not?
Author’s Thoughts
What kind of work do you think Jesus did before he began his ministry (Mark 6:3)?
Author’s Thoughts
Why might we think the family, after returning from Egypt, first celebrated Passover in Jerusalem, when Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:41–42)?
Author’s Thoughts
Joseph and Mary could not have been negligent parents, and Jesus could not have been guilty of any misconduct. So how did the parents lose track of God’s son (Luke 2:41–46)?
Author’s Thoughts
Why do you think Joseph and Mary couldn’t find Jesus for three days (Luke 2:46)? Where would they have looked before they finally found him in the Temple?
Author’s Thoughts
For the three days that Jesus was away from his family, where did he stay and what did he do (Luke 2:46)?
Author’s Thoughts
What about Jesus understanding and answers were so amazing to Jewish scholars (Luke 2:46–47)?
Author’s Thoughts
Why did Jesus say the Temple was the first place where his parents should have looked (Luke 2:48–51)? Why did Joseph and Mary not understand?
Author’s Thoughts
Since Joseph isn’t mentioned after Jesus at age twelve, some scholars assume that Joseph was much older than Mary and died while Jesus was young. How old do you think Jesus was when Joseph died (Luke 2:52)?
Author’s Thoughts
After Herod’s death, an angel of God appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up and take the child and his mother to Israel. Those who tried to kill the child are now dead.”
So Joseph left Egypt with his family and would have settled in Judea but heard that Archelaus reigned in place of his father, Herod. Afraid to go there, and warned in a dream, Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Nazareth, a village in the Galilean hills. That fulfilled what the prophets had written: He will be called a Nazarene. A twig will bud from the stock of Jesse, and a branch will bear fruit from his roots. A righteous branch will spring up from David, a wise king who will bring righteousness and justice to the land. From where he is, he will spring forth and build the temple of the Lord.
The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon him.
When Jesus was twelve, the family went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover festival, according to Jewish custom. Afterward, when leaving for home, his parents did not realize that he had stayed behind. They traveled for a whole day, assuming he was elsewhere in the caravan. When he did not show up that evening, they looked for him among relatives and friends. Unable to find him, they went back to Jerusalem and searched. Finally, after three days, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. His understanding and his answers had amazed everyone.
Joseph and Mary were shocked. “Son,” Mary said, “why have you treated us this way? Your father and I have been frantically searching everywhere.”
“Why?” Jesus said. “Didn’t you know I would have to be here, doing the work of my Father?”
Luke 2:49 “Why?” Jesus said. “Didn’t you know I would have to be here, doing the work of my Father?”
Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?