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Articles 2021-2023
The prophet Haggai had prophesied that the revelation of God’s glory in Israel’s second temple would be greater than in the first one. In Solomon’s day, God was revealed in a cloud; in the rebuilt temple, He was revealed in flesh. At first glance, it might not have seemed very impressive – the Lord Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3) was carried in as an infant. There probably were not many who even noticed. But one who did was a man named Simeon. And he recognized the glory of God because he was a man of revelation. God had revealed to him by the Spirit that he would see Israel’s messiah before he died (Luke 2:25 - 32).
Then there was another, a widow named Anna who never left the temple but served the Lord in fasting and prayer night and day (Luke 2:36 - 37). In a time of such spiritual darkness in the land, there might have been some who thought that a woman so in touch with Heaven should have been more visibly active in a local neighborhood and synagogue. But serving God is not primarily about visibility before people but about faithfulness to God. Only in the ages to come will we discover all the spiritual fruit that came forth in Israel through Anna’s intercessions. And like Simeon, when she saw the infant Jesus, she immediately recognized His significance.
At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks (Greek, ANTHOMOLOGEOMAI – to come to an agreement, to confess openly, to give thanks) to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Whatever Anna’s expectations were concerning Israel’s messiah, when she saw the infant Jesus, she immediately came into agreement with what God was doing, began giving thanks, and then proceeded to speak openly of Him. While we do not know what percentage of Israel’s population was actively looking for God to arise bringing redemption to Jerusalem, Anna seemed to be connected relationally with many of them and immediately began encouraging them with what she had discerned about Jesus.
Sometimes when God arises in precious visitation, we do not immediately recognize the significance of what is happening. But spiritual maturity is not only defined by walking in agreement with His ways in the present but also in how quickly we come into agreement with Him when He arises in ways we did not expect. Clearly, God is greater than what we yet know of Him. That is why the foundation of the Church is not our revelation of Him. Rather, it is the Lord Himself who is greater than what we have yet seen. The humble will make the transition when He arises in new ways. The proud will wander without fully grasping the significance of what is happening. Here is to some degree God’s vetting/purification process as He extends His rule among men.
Then after twelve years had gone by, Joseph and Mary again faced a significant and strategic event in their lives. Every year they would attend the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem. But when Jesus was twelve years of age, He stayed behind in Jerusalem at the temple when they left to return home. And they were unaware:
but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.
Was their parenting flawed? How could they go a full day’s journey without Him and not be concerned? Well, for one thing, they knew Him to be a good son, one who would not be off somewhere getting into trouble. They assumed that He was probably just spending time with their relatives and friends. But He was not. So, what was going on? His actions seemed to be unique compared to how He had conducted Himself in the past. For Joseph and Mary, a full day was spent traveling away from Jerusalem. Then they had to go a full day’s journey back. After that, they spent another day looking for Him in the city. Three days had gone by.
Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
Since according to Jewish law, every fact was to be confirmed by at least two witnesses, it seems that God wanted Luke to record two events in the beginning of his gospel to bear witness to all future generations. First, His glory was revealed in infancy requiring Simeon’s prophetic confirmation, and second, His glory was revealed in the Lord Jesus at the age of twelve standing on the threshold of adulthood.
In both cases God’s glory was made manifest in the second temple with a certain degree of limitation. But when Jesus turned thirty, all who beheld Him were confronted by the full expression of the greater glory that Haggai had prophesied about. And not everyone was happy about the Lord acting as if the temple was His own house.
But as He sat in the temple at the age of twelve with the teachers, it is clear that Jesus respected and honored those who were older. He was not trying to publicly teach them. Rather, He listened and asked questions. While many times people ask questions because of their ignorance, there are other times when they ask because of the incompleteness or error in the thinking of the one(s) teaching. Such questioning can still be done with honor and respect. On the other hand, a student might want to reveal how much he knows, draw attention to himself, and humiliate the teacher.
Obviously, Jesus’ goal was not to humiliate others but to reveal the Father. God was making His glory known in His house just as surely as He did in a cloud in the days of King Solomon. But now, He was reintroducing Himself and shining Heaven’s light in a new way on those who studied His word. And while because of Jesus’ age and how He was relating with these leaders, the interaction was not confrontational, nevertheless, it was quite amazing. And all who heard Him were amazed… (Luke 2:47).
Here could be seen the beauty, the majesty, and yet the gentleness of the glory of God. Time and again, Jesus would offer a perspective not previously considered. Illumination would then penetrate to the recesses of the listeners’ souls. And for some, perhaps there began to be an awareness that just maybe, the God of Israel was greater than they had previously thought.
Indeed, the Mighty God was arising in the midst of His people – and in a way that without revelation people would just walk right by (Isaiah 53:1).
When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
Joseph and Mary could not believe their eyes. “What are You doing? You have caused us great anxiety!” To them, Jesus’ actions were a total imposition, an interruption to their plans. But when God arises in new ways, the main point is not how much of an intrusion He seems for us, but rather how long it will take us to recognize what is happening and make the necessary adjustments. A significant prophetic event was occurring; Haggai’s prophecy was being fulfilled.
Perhaps Mary had settled in to a comfortable place in her family life. Sure, there had been some amazing events surrounding Jesus’ birth. But over time, life had settled down and He had fit well in the family as He submitted to Joseph and her. But now, He was at the age when young Jewish males began to look forward to their future and consider how they would fit vocationally in society as adults. While Joseph may have anticipated that Jesus’ main focus would be carpentry, God had something far greater in mind.
And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.
Joseph and Mary were immediately confronted by a perspective beyond their expectations. In response to His mom’s reference to Joseph as His father, Jesus immediately pointed to God as his Father and that He had to be in His Father’s house.
His action was not a mere youthful whim; He needed to be there; His Father had invited Him. While Jesus’ destiny would be the cross, resurrection, and the throne, the route that He would take there would begin and be routed through the house of God. First, Heaven’s glory was revealed in the house in infancy and now in young adulthood. But that glory would surely come to full stature. And God would fully arise into His house. Then Israel would face the greatest question in all her existence. Would she bow before the One for whom the house had been built?
The whole point of Solomon’s temple was neither Solomon, the timber, the gold, the silver, the incense, the priesthood, or the animal sacrifices; it was the glory of God. Without Him, it was just an empty building. A rather expensive one, but still, just a building.
So also, Heaven’s main anticipation in building the second temple was Jesus of Nazareth. As a result, in the very beginning of His ministry, He walked into Father’s house and immediately started insisting that some changes were going to have to take place (John 2:13 - 17). But at the end of His earthly ministry, He walked out declaring that it was now their house (Matthew 23:38). The glory was departing. And they would never behold the glory of God again until they could humble themselves and receive whoever He sent to them in His name. In Acts Chapter Two, three thousand received Peter’s words, bowed their knees before the risen King, and beheld the glory of God coming into His New Testament house now made up of living stones. Is not our God amazing?
Keep coming and filling Your house with Your glory O risen King! Amen.
Donald Rumble – September 2023
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