The Marks of Jesus: a study for fellowship groups
We now come to the last of the characteristics displayed in the life of Jesus which should 'rub off' onto our lives if we really are his followers. This subject concludes a series throughout the autumn, winter and spring both in fellowship groups and in church.

The Mark of Singlemindedness (1) Being in the Father's house
(Luke 2:41-52)

We are only told five things about Jesus before he begins his public ministry and the last two of those usher it in: his birth (Lk 2:4-14), his dedication (Lk 2:22-32), this visit to the Temple, his baptism (Lk 3:21-22) and his time of temptation (Lk 4:1-4ff) As we prepare to read God's word, get ready to ask yourself what strikes you, perhaps for the first time, about the account. Read the passage.

Q1 Perhaps members of the group could share what each found most striking about the account.

The yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the annual Passover Feast took on special significance for Jesus this year because he was now 12 years old. This was the age at which he would now begin intense training in the law (the Torah) and related prayers, ready to be received into membership of the congregation on his 13th birthday (Bar Mitzvah meaning 'commandment age'). It was treated as a sign of adulthood in the community as well, so the year would be the most important in Jesus' family life.

This subject uniquely among the range covered in this series, has been considered already in All Age Worship where it was pointed out that the word 'house' (v.49) is missing. There is no noun in the original Greek. We are left to consider what Jesus may have felt obliged to commit himself to, and what there fore we should be committed to as well.

  • Being in the Father's house. Some will say "you don't need to go to church to be a Christian". But we are designed to be a community, that's how it was in the early church (Acts 2:44) and failure to meet with other Christians is warned against (Heb 10:25).
Q2 This is an important question, at the very centre of the Christian life: what useful things can happen when Christians meet together, which can't if they don't. You should be able to build a picture of what church life is all about. Only look at the crib list at the foot of the page when you have talked about it first.
  • Being about the Father's business. This is how some translators have rendered the verse. Read John 9:4-5. God has chosen to pursue the goals of the kingdom through human agency. He puts a lot of trust in us!
Q3 What work can members of the group find to do for Jesus?
  • Being close to the Father's heart. There is a big issue about being wholehearted in what we do. It is something which counts important with God (2 Chr 25:2; Jer 29:11; Ez 11:19).
Q4 Are there things which we do out of a sense of obligation, rather than out of an overwhelming desire to serve? Do we sometimes start things keenly but find we're still doing them when they've become chores?

Next study: to be advised