A Sermon for Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church
Sunday 5th January 2025
Albrecht Dürer, Jesus among the Doctors
Luke 2.41-52
When I was teaching Biblical Studies at Cardiff University,
back in what feels like a lifetime ago,
there were a couple of memorable occasions
when I concluded that there was a student in the class
who knew more about the subject that I was teaching than I did!
On both occasions, I’m pleased to say,
the students in question went on
to achieve doctorates in Old Testament studies.
And I’m left with that feeling all teachers get from time to time
—realising that one’s students have exceeded the ability of their teacher.
I guess this is how the teachers in the temple must have felt
as they disputed theology with the twelve-year-old Jesus.
Artistic depictions of this scene are often called ‘Christ among the Doctors,’
which takes the word ‘doctor’ back to its original meaning
of being one who is qualified to teach,
rather than its more recent usage referring to medical practitioners.
Now, I’m not going to get drawn into the debates on social media
as to whether holders of doctoral degrees should use the title “Doctor,”
or whether it should be reserved for those who know how to save a life.
Instead, I want to focus on the deeper origins of the title
—not only the title ‘Doctor’ but also the academic award of PhD.
The origins of the PhD degree, the Doctorate in Philosophy,
lie in the medieval church,
where it was an award granted to those
who demonstrated excellence in philosophy, the ‘love of wisdom.’
The word ‘philosophy’ is itself a joining of two Greek words,
phileo, meaning to love, and sophia, meaning wisdom.
So, philosophy means, literally, the ‘love of wisdom.’
And a doctor of philosophy is, at heart,
a teacher of the love of wisdom.
Interestingly, this word philosophy occurs only once in the New Testament,
in Paul’s letter to the Colossians (2:8),
where it describes those who were so in love with the idea of wisdom
that they were falling out of love with Jesus.
But the words phileo and sophia (love and wisdom) occur many times
and are presented as attributes
to which followers of Jesus should aspire.
We are called to love, and we are called to wisdom.
But these are not neutral terms:
we can love the wrong things,
and we can be wise in the wrong kind of wisdom.
The followers of Jesus are called to love God and to love their neighbour (Mark 12:30-31). And they are also called to grow in the wisdom of God.
Our story from Luke’s gospel,
of the young Jesus among the doctors in the temple,
challenges us to think about wisdom
and how we can follow Christ’s example
of growing in wisdom as the years go by.
The Education of Jesus
When Jesus enters the temple, he is still officially a child.
The age of maturity for Jewish men in that period was 13,
and Luke specifically tells us that Jesus was only 12.
Partly, this may be because Luke likes the number 12,
which symbolises God’s continuing revelation.
So in Luke’s gospel the 12 tribes of Israel are echoed by the 12 apostles,
and Jesus in the temple at 12 symbolises the intersection
of historic Judaism and the new relationship with God
that Jesus was bringing into being.
But Jesus is not disputing with the doctors in the temple.
He’s learning from them.
This isn’t some know-it-all wunderkind coming in
and showing the establishment the error of their ways.
There’s no hint here of replacement theology,
with Jesus supplanting the wisdom of Israel.
Rather, Jesus listens and asks questions;
he is a student of his heritage,
learning from those who are themselves lifelong students of wisdom.
Within the Jewish tradition,
wisdom is more than a concept.
Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible is sometimes personified as a woman
with whom people can relate
and those who live alongside Wisdom for many years
can themselves become wise (Proverbs 8).
Solomon’s famous request to God
was not for riches or power,
but for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15, 4:29-30).
And here, in Luke’s gospel, we meet Jesus,
a child on the edge of adulthood,
listening and questioning, not lecturing or teaching,
growing in wisdom as he grows in years.
The Wisdom of the Wise Men
As we celebrate Epiphany Sunday today,
it is fitting to also reflect on the wisdom of the Magi who sought Jesus.
These wise men from the East
exemplify the kind of wisdom we are called to emulate.
Their journey to find the Christ child
was not driven by a pursuit of power or self-interest
but by a deep longing to honour and worship
the one who is wisdom incarnate.
The Magi remind us that true wisdom
requires both discernment and action.
They discerned the significance of the star and acted on that insight,
undertaking a long and challenging journey to meet Jesus.
In doing so, they showed a willingness to seek beyond the familiar,
to take risks, and to offer their treasures as a sign of their devotion.
This is wisdom in action:
seeking Christ, honouring Christ, and offering their best to Christ.
Their story challenges us to consider
what it means to seek Jesus in our own lives.
Like the Magi, we are called to discern where God is at work
and to respond with courage and faith.
Their journey was not merely about finding a child;
it was about encountering the presence of God
and being transformed by that encounter.
For us, this means that wisdom is not just about intellectual understanding
but about spiritual openness
and a willingness to follow wherever God leads.
The gifts the wise men brought—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—
symbolize their recognition of Jesus’ kingship, divinity, and sacrifice.
In the same way, our growth in wisdom
calls us to offer our own gifts to God:
our time, talents, and love for others.
This is the heart of true wisdom
—a life orientated toward God and lived in service to the world.
Education Beyond the Classroom
So, back to Jesus among the doctors in the temple;
and this story challenges us to reflect on how we grow in wisdom today.
Education matters deeply, but not only formal education.
We live in an era where misinformation is rampant.
Social media and digital platforms
often prioritise the loudest voices over the wisest ones.
The ability to discern what is good, what is true, and what is just
has never been more crucial.
Take, for example, the growing divide
over issues like climate justice or artificial intelligence.
Decisions made today will profoundly impact future generations.
But how do we navigate these complex issues wisely?
As Christians, we are called to a wisdom
that transcends political slogans and popular opinions.
We are called to a wisdom grounded in love
—love for God, for creation, and for each other.
Wisdom is not just about knowing what is right but doing what is right.
And this kind of wisdom is often best learned in community.
Just as Jesus learned in dialogue with the doctors in the temple,
so we grow in wisdom by engaging with one another,
sharing perspectives, and challenging assumptions.
One of the evils of populism
is that it isolates people from those who think differently,
as people polarise into cliques and echo chambers.
In the Christian community we must resist this,
we are called to learn from one another through our differences,
respecting voices with which we disagree,
and being willing to change as more light and truth emerge from God’s word.
A Deeper Look at Jesus in the Temple
This, after all, is the pattern of Jesus. He goes to the temple to learn.
One of the remarkable aspects of this story
is the way Luke portrays the humanity of Jesus alongside his divine wisdom.
Here we see a young boy who is both learning and teaching,
both searching and revealing.
This interplay between seeking understanding and embodying divine insight
speaks to the dual nature of Christ
and offers us a profound model for discipleship.
What strikes me particularly is how this scene bridges two significant ideas:
the humility to learn and the courage to share.
Jesus, at twelve, demonstrates a willingness to sit among the elders,
to listen, and to ask questions.
This is not an act of arrogance
but of curiosity and respect.
For us, this serves as a reminder
that wisdom begins with listening.
In our polarized world, where shouting matches often replace dialogue,
Jesus’ posture of listening
invites us to recover the art of meaningful conversation.
And yet, Jesus is also unafraid to speak.
His answers amaze those who hear him,
not because they come from a place of self-promotion
but because they are deeply rooted in his identity and mission.
For us, this means that true wisdom
involves both receiving and giving, learning and teaching.
It challenges us to hold these in balance,
ensuring that our pursuit of knowledge
never outpaces our commitment to share in God’s love with others.
Wisdom Through the Eyes of Community
The communal aspect of this story is also worth noting.
Jesus is found after three days,
a detail that resonates with the later resurrection narrative
in which Jesus is raised from the dead on the third day.
His parents, frantic with worry, search among their relatives and friends
before returning to the temple.
This reminds us that wisdom and faith are not solitary pursuits;
they are embedded in the fabric of community.
For Mary and Joseph,
their understanding of Jesus’ identity deepens through this experience.
But they do not fully grasp his words
—“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”—
rather, they treasure them in their hearts.
This treasuring reflects the ongoing journey of faith,
where understanding unfolds over time
within the context of relationships.
In our own faith communities,
we are called to support one another in this journey.
Like Mary and Joseph, we may not always understand
the ways God is working in our midst.
But by treasuring these moments,
by holding them prayerfully and communally,
we grow together in wisdom and faith.
Just as Jesus grew in wisdom and favour with God and humanity,
so too are we invited to grow
—not in isolation but through shared experience,
shared learning, and shared grace.
The Blessings of Wisdom
Our other reading today from Proverbs 3:13-18
provides us with a poetic vision of wisdom's value.
This passage from the Hebrew Bible gives us a rich image
of wisdom as a source of profound blessing
—a tree of life, offering happiness, peace,
and honour to those who pursue her.
In the context of Luke’s story,
it helps us understand why Jesus’ time in the temple,
sitting among the teachers and growing in wisdom, is so significant.
Jesus’ pursuit of wisdom is not just for his own growth
but for the flourishing of all who would follow him.
For us, the call to seek wisdom
is equally transformative.
It reminds us that true wealth lies not in material gain
but in the pursuit of understanding and the ways of peace.
This is wisdom that reshapes our priorities,
leading us to paths of justice, mercy, and joy.
As we reflect on this, let us ask ourselves:
How can we embrace this tree of life in our own lives?
I wonder what steps we can take
to ensure that wisdom becomes a guiding principle
for our decisions, relationships, and actions?
Growth in Wisdom and Spiritual Depth
As we reflect on the story of Jesus growing in wisdom,
we are reminded of our own commitment this year
to grow in both wisdom and spiritual depth.
This is a vital part of our shared journey as a community of faith,
and it speaks to the deep hunger many of us feel
for spiritual nurturing and fellowship.
One of the ways we seek to meet this need
is through our monthly Sunday afternoon "Breathing Space" sessions,
where we gather to share, to pray,
and to hear what God is doing in our lives.
These times are an opportunity to pause amidst the busyness of life,
to listen for God’s voice,
and to encourage one another on the path of discipleship.
Growth in wisdom and spirituality is not only about personal transformation;
it is about deepening our capacity to love.
True wisdom is found in the love of God, the love of one another,
and the love of our neighbour and all creation.
It is a wisdom that moves us to care for the earth, to work for justice,
and to build relationships of compassion and understanding.
As we gather in Breathing Space,
we are reminded that our growth in faith is not an individual pursuit
but a communal one, drawing us closer to God and to each other.
This integration of wisdom and spirituality
equips us to live out our faith in the world.
It strengthens us to face challenges with grace,
to discern God’s will in complex situations,
and to embody Christ’s love in all we do.
It calls us to a deeper engagement with life
—a life rooted in prayer, reflection,
and the pursuit of wisdom that is both transformative and sustaining.
Let us embrace this journey together,
confident that as we grow in wisdom and spiritual depth,
we are being shaped into the people God calls us to be.
Discipleship as Lifelong Learning
The very word disciple means student,
follower, a committed learner.
And each of us who considers ourselves disciples of Jesus
is called to learn—from Jesus and from one another.
But learning isn’t simply the acquisition of knowledge.
It’s about transformation.
Knowledge is valuable,
but it’s only a step toward the true goal, which is wisdom.
The wisdom that comes from Christ
is categorically different from the wisdom of the world.
Paul captures this beautifully in 1 Corinthians 1:21-25,
reminding us that “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom,
and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”
As we look ahead to 2025,
let us commit ourselves to the pursuit of wisdom.
For some, this might involve engaging
with new opportunities for learning.
Perhaps you’ll join a study group, take a course,
or read a book that challenges your thinking.
For others, it might mean deepening relationships within the church,
learning from those whose experiences differ from our own.
And for some, it will mean cultivating spiritual disciplines,
creating space to hear God speaking through Christ by the Spirit.
Growing Together in Wisdom
Wisdom is learned through interaction with people,
as Jesus discovered in the temple,
but it is also acquired through spiritual discipline,
as we learn to hear God’s voice.
As we start another year,
my challenge to each of us is to make 2025
a year where we seek to grow in wisdom.
This wisdom is not just for our benefit
but for the benefit of the world.
We are called to be wise in love,
wise in justice, and wise in faith,
as we follow Christ
and bear witness to God’s wisdom in our lives.