Just Jesus: 5 Stories To Know Him BetterSample

Middle school can be tough. So many classes. So many teachers. So. Much. Homework. Team tryouts. School dances. Friends who aren’t friends anymore. Crushes who don’t know you exist. Drama. Social media. Cafeterias. You can probably add to the list.

Whether you think middle school is awesome or the most dreadful thing ever, we’ve probably all had the same thought at one time or another:

“There’s no way Jesus knows what it’s like to be me.”

But what if Jesus did (and still does) know what it’s like to be you?

From the stories in the Bible, we know that Jesus got hungry and tired and sad. He was mistreated and misunderstood. Some people made fun of him. Other people frustrated him. Some people loved him. Others hated him. (Any of that sound familiar?) But Jesus was a grown-up in the stories – which is a pretty big difference from being in middle school.

In one specific story about Jesus, though, he wasn't a grown-up yet (besides the Christmas story - obviously he wasn't a grown-up then, either).. In this story the Bible tells us Jesus' exact age. Ready for it? He was 12. That’s right. Twelve.

So if that story took place today, Jesus could be in your middle school math class. He could play on your soccer team. He could come to WyldLife with you. And he’d fit right in.

When you read the story about 12-year-old Jesus, you’ll see that he had interests of his own. You’ll see that he had parents who worried about him when they couldn’t find him. You’ll see that Jesus was still learning about life and “growing in wisdom.” And when Jesus’ parents scolded him, you’ll see that he honored them and obeyed them.

Because he was God-in-flesh, Jesus was a sinless 12-year-old. But he was also a human 12-year-old who had to deal with all the normal 12-year-old growing up things. Just think about that for a minute, and remember that when you tell Jesus that you are insecure, worried, or afraid, he understands. He really does.

REFLECTION

What do you want Jesus to understand about being you right now?

DISCUSSION

What does it mean to you that Jesus knows what it is like to be 12-years-old?