[Propertalk] Fw: Luke 2:41-52 - Part 3 of 3

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: Luke 2:41-52 - Part 3 of 3


-----Original Message-----
From: bstoffregen at roadrunner.com
To: brian.stoffregen at gmail.com
Sent: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 11:46 pm
Subject: Luke 2:41-52


WHOSE SON IS HE? 
ANSWER 2: HE IS THE SON OF GOD

Craddock (Luke)

Jesus now claims for himself that special relation to God which was the real meaning of his dedication as an infant. To this point, all signs of Jesus' special nature or mission have been to or through others: the angel, Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, shepherds, Simeon, and Anna, but now he claims it for himself (v. 49). The church has sought to recognize this moment in the lives of young people in the rite of confirmation [p. 42].

The last part of verse 49 is difficult to translate. Most literally it says:

"in (or among) the [plural things (or men) is understood] of my Father it is necessary that I be"

Things assumes a masculine or neuter plural noun, but "house" is not plural! 

Luke Timothy Johnson (Luke, Sacra Pagina) offers three possible renderings: "My Father's things (i.e., affairs or business)"; "my Father's house"; or "my Father's associates (e.g., relatives)." [p. 59]

He goes on to comment:

...The translation "to be in my Father's house" does not work as well as "to be involved in my Father's affairs." The first translation would emphasize the place rather than Jesus' activity, but unlike John 2:16, Luke never has Jesus call the Temple "my Father's house," and although the Temple plays an important role in his narrative, it is as a place of activity.

This points us to the second translation. The "affairs" must mean the sort of activity Jesus was engaged in, discoursing with the Jewish teachers.  Because of the amazement of the crowd focused on his "answers," he is in effect teaching the teachers. In fact this is precisely the activity of Jesus that Luke emphasizes at the climax of his ministry. From 20:1-45, Jesus responds to the questions put him in the Temple precincts by Jewish leaders, and this activity Luke calls 'teaching in the Temple" (19:47; 20:1; 21:37; 22:53). ... [p. 61]

Tannehill (Luke) says much the same thing: 

The use of the Greek expression to refer to someone's house or home is well documented, and Jesus is indicating that his parents should have known the place to find him. Therefore, a location, "my Father's house," must be part of the meaning. But it is quite possible that there is a double meaning, for the same expression may refer to someone's "affairs" or "business" (hence the NRSV footnote, "be about my Father's interests"). Then Jesus is not only indicating where he can be found, but why. He already feels the calling to be engaged in his Father's business. [p. 76]

The little Greek word ??? (dei) = literally: "it is necessary" and can be understood as: "I/he must" is frequently used by Jesus to indicate his duty to God or in fulfillment of scriptures -- which often runs counter to what others expect him to do.

* Crowds want Jesus to stay with them, but he must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities (4:43).

* The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised (9:22; see also 13:33; 17:25; 24:7, 26).

* Jesus must stay at Zacchaeus' house (19:5) -- an act that probably didn't set well with the religious establishment.

* Jesus must fulfill scriptures (22:37; 24:44).

How do we deal with competing claims on our lives? Often the competition is between two good things; e.g., family and God. However, Jesus states quite forcefully: "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple (14:26).

He also redefines family relationships: "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it" (8:21).

There is a subtle shift within this story. In the beginning, it is the parents who go to Jerusalem. They take Jesus with them. The parents are in charge of the "journey". It is different in v. 51a: "Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth." As I have written before, Luke/Acts is primarily a story about God, but Jesus now comes to the forefront as the "co-star". 

Can doing what God has called us to do cause pain and agony in parents or other people? If I remember right, Martin Luther's parents were not pleased that he decided to become a priest rather than a lawyer. (One job paid much better than the other -- and they expected him to take care of them in their old age.)

Can doing what God has called us to do cause pain and agony among church members? How many church conflicts are over seeking to do what God is calling us to do (in the present and future) vs. seeking to do what God had called us to do (in the past)? 

Can doing what God has called us to do cause pain and agony to one's self? If 12-year-old Jesus was as compassionate as I think he was, I believe that the pain he caused his parents, he also took upon himself. While he may have preferred to stay in the temple, learning from and teaching the elders, he returns to Nazareth (a somewhat pagan, border town) and is obedient to him. What was God's will for Jesus to do at that time? Sometimes the answer is not too clear. Sometimes it is a choice between two good things. It is in situations like this that Luther's advice is handy, "Sin boldly."

I'll give the entire quote for those who might be interested:

". If you are a preacher of grace, then preach a true not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly, for he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here we have to sin. This life is not the dwelling place of righteousness but, as Peter says [2 Peter 3:13], we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells .. Pray boldly -- you too are a mighty sinner." [Martin Luther in a Letter to Philip Melanchthon following the Diet of Worms, Luther's Works, Vol 48, p. 281-282]

Looking ahead, The Baptism of Our Lord (Jan 7) will again stress the divine sonship of Jesus. What does it mean to be the Son of God and to be about "My Father's business"? In Luke, the baptism is followed by the genealogy, which ends with "son of God" (Luke 3:38d). This is followed by the temptation story (Lu 4:1-13) where the devil says twice: "If you are the Son of God, ...." Next Jesus reads from Isaiah in Nazareth: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Lu 4:18-19)

Being the Son of God, being about his father's business means facing temptation and being servant to all in need. Perhaps in our text, it was the teachers in the temple who where the ones in need. Perhaps for Luke, it was Theophilus (and other readers) who are in need of better understanding Jesus.

Brian Stoffregen
pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, 2215 S 8th Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85364
e-mail: brian.stoffregen at gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20091217/ec0d36e7/attachment.htm>