One of the major problems that revolve around the parent child dynamic is one of power. Now I am not talking about physical power, but authority, and not just any authority, but the authority that comes from knowledge and wisdom. That is the answer to the question: “Who is it that knows best? The parent or the child?”
Good parents try to do what is best for their children, they make decisions, rules, give advice, but I don’t know of a single person in my experience who hasn’t chaffed, rebelled, or protested at some point over and against their father and/or mother regardless of intent and care on the part of the parent. It is a difficult thing for the parent, because parents do want their children to be able to stand firm and be able to defend their thoughts as adults, but they also don’t want them to rebel, show disrespect or fight them on every little thing, especially on matters where discernment, experience, and a true knowledge of good and evil are on the line. Yet, such is the growing pangs of parenthood and life on here earth.
For all you grown ups, look back upon your own youth and you know that it is true. You all, I’m sure, can remember such a time when you chaffed and took exception to your parents. Why? Because you thought you knew more than them. Or because you wanted something else even if it wasn’t going to be good for you, but you thought you knew better than them, that it must be good because others have it or are doing it or whatever. Were you justified? Are young people today, justified in defying or arguing with their parents? No. Probably not. Although it depends upon the topic and God’s Word of truth. Hopefully, you can look back upon those times and see truthfully what was good, right, and proper. And for you younger people, you will be able to keep this mind and look back later on and understand.
Understanding. Discernment. Who has it? Who can get enough of it? What is it? Where do you go to get it? In the readings for today, we have the answers to those questions.
What is the first point to consider: regarding wisdom and understanding? If we look first to the example of the 12 year old Jesus, we may become confused. Jesus was no ordinary child. Even though it appears from the text that Mary and Joseph had temporarily forgotten whose child He was and just how exceptional He was. We may say to our children (or to ourselves) why can’t you be more mindful and respectful like Jesus? Why can’t you be so smart and yet be submissive and well behaved? Yes, well why not?
Because we are not Jesus. Let us look at the definition of what it means to have wisdom and understanding in the first place. The OT reading defines wisdom from the words of Solomon as he spoke with God: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”(1 Kings 3:9) An understanding mind is one that can discern or tell the difference between good and evil. Why is that a problem for us? We are by nature like our Father Adam and mother Eve who thought that they knew more than God who was their Father in the sense that He brought them forth. They were warned for their good over and against evil, but they didn’t trust that God had their best interests at heart and ate what they were told not to. The fruit of the knowledge of good and evil introduced evil into their hearts and minds, and now all of us when given the choice gravitate towards the evil, the harmful, the forbidden, the dangerous. This is the very opposite of wisdom. It is folly and harmful, because it sin, and as such it is of unbelief, death, and worthy of damnation.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) This is the real starting point. Faith. Belief. Going to the source of all wisdom, all life and light. God Himself. But it starts even sooner. It starts when God, Himself, speaks to us even in our darkness by His Word, and the Word of His Law and Gospel reveals to us: our ignorance, our folly, our sin and self harm.
When we finally admit, that we are spiritually shallow, silly, often stupid, stubborn proud sons and daughters of Satan in our rebellion, and repent of it… then we are ready to learn and acquire the understanding that comes with faith. Wisdom and understanding come with faith, and the Word of God is our instructor.
This Word of God is wrapped up in and pointing to this same Jesus in today’s Gospel lesson. Jesus whose earthly father was not Joseph nor any sons of Adam but was begotten and brought forth by and from God as He was the eternal Word already. He came to give true understanding by the knowledge of evil and good. To flee the evil and embrace the good. When it says that “the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” It means that Jesus lived a human life and grew up from baby, to child, to man, showing forth, living, and speaking God’s wisdom that was already in Him as God’s Son until the time for His earthly ministry of service and suffering began. God knew that nobody could embrace His truth nor comprehend His good and grace naturally, nor keep the Law so He joined Himself to our flesh by His incarnation to fulfill what we could not, to take the punishment which we deserved, so that our bodies of flesh could be redeemed along with our fallen souls and spirits of darkness. Jesus died upon the cross to give understanding of His good which overcomes the evil of our sin and points to the rescue that His righteousness and purity delivers by the forgiveness of our sins.
Jesus Christ is the now the source of understanding and wisdom and He uses His Word to affect change within us from year to year growing and changing us even as our physical bodies grow and change with each passing year.
When Mary and Joseph desperate and panicking in their fear and pain looked for the boy whom they thought was lost, Jesus said:
“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” In the Greek it does not say “house” but it is more in the meaning of He must be with His Father with His dealings. In other Words: God the Son, with the Father and the Holy Spirit are always working together through the means which He has established for the good of His people.
Dear friends in Christ, when we are tempted to think that we know everything or when we are overwhelmed by fear or worry by the evil that is coming into this world, let us flee to where Jesus is. There is no mystery as to where He is for us with His great strength and power. He is in His Word. He is in His Absolution. He is in His body and blood with the bread and the wine. He is there to give understanding. To embrace the goodness of God and give power to recognize and forsake the evil.
But this is and will be a challenge for us in our human flesh. There will be times where we understand but do not care for it and wish to rebel against it. There will also be times where like Mary and Joseph, who “did not understand the saying that He spoke to them.” we will not understand what God is doing or what He means. But take courage. You are now God’s children baptized into Christ for service and a blessed future and can in trust be submissive to His wisdom. As Paul says in our Epistle:
“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, which he set forth in Christ to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in Him in the fullness of time.”
God knows what is best for us. He loves you and in Christ He will give you a wise and discerning mind. You can abide in His Word and Sacraments in His peace. Be talking about them, asking questions finding His answers, pondering His mysteries receiving His Grace. You can serve your neighbor in your vocations reflecting that love and wisdom of God. And as you live with your heavenly Father surrounding yourself with His Word, praying for more understanding and wisdom, know that you shall in humble joy receive it, and your heart be made glad. By God’s Grace, you can and will grow evermore in His wisdom and stature receiving His favor as one of His Beloved in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pr. Aaron