We usually think that Jesus’ first real test came after His baptism when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, but actually, the first testing of Jesus that is recorded in Scripture happened eighteen years before He was baptized.
It is important for us to understand this test, and the lesson that the young Jesus learned as a result of it, because it is just as relevant to us today as it was to Jesus in His life and ministry.
As a boy, we are told that Jesus “grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him” (Luke 2:40 NKJV).
But as He received all of these rich blessings on His life, there came a time for Him to be tested.
The next few verses in Luke 2 tell us that “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.” So far, so good. But then, Jesus decided to split from those in authority over Him (His parents) and go His own way.
“When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. They thought that he was in their group of travelers.”—Luke 2:43-44 (ISV)
As they realized that Jesus was nowhere to be found, this naturally caused extreme concern for his parents. If you’ve ever lost track of your child in a crowded place, you can imagine the anxiety and stress that Jesus’ parents felt. And remember, this is after His parents had gone to great lengths to save Jesus from King Herod’s attempts to kill Him. Can you imagine what was going through their minds when they could not find Him?
“they began searching [anxiously] for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”—Luke 2:44 (AMP)
“When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching desperately for him.”—Luke 2:45 (ISV)
When Jesus’ parents finally found him three days later, He was in the temple “sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and posing questions to them” (Luke 2:46 ISV).
His parents’ reactions when they finally found Jesus were in stark contrast to His calm demeanor:
“When Jesus’ parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!’”—Luke 2:48 (ISV)
“And He said to them, How is it that you had to look for Me? Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father’s house and [occupied] about My Father’s business?”—Luke 2:49 (AMPC)
So here we have Jesus and His parents at cross purposes. Jesus believes His place is in the temple, doing “His Father’s business,” as he said. Meanwhile, His parents believe His place is with them as they travel back home to Nazareth.
So what should Jesus do? Jesus is aware of God’s call on His life. He’s convinced that He’s doing God’s will and following God’s direction, but His parents, who are in authority over Jesus at this time in His life, instruct Him to come back to Nazareth with them.
This is the test.
He can either resist the instructions of His parents and continue doing what He believes is God’s will, or He can obey the instructions of His parents and submit to their leadership authority.
This will be your test, too.
At some point in your life and ministry, maybe many times, you will be faced with a choice. You will be anointed by God. You will be operating in the gifts God has given you for ministry. You may be the most gifted person in your group. You will be doing the work that you believe God has called you to do.
And then … with all of this going for you, those whom God has placed in authority over your life or your activities will give you instructions that interfere with what you believe you are called by God to do. They may put restrictions on you. They may put obstacles in your path that seem to hinder you from moving forward into God’s calling for your life.
What will you do?
You can either disobey the instructions of your authorities and choose to continue doing what you believe God has called you to do, or you can submit to those in authority over you, and trust God that everything will work out according to His will.
Jesus’ response is recorded in Scripture:
“He went down to Nazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them.”—Luke 2:51 (AMP)
