Precedents and Overtures
Jesus' Childhood Casts a Shadow
Luke 2:41-52
Luke loves childhood stories of Jesus, and I for the longest time held this against him, assuming that therefore his Gospel was the most fabricated, most hypothetical of the synoptics. But I feel a change in the winds of my heart, and I turn to Luke anew - recognizing the style and literary intent in the narrative, and relating more to the Lucan conception of Jesus' role in salvation than of any other Gospel. So I look again at this story as part of Luke's sensitivity to Greek style and storytelling.
The purpose of relating that Jesus' family travels every year to Jerusalem is to establish their piety and credibility as faithful followers of the Jewish spiritual laws. Jesus' family is above reproach, despite their low estate. This could be foreshadowing of Jesus' trip(s) to Jerusalem, particularly during the Passover feast and his subsequent passion. And I find myself compelled to see it as a literary indulgence, rather than an accurate description of Jesus' family - among other questions, there is the economic possibility of making pilgrimage every year and during the most expensive time of year for travel to Jerusalem at that. Even so, the purpose is clear: Jesus' childhood was steeped in the rich tradition of the Jewish faith, and Jesus was clearly an exemplary Jew (if a somewhat insensitive child), excelling in the intellectual and spiritual exercises that were held in such high esteem by Jew and Gentile alike - an eager student of tradition and wisdom, with a keen mind of his own and the confidence and articulateness to respectfully and insightfully question his elders.
Luke also loves significant numbers - Jesus was twelve years old, and his parents looked for him three days. Could this be foreshadowing of the passion narrative? His parents, those who loved him but did not understand him, felt like they lost him - he'd disappeared from their sights, couldn't be found in all the usual places, and they were anxious (and probably confused and angry, too). And after three days he was found again, in the Temple no less, still about his Father's interests. (Is this what Luke is referring to when he says: "But [his parents] did not understand what he said to them"? [50])
And then, making sure not to push the precociousness of Jesus too far, not to make him too disobedient or difficult, Luke makes sure to note that he then returned with his parents and obeyed them thereafter. We don't hear of him again until the appearance of John the Baptist and the beginning of Jesus' conversion and career. But the precedent has been set - Jesus will disobey authority in the service of God, Jesus will break the rules when seeking the truth and when learning and teaching about God's will and Rule. And, it can be extrapolated, Jesus will be so focused on learning and teaching about God that he goes homeless for several days, and isn't particularly concerned about food or security. Another overture to his later life?
Jesus here is an intent student of God, and he seeks knowledge and wisdom from the traditional authoritative sources. Luke uses this as a preface to Jesus' preaching: Jesus is fulfilling the Law, not destroying it. Jesus is a good Jew, and the fact that he was born into that community is significant. Luke is going to great lengths to show that Judaism is the fertile soil from which sprang the fullness and truth he relates in his Gospel.
Luke 2:41-52
Luke loves childhood stories of Jesus, and I for the longest time held this against him, assuming that therefore his Gospel was the most fabricated, most hypothetical of the synoptics. But I feel a change in the winds of my heart, and I turn to Luke anew - recognizing the style and literary intent in the narrative, and relating more to the Lucan conception of Jesus' role in salvation than of any other Gospel. So I look again at this story as part of Luke's sensitivity to Greek style and storytelling.
The purpose of relating that Jesus' family travels every year to Jerusalem is to establish their piety and credibility as faithful followers of the Jewish spiritual laws. Jesus' family is above reproach, despite their low estate. This could be foreshadowing of Jesus' trip(s) to Jerusalem, particularly during the Passover feast and his subsequent passion. And I find myself compelled to see it as a literary indulgence, rather than an accurate description of Jesus' family - among other questions, there is the economic possibility of making pilgrimage every year and during the most expensive time of year for travel to Jerusalem at that. Even so, the purpose is clear: Jesus' childhood was steeped in the rich tradition of the Jewish faith, and Jesus was clearly an exemplary Jew (if a somewhat insensitive child), excelling in the intellectual and spiritual exercises that were held in such high esteem by Jew and Gentile alike - an eager student of tradition and wisdom, with a keen mind of his own and the confidence and articulateness to respectfully and insightfully question his elders.
Luke also loves significant numbers - Jesus was twelve years old, and his parents looked for him three days. Could this be foreshadowing of the passion narrative? His parents, those who loved him but did not understand him, felt like they lost him - he'd disappeared from their sights, couldn't be found in all the usual places, and they were anxious (and probably confused and angry, too). And after three days he was found again, in the Temple no less, still about his Father's interests. (Is this what Luke is referring to when he says: "But [his parents] did not understand what he said to them"? [50])
And then, making sure not to push the precociousness of Jesus too far, not to make him too disobedient or difficult, Luke makes sure to note that he then returned with his parents and obeyed them thereafter. We don't hear of him again until the appearance of John the Baptist and the beginning of Jesus' conversion and career. But the precedent has been set - Jesus will disobey authority in the service of God, Jesus will break the rules when seeking the truth and when learning and teaching about God's will and Rule. And, it can be extrapolated, Jesus will be so focused on learning and teaching about God that he goes homeless for several days, and isn't particularly concerned about food or security. Another overture to his later life?
Jesus here is an intent student of God, and he seeks knowledge and wisdom from the traditional authoritative sources. Luke uses this as a preface to Jesus' preaching: Jesus is fulfilling the Law, not destroying it. Jesus is a good Jew, and the fact that he was born into that community is significant. Luke is going to great lengths to show that Judaism is the fertile soil from which sprang the fullness and truth he relates in his Gospel.
Labels: Luke
posted by Christian at 9:52 AM
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