How Much Longer?

“Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”    —Luke 2:51a

Road trips have always been a large part of our life with two children, and now, two grandchildren. Years ago, I attended seminary in Kentucky, and we traveled home to PA several times a year. Now, we frequently visit my brother’s vacation lake house in the mountains of South Carolina.

Inevitably, about 30 minutes into our eight to ten hour journey before we have left PA, one of the children will ask, “How much longer?” My wife and I take two different approaches in answering the question. I quickly reply, “Five more minutes.” I am not lying but using the grammatical technique known as hyperbole. I exaggerate how close we are to our destination to demonstrate that the how-much-longer question is premature, and “We are not anywhere near there yet!” I think it’s humorous.

Darlene patiently tries to distract the children with a game or song or nap. “If you take a long, long, nap, we will be much closer.” In more recent days with portable DVD players, “If you watch four more movies, we will be there.” I feel her patient approach is unnecessary. Toughen up kids. Life’s rough.

The movie “The Young Messiah” is set to be released to theaters next week. It tells the fictional but possible events from the life of Jesus Christ, age seven until His public ministry as recorded in the Gospels. Luke’s Gospel recounts the only Biblical record of Jesus’ early life. At the age of twelve, Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem to debate with the religious teachers in the Temple. Jesus’ family searched for three days before they found Him.

Confronting Jesus in the Temple courts, Mary says, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (2:48).  Jesus replies, “Why were you searching for me? ... Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Jesus may have been saying, “We have arrived. It is time for My public ministry to begin.” Mary’s response basically says, “We are not anywhere near there, yet.”

My Bible subtitles this passage, “Boy Jesus amazes the scholars.” What amazes me most about this passage is not that Jesus debated with the religious scholars but that Jesus returned home to Nazareth and patiently submitted to earthly parents for the next eighteen years.

There are two different Greek words in the New Testament that are usually translated as patience or endurance. One stresses the idea of great forbearance under suffering caused by other people. The second stresses patient endurance and steadfastness as we seem to be kept waiting for a long time by God. Hebrews 12:1-2 describes both of these ideas, “Let us run with endurance [patience] the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, … who for the joy set before Him endured [patience] the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

At times in life, you may feel circumstances, family, or even God is holding you back. Jesus understands. He had a God-sized mission but fulfilled it in God’s perfect timing. You may be crying out to God, “How much longer?” Jesus obediently waited 30 years to begin His public ministry. By God’s grace, we too can be patient with those around us for a while longer.