When Jesus taught in the Temple during Passover, both Mary and Joseph thought He was with their large party returning to Nazareth, after traveling to Jerusalem for the feast. At the age of 12, Jesus still was a boy by earthly standards and Jewish standards, as well. In the Middle Ages, rabbis set the age standard of 13 for a boy’s bar-mitzvah, but boys younger than 13 who were advanced in their religious training and knowledge were allowed to take part in religious ceremonies. Certainly, Jesus had that ability at a very early age.
46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Luke 2:46-50
Interestingly, though Jesus’ knowledge of the Scriptures amazed the best-educated rabbis, He was not to begin His ministry for 18 more years! Instead, Jesus continued to grow in every way and was still subject to His earthly parents.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:51-52
The beginning of His ministry had nothing to do with Jesus being ready, but everything to do with God preparing the other pieces of the puzzle. Of course, all of those occurred in God’s perfect timing and He could have had it all ready when Jesus was 12. But by the age of 30, Jesus had demonstrated His work ethic. He was not lazy, depending upon the provision of earthly parents, but instead, certainly helped support the household as a carpenter. He grew physically and intellectually, and was respected by others for His integrity and honor. Additionally, His actions pleased God the Father.
Still, before beginning His ministry, two important events needed to occur. First, Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized. John was sent to “prepare the way of the Lord,” and obviously, John realized that Jesus should have baptized John. Yet this was an act of obedience and submission. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, and with Jesus being without sin, He did not need to repent. Some believe that circumcision is synonymous with baptism for the Jews, yet Jesus also had been circumcised at the prescribed age of 8-days-old. Instead, by His baptism, Jesus identified Himself with sinners. Remember, on the cross Jesus not only bore our sin, but “became sin for us,” according to 2 Corinthians 5:21. Additionally, the baptism of Jesus brought Him into the priestly order of Melchizedek, who was a king and a priest, unlike all of the Levites, who were only priests. We can see the Levitical rites of becoming a priest in Exodus 29, which also included “baptism:”
“And Aaron and his sons you shall bring to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and you shall wash them with water.
Exodus 29:4
After His baptism, attended by the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Jesus immediately departed into the wilderness to endure 40 days of temptation, directed by the “deceiver of the brethren.” Many misunderstand that trial, thinking that because Jesus is God that it was simple to endure and deny the wiles of Satan. Yet He was tempted in every way imaginable, tempted in all of the ways we are tempted. Relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was able to endure, just as we are. For we have the same Holy Spirit dwelling inside of each of us as believers. Interestingly, God the Father did not deem Jesus ready and prepared for ministry until these events had taken place. Jesus did not begin His ministry until the age of 30, yet in our culture, we often place people into ministry when they are much younger.
Can those younger than 30 relate to the older congregation, based on the difficulties of life endured by all of us? Have those who are younger grown in stature and knowledge, and grown in favor with men and God? Enduring all temptations prepares a path for ministry, and just as the Prodigal Son felt the need to sow his wild oats as a young man, most people are much different at 20 than they are at 40. Regardless of age, an important factor in any ministry is that ability to endure. Certainly, temptations and trials grow stronger for those who lead the battle charge. Satan hates anyone who works for the kingdom of God. The more love you have for the Lord, the more hate Satan carries for you!
This is not reserved for pastors, teachers and worship leaders. Every person who has come to the Lord is a minister of the gospel to those God places in your path. That ministry truly will begin upon similar steps taken by our Lord: growth in knowledge of God’s Word; growth in morals and ethics to gain favor with others; maturity, both spiritually and emotionally; a public profession of faith and repentance through baptism; and a period of test or trial.
Christians all will have those periods of trial. Moses had three different periods of 40 years in his life: 40 years in Pharaoh’s court, 40 years in Midian and then 40 years leading the Jews in the wilderness. His “desert time” prepared Moses for ministry, just as the 40 days of Jesus in the wilderness prepared our Savior. Do you desire to be used by God in ministry? Be ready for your time in the desert, for you cannot pass a trial without learning to rely on God, rather than self, to endure.
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 “Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ house, 3 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting.
Numbers 4:1-3
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