William H. Smith January 8, 2001

1204 Christmas Tree Lane about 800 words

Pearce, Az. 85625

303-36-7671

(520) 826-1029

The Sin

By

William H. Smith

Other than the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing was written of him until he reached the age of twelve. The childhood of Jesus is alleged by some to have been filled with miracles, this reasoning would only be true if Jesus the Son of God was growing into Godhood, therefore that theory would be ridiculous. Jesus probably had a childhood much like every other child of his age, and he didn’t realize what he was until he entered the Temple at the age of twelve years, and he still needed to mature.

In I Samuel Chapter three it is written that Samuel, at the age of twelve years had a visit from the Lord. Since Jesus entered the Temple at the age of twelve (the age of accountability for the Jews) he may have had a visit from an angel otherwise he probably would not have

known to enter the Temple. Samuel was a prophet after Eli and the Lord was with him. Jesus was the last prophet and it is known that the Lord was with him.

In Luke chapter two it is written, the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast as was their tradition. They traveled by caravan in those days because it was the practice and was safer. At the end of the days journey when they were returning home (imagine the horror of Mary and Joseph) they found that Jesus wasn’t among them.

The Lord had commended Jesus to their care and now he was missing. It took them three days to find Jesus at the Temple and counting the two days of traveling back, Jesus had been missing for five days. When Mary confronted her son she was astonished and relieved. In those days this conduct from a child would have been dealt with severely, because they were taught to be responsible for their actions by the age of twelve years. That Jesus wasn’t with the caravan when it left was an offense toward his parents and the caravan.

Perhaps an angel visited Jesus and that was why he entered the Temple to study. Being absorbed in his studies he simply forgot that he was departing for Nazareth, and the caravan had left without him. Jesus’ mother scolded him for not being with them when he was found in the Temple and his reply was, “Why were you looking for me, didn’t you know that I must be about my Father's business.” Being the age of twelve years he would have been treated as any other youngster of this age. He returned with them to Nazareth and was subject to them, as he increased in wisdom and statue.

Jesus' remark when he was found in the Temple was a childish remark, knowing that he had done a bad deed, and he was hoping for a lenient punishment. There was nothing else

written of Jesus until John baptized him.

This incident was required to demonstrate that Jesus was a regular boy growing up as any other human boy and was making the same mistakes. Until he entered the Temple he hadn’t fully understood what was being taught to him by his mother, and got caught up in the studies at the Temple when he began to comprehend.

Many people will sin against man, but not against God. Jesus probably sinned the

normal sins of a boy for the period he grew up in, but not sinning against God. There was necessity for Jesus to be baptized and to wash away his sins, be born again, because he was about to receive the Holy Spirit. The thing that makes the baptism of Jesus unique is that he received the Holy Spirit visually, and afterwards God proclaimed him to be his son.

While sitting in a congregation on Sunday morning I heard the preacher ask, “Did Jesus

ever sin.” A child about ten years old spoke up from the congregation and said, “Yes when he went to the Temple without his parents permission.” A Deacon piped up and said, “Oh you are wrong, Jesus was completely without sin.” I believe the child was correct, and the Deacon should rethink the significance of sin. Jesus executed a sin against his parents at the age of twelve, and remained sinless after he was baptized and received the Holy Spirit. Read and interpret the Bible literally and as a little child.

II Corinthians 5:21 is the only verse I know of that states that Jesus knew no sin. I believe he knew no sin after he was baptized and received the Holy Spirit.

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