121230 Rekindle Christmas: Q&A

What is the American Dream? When you think of people who have realized the American Dream, who comes to mind? What are their common denominators?

We don’t know much about what happened to Jesus between his birth and his adult ministry (which began when he was in his 30’s). In some of the less historically credible books about Jesus that did not make it into the Bible there are some stories, but they don’t fit too well with the Jesus we see in the Bible. Luke is the only book that gives us anything (see for yourself – Luke 2:41-52).

In this account, the twelve year old Jesus and his family celebrated the Passover Festival as usual, and were headed back to Nazareth. But Mary and Joseph realized after the first full day of travel that he wasn’t with the caravan, so they traveled back to Jerusalem the next day, perhaps rehearsing the tongue-lashing he was about to receive. The third day they searched Jerusalem and found him in the Temple chatting it up with the priests, who were greatly impressed by his understanding.

Luke had an agenda with the inclusion of the story. He tied in the Temple once more – central to Jesus’ story and for anchoring him to Judaism. But he also wants us to see what an outlier Jesus is, even as a boy. How many twelve year olds like to talk theology with pastors? I can tell you from experience: none. But Jesus does. At twelve.

Twelve is an interesting age to give us. It’s not really a nod to the Twelve Tribes as it sometimes refers – doesn’t really make sense here. But it does raise a Jewish eyebrow. The age of accountability for Jewish boys is thirteen (for girls, twelve). This is also the age that they go through some educational experiences culminating in the bar mitzvah. We would expect a kid to know a lot of right answers after his seminars were complete. But you wouldn’t expect it beforehand. This is what Luke wants us to see: Jesus is extraordinary.

What rang my bell, however, was what impressed the priests. Because it would impress me, too. They were impressed by his understanding and answers. But what gave them this impression? For three days he sat with them, listened, and asked questions. Sure, they undoubtedly asked questions right back to get him thinking, but he was asking.

People who ask questions are rare. Especially really good questions about the deeper stuff of life.
Most of us get comfortable with our understanding of things. We have to, I suppose, to give ourselves a sense of foundation. But I think we are prone to getting so accustomed to our worldview that we never question it. It works for us on some level, so the thought never crosses our mind to challenge it.

Our worldview shapes everything we do, right down to New Year’s resolutions that some will make very soon. I bet lots of people living in America will make resolutions that somehow reflect the values in the American Dream.

Do you suppose Jesus was asking the priests about the American Dream? Was he wondering what it was going to take for him to be a good American? Some might actually make a case for a “yes”, but I think not.

Priests, rabbis, pastors, and religious leaders of all kinds give their lives to helping people connect the dots of life and faith. My hunch is that the priests that day were impressed because he was asking bar mitzvah questions – what does it mean to be a son of the covenant? I don’t think they were quizzing him on the 600+ laws he would have to obey to live up to the code. I think they were talking about what it really means to walk with God faithfully. What God was really hoping for when God breathed life into humanity. Those kind of conversations are wonderful. Unheard of from a pre-pubescent kid.

So hear is my question for us. When we consider resolutions we publicly or secretly make for New Years or just life in general, what are we asking? Are we wondering how we can pursue the American Dream? What if there are parts of it that run counter to what it means to walk with God? Have we ever asked that question: how is the American Dream and God’s dream for humanity similar and different?

My prayer for you is that you will raise your standard beyond the American Dream. My prayer is that you will follow in Jesus’ footsteps and ask what it means to be a son or daughter of the covenant: what does it really mean to live in a dynamic, life-informing relationship with God? If think if we pursue the answer to that question, bigger dreams than those that are particularly American will be realized.