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<DIV><FONT color=black size=2 face=arial><FONT color=black size=2
face=arial><FONT size=4>Forwarded: Luke 2:41-52 - Part 2 of
3<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><FONT
size=4 face="Times New Roman">-----Original Message-----<BR>From: </FONT><A
href="mailto:bstoffregen@roadrunner.com"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">bstoffregen@roadrunner.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">To: </FONT><A
href="mailto:brian.stoffregen@gmail.com"><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">brian.stoffregen@gmail.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=4
face="Times New Roman">Sent: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 11:46 pm<BR>Subject: Luke
2:41-52<BR></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: helvetica,arial; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">WHOSE
SON IS HE? </FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>ANSWER 1: HE IS THE SON OF MARY AND
JOSEPH</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>One of the paradoxes presented in this
lesson is: Whose son is Jesus? One answer is that he is the child of Joseph and
Mary. He has been put into their care for their instruction and guidance. As I
pointed out above, God made a good choice. They were very devout Jews and, as
this text indicates, concerned parents.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Mary asks, "Child, why have you treated us
in this way? Look, your <B>father</B> and I have been searching for you in great
anxiety" (v. 48b). </FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Note the reference to Joseph as Jesus'
father.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">I think that the content of "in this way" is found in the
Greek word translated "in great anxiety". This word for "anxiety"
(</FONT></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ὀ</SPAN><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">δυνάομαι
- </SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">odynaomai</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) is used only by
Luke in the NT. It is used to describe the agony and pain of the rich man in
hell (16:24, 25). I'm certain that his pain was much more than just anxiety. It
is used once in Acts. Paul begins a speech to the Ephesians: "I know that none
of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my
face again" (20:25). Then we are told:</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>When he had finished speaking, he knelt down
with them all and prayed. There was much weeping among them all; they embraced
Paul and kissed him, <B>grieving</B> especially because of what he had said,
that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship
(20:36-38).</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>This is the pain and agony and grief when
one will never see a close friend (or relative) again. It is this pain and agony
and worry and grief and anxiety that the missing Jesus caused his parents that I
think is behind the question: "Why have you treated us in this way?" I'm certain
that Jesus did not think that he had done anything wrong. There have been times
when our children have caused us such pains -- and it wasn't because they had
done something wrong, but often because we didn't know where they were.
</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>What also compounds the feelings in Mary and
Joseph is that this is the first time they had taken their son from their small,
familiar town into the big city. For those familiar with small town life, often
there is a fear of the big city. </FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Malina and Rohrbaugh (<I>Social-Science
Commentary on the Synoptic Gospels</I>) point out another source of their
anxiety, besides the missing child.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">2:44</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"> In antiquity travel
was a dangerous undertaking and was considered deviant behavior except for
certain customary reasons. Group travel was safer, especially with kinfolk or
trusted neighbors; see the note below on 2:48.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">2:48</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"> Mary's question
implies more than concerns for a lost child. Having to return to Jerusalem, the
family must break off its travel with kinfolk and neighbors. They will be five
days behind their group on the trip back to Nazareth and thus in a much more
dangerous position (see the note on 2:44). Joseph is also made to look bad by
appearing unable to control his family. [p. 299]</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Could this be an example of leaving family
and friends, and the safety they provide, in order to follow
Jesus?</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Jesus responds to his parents' concern with
two questions: "Why were you searching for me?" "Did you not know that I must be
in my <B>father</B>'s house [or "be about my Father's interests"]? These are the
first words Jesus speaks in Luke.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>Why were they searching for him? They are
good parents. Wouldn't each of us go searching for our children if we thought
they were lost? Wouldn't finding the lost child be more important than personal
safety (illustrated by staying with the traveling
group)?</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=3>"Didn't you know?" -- No, they didn't know.
Even after he tells them this, they don't understand him. This word for
"understanding" (συνίημι - <I>syniēmi</I>) occurs only four times in Luke. The
first three times (2:50; 8:10; 18:34) it is applied to people who don't
understand Jesus. In the final occurrence (24:45), the risen Jesus opens their
minds to <B>understand</B> the scriptures.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV
style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">We might look at these parents as models of discipleship
-- they are very devout, but they don't totally understand. They don't
understand the <B>word</B> (</FONT></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ῥῆ</SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">μα -
</SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">rhema</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) that he tells
them, but Mary keeps all these <B>words</B> (</SPAN></FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">ῥῆ</SPAN><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Menlo-Regular; mso-bidi-font-family: Menlo-Regular">μα -
</SPAN><I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">rhēma</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT">) in her heart.
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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face="Times New Roman"></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
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size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
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<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Brian Stoffregen</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, 2215 S 8th Avenue, Yuma,
AZ 85364</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
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class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: ArialMT; mso-bidi-font-family: ArialMT"><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman">e-mail: <A
href="mailto:brian.stoffregen@gmail.com">brian.stoffregen@gmail.com</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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