Jesus Learns

A guy I traveled with in Nepal thinks that during the years of Jesus' life that are not recorded in the Gospel, the Lord travelled to Asia where he was considered a Buddha. I'd like to offer another suggestion. It's not even a theory, so much as a hopeful idea. But it certainly doesn't contradict anything we're told, in fact it is rather well supported, at least in light of my limited knowledge.

I think he learned. Just learned. Learned in the synagogue, from the priests; learned at home, from his parents; learned in the workshop, from customers; learned about all these people.

No person that I have encountered - no politician, novelist, pastor, or parent - seems to have as deep an understanding of people as Jesus demonstrated during his short years of ministry. He knew their shortcomings and their strengths, he knew what they needed to hear and what they wouldn't listen to, he knew that they would follow him, ravenous for his teaching, and he knew that they would kill him for the same. Jesus spent thirty years learning about his Jewish people, and people in general. And he did it well.

If you remember, when he was young those in the synagogue were amazed by him - by his questions and his answers. Jesus was a talented learner. He picked up theology as if it were a book he already owned, and his teachers only had to turn the pages. He learned the politics of religion, and the dangers of politics. He learned what his people desired, what they lacked, what they offered, what they needed, and what they would respond to.

And finally, after thirty years of quiet study, he stepped out of the workshop and presented himself as one ready to teach, to help, to reach out. And not until then, at least as far as we know. There are mighty implications to this, my friends. Mighty.