March 12

      For the first time the child Jesus looked upon the temple. He saw the white-robed priests performing their solemn ministry. He beheld the bleeding victim upon the altar of sacrifice. With the worshipers He bowed in prayer, while the cloud of incense ascended before God. He witnessed the impressive rites of the paschal service. Day by day He saw their meaning more clearly. Every act seemed to be bound up with His own life. New impulses were awakening within Him. Silent and absorbed, He seemed to be studying out a great problem. The mystery of His mission was opening to the Saviour.

         Desire of Ages, page 78 from the chapter, 'The Passover visit'

       I find this reading really interesting. Teenagers were invented in the 1950’s, so at the age of just under 13 Jesus was no teenager. As He was fully human that means that life so far included a lack of experience, a fair share of childhood illnesses as well as a changing proportion of hormones.

     Now He comes to Jerusalem and sees the sights. His mind is opened. As a boy, the enormous masonry blocks for the temple would have drawn His attention, but the sacrifices burning on the altar were what enthralled him. Jesus begins to think ahead, and if He is thinking ahead consider how Mary is feeling.

     What is so interesting is this. Jesus had been involved in this world from the beginning. He and His Father, as well as the Holy Spirit, saw this world at it’s inception. Jesus had trodden this world and had been present to make His mark at several points in recorded history.

     In His Divine nature He had seen it all before. Jesus the Divine knew Jerusalem intimately. Jesus the Divine knew all about the sacrifices and all that they prefigured.

    As the young lad He was the sightseer. Jesus was learning of His future role at every step. Truly Jesus experienced all that we go through. If you are a teenager now – Jesus even understands you!