1-3-13-Jesus'_Youth

The life of John the Baptist was closely linked to the life of Jesus.  The two were born in the same year, had their ministry together and died in the same year.  In the last verse of Luke 1 and the last verse of Luke 2 we see also that both grew in and they also grew in .

In Jesus' home Joseph and Mary would have taught Him His first lessons?  Read Proverbs 1:8 and 9.

Nazareth was a town with a bad reputation.  As a matter of fact, its reputation was so bad that Nathanael said in John 1:46?

As a housewife, Mary had to knead and bake the bread, get water from the village well, sew, weave and make clothing for the family be sides keeping the house tidy.  Who would have been Mary's little helper?

Mary's husband was a carpenter.  Many families furniture were made in his workshop.  Who would have helped Joseph?

Soon the home of Joseph and Mary was blessed with the arrival of brothers and sisters for Jesus.  Look up Matthew 13:55-56.

1. How many brothers did Jesus have?

2. Were there any sisters in the home?

Each day started with prayers led by Joseph.  Each day they said: (Deuteronomy 6:5).

On the Sabbath (Saturday) Jesus' family, being Jews went to worship God in the synagogue and to listen to the stories about their great national heroes.  A rabbi reads the scriptures, and explains them.  During the week the rabbi had a school for the boys of Nazareth.  On the other hand, His sisters had to stay at home.  Like all Jewish boys, Jesus learned to read and write in school.

He learned all the wonderful stories of how God in His sovereignty chose the Jews to be His people.  Jesus was taught about God's protection and care for His people; especially how He had saved the oldest child from death in every family that offered a perfect lamb as a sacrifice.

The Jews still remembered this mighty liberation from death in Egypt when they celebrated the Passover each year.

Jesus learned that the hope of the Jewish people was in the coming of the promised king, the anointed one, the

Jesus learned about the promise of the King which had been made to Abraham and David.  Jesus also learned of the sad time in the history of His people when they were carried away as captives to Babylon.  he was taught that this happened because of their sin.  Because of the people's sin the great temple, built by King Solomon had been totally destroyed.

The age of 12 years was especially important to an Jewish boy.  At this age he was considered a "Son of the Law."  From that time on he could take part as a man in the religious life of the home and the synagogue.  After becoming a "Son of the Law" the young person was considered old enough to ask and to answer questions about the Scriptures.

All Jewish men did everything possible in order to arrive at the city of for the feast of the .

Imagine the preparations that would have gone on in the home at Nazareth before this 70-mile journey to Jerusalem.

Many families and friends got together on these trips.  Jesus would have enjoyed playing with His relatives and fiends a lot during the long journey, all of which had to be covered on foot.

So we see that Joseph and Mary's home was a pure and shining light in a village with a really bad reputation.  If only all Christian homes were like that.  Every home ought to have daily prayers as a family, a knowledge of God's Word and, above all else, be a home where Christ is the center of all play, work and study.

Well friend, congratulations!  You just finished this semester.  Think this is a good a time as ever to thank the Lord for helping us.  Maybe you should also ask him to help you tell others about what you have learned.  The best place to start is in your own family.  Why now follow the example of Jesus' home in Nazareth?  Meanwhile God bless you and keep you.  The next semester will cover the "Year of Preparation" in the life of Christ."

Emotional Dimension

We like to think that rationality "makes the world go 'round,"  In reality, emotion "makes the world go 'round."  We elect our presidents more on how we feel about them than we do on their policies.  The reactions of Wall Street are based more on how traders and investors "feel about the stock market than they are on the objective health of corporations.  Marriages succeed or fail more on how spouses feel about one another than on making the relationship better through mutual give-and-take.  Emotions play an important part in our experience of wholeness.  Yet many people never learn to express, understand, or use emotions in healthy ways.  These shortcomings interfere with virtually every human relationship.

In this section, you will encounter the word shalom or peace.  Shalom is a Hebrew word that means inner peace, tranquility, harmony, health, and well-being.  It is an all-encompassing word that refers to the Sabbath rest of God's creation, the return of the land to fruit bearing, the reconciliation of humanity with God, man with man, man with nature, and man with himself.  Shalom is the center of our well-being.  While peace is a gift from God, we have to appropriate it to the various aspects of our lives.

Read John 20:19-23

Jesus is with his disciples again, for the first time since the crucifixion.  Remember, Jesus has just done the impossible - he has risen from the dead!  Drop in on his followers and try to figure out what is wrong-and what Jesus did to turn things around.  Remember, the word "peace" is the Hebrew word shalom.

1. If you had been a reporter for the Jerusalem Herald, what headline would you have used to report this event?

2. It's Easter morning.  Jesus had broken the chains of death.  And his disciples are behind locked doors.  Why?

3. Emotionally, what is the score in the hearts of the disciples?

4. Suddenly, Jesus steps into the room.  In sports language, what does he do?

5. This word  "peace' is the Greek word for shalom-or complete harmony (spiritually, emotionally, and in every way).  What do you think this word meant to the disciples at that moment in their lives?

6. How would you compare your life right now to the disciples?

7. What are you most likely to hide from?

8. In the midst of your hiding, what would happen if Jesus stepped into your life today and said "shalom"-be at peace with yourself?

9. What do you need to do to receive the promised power of the Holy Spirit, and come out of hiding?

Read Colossians 3:1-4, 15-17.

Take a moment to reflect on the words of the Apostle Paul to the church in Colossae on the "practice of peace." 

1. Who does the Apostle Paul sound like in this Scripture passage?

2. Which of these actions, mentioned in this passage, do you think helps a person to find the peace also promised here?

3. if you could point to a time in your life when you were most at peace with yourself and with God, which period of your life would you point to?

4. What are some of the "earthly things" you focus on so much that it takes away your peace?

5. What "things above" would you like to focus on more?

6. What next step do you need to take to experience this peace?

There is no peace available on this earth which can compare to the peace that comes from God through Christ.  All our striving and struggling is for nothing, if we don't accept God's free gift first.

Christ wants to work with us as we struggle in our daily world to sense his peace in every area of our lives.  As with all real-life issues in the Christian faith, Christ is there with us in our struggles and provides us encouragement and direction.

If you had to write a prescription for yourself, what would you write?

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