Sunday after Epiphany Year B 10th January 2021
Lectionary readings:
Genesis 1 v1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19 v1-7, Mark 1 v4-11.
The missing years.
Last week we read about the infant Jesus and this week we are presented with an adult Jesus. What happened to the bit in the middle? Luke is the only gospel writer that recalls an incident from when Jesus was twelve years old. (Luke 2 v41-52). Luke tells us that “Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew, (about the Hebrew scriptures) and the answers he gave.” (v47). “Jesus became wise and he grew strong, God was pleased with him and so were the people.” (v52).
Luke skips the next eighteen years, and Mark skips all of Jesus’ childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Both, tell of his baptism by John and record God saying to Jesus, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” Mark tells us that “the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus, like a dove.” (v10). (Was the Spirit of God not with Jesus eighteen years before in the temple?)
At the start of his public ministry, gospel writers tells us that Jesus was mature, well versed in scripture, loved and respected by family and friends.
How is it that Jesus became wise beyond his years, able to empathise with all sorts of people, able to interpret God’s word and translate God’s will into actions that made sense to others?
Well, we know that Jesus had the lifelong support of his mother, Mary, but the rest is, at best, sketchy. Given the lack of information in the Bible, we can only speculate, using our own life experience, to ponder what contributes to the making of a ‘mature’ adult.
‘Maturity’ suggests,
- A safe, stable, happy and affirming family environment.
- Patient and encouraging teachers.
- Good, supportive, challenging and forgiving friends.
All things that we can contribute to the well-being of our own family and friends. In short, doing the things that God wants us to do, to enable us and them to thrive and enjoy life, while contributing to the building of God’s kingdom here on earth.
God makes his distinctive contribution to our well-being with the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is up to us how we respond to this life enhancing gift. Are we willing to change, to become more Christ like?
Paul recognised the importance of God’s gift of the Holy Spirit in enabling disciples to grow and mature in the faith. (Acts 19 v1-7).
It is unfortunately true, that not every one has a positive experience of childhood and adolescence. We must acknowledge that our parents, siblings, teachers and friends are human and just like us, they make mistakes, and need our forgiveness, as we do theirs.
God knows what we are really like, yet he loves us nonetheless, and will make good any deficiencies in our upbringing, if we are willing to let him do so.
God’s spirit at work within us, will help us to mature into disciples, able to represent him, by showing his love in our care for others.