Jesus Christ Made Straight A's

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Contents

Introduction..............................................................viii1. Jesus Made Straight A's................................................12. How to Make God's Honor Roll...........................................173. The Boomerang of Deceit: Daniel and his Co-workers.....................314. From Master Chef to Restorer...........................................515. The Mistreatment of Jesus Christ.......................................636. Hosea and Gomer: A Portrait of God's Love..............................757. "Be Cool, I Got This"..................................................918. Confession is Good for the Soul........................................1099. Can I Be All God Wants Me To Be?.......................................12710. Just Wait.............................................................14111. His Name Shall Be Called..............................................15312. What God Expects......................................................16713. God Knows Us..........................................................17514. Are You Listening?....................................................18515. Do Your Job...........................................................19316. The Challenge: Go On and Do It........................................205

Chapter One

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?" -John 7:14-15 NRSV

Bring Home "A's"

Just bring home A's; that is what I ask my children to do. However, I discovered, you don't always get what you want. So then, if not A's, then bring home B's; but again, I discovered, you don't always get what you want.

Every year school doors open to thousands of beaming faces, each one starting the school year afresh and capable of bringing home A's. Oh, I know it won't be easy; no one said it would be. But, as parents, we must believe and encourage our children to believe it's important to work hard and bring home passing grades.

I wonder if Joseph and Mary, the earthly parents of Jesus Christ, told their Son when He attended the synagogue school to bring home straight A's. I wonder if they put demands on Jesus to achieve scholastically. Whether they did or not, it is my thesis that Jesus made A's in all His classes.

Now, if you don't agree with my thesis, let us, for a moment, examine Jesus' report card. It is found in Luke 2:41-52, specifically verses 46-48:

Now 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 after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man (KJV).

Luke 2:41-48 is the story of Joseph, Mary and the boy Jesus' visit to Jerusalem for the Passover. For the parents, it was an annual event in which they had experienced many times. And for Jesus, this would be another memorable experience, among many.

At the time Jesus was only twelve years old and a "child of the Law," which meant He was now old enough to make His own decisions and take responsibilities in life. I can only imagine the wonderment and excitement that flooded the heart and mind of this twelve-year-old, as He experienced this important event in the life of His people.

He was a little country boy from the town of Nazareth, a place that could not boast of much for it had little to offer except a scandalous reputation. Recall the time Nathaniel was told by Philip that he and others had found the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. The words of Nathaniel summed up the popular attitude toward the little town.

Nathaniel wittingly replied, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:45-46).

Nevertheless, the boy Jesus and His parents were now in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the releasing of the Hebrew slaves from Egyptian bondage.

The story goes while in bondage, on that memorable night, the death angel of the Lord destroyed the firstborn of the Egyptians but passed over God's chosen people, sparing every home that was marked with blood on the doorpost and lintel.

Thus, the Passover was an occasion for a great time of celebration in the city of David (Exodus 11-12).

Jesus was in the big city, and it appears He and many of His friends, neighbors, and kinfolks were given a degree of freedom to roam about: liberty to visit shops, engage priests, to view rituals, booths, and, of course, the Temple. We will discover, though, Jesus did not seem to take advantage of the mundane activities.

Jesus was not at the booths where master carpenters and other craftsmen demonstrated their skills and displayed and sold their wares. Most likely, the other children were captivated by these things, but Jesus was not trying to take them in, nor was He trying to get the freshest helping of cotton candy. No, on the contrary, Jesus was somewhere far more important. He was involving Himself in something seemingly beyond His years.

With the festive atmosphere and no obvious need to worry, His parents did not miss Jesus. Moreover, when the Passover ended and it was time for the Nazareth caravan to return home, still Jesus was not with them, but His absence was yet to be discovered. Luke 2:43-45 tells us:

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they return back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

Now en route back home, the Nazareth caravan had traveled for a day before it was discovered that Jesus was missing. Because the women and children traveled slower, they usually started out on journeys before the men. The men would follow later and finally overcome them at the evening encampment.

When Joseph caught up with Mary and the...