The One who Confounds

Wednesday, November 26 2014

My 11 year old son Wyatt loves to watch some videos called "Minute Physics". They feature a young, genius professor who answers mind-boggling questions such as "What is dark matter?" and  "How does the sun work?"

Recently my son asked me, "Dad, do you think the universe is infinite?" I looked at him blankly before I began to fumble with a vague philosophical response about infinity. Processing my mangled words, I quickly retreated with a theological manoeuvre - tossing out a comment about God´s mystery. Wyatt looked at me for a moment, unimpressed, and said, "I think I´ll go watch a Mnute Physics video and see what he says."

I understand the shock Joseph and Mary [and all who were gathered in the temple] felt when they encountered young Jesus' profound curiosity and remarkable conversation. Jesus wasn´t even supposed to be in the temple. His family had left for home, but Jesus stayed behind (Luke 2:43). Three days later, when Jesus' family returned to Jerusalem and tracked him down, they were shocked to find him "sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions" (v.46). This wasn´t where they thought Jesus would be or what He would be doing, and He surprised more than just His parent.s "All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers" (v.47).

It´s not just the cross and resurrection (Jesus' unexpected way of redeeming humanity) or Jesus' disruptive teaching that conflicts with our expectations. He upends all we think we understand. God's Son, from His first breath to His ascension, confounds our human expectations and categories. This is good news, because our expectations are often too small. - Winn Collier

Read
Luke 2:39-52
When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn´t you know I had to be in my Father´s house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God´s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Question to Ponder
What about Jesus and His teaching most confounds you? 
What can we know and understand about God?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Sept - Nov 2014 issue