So . . . I've been thinking about our children and how we baptize them as infants and if we are active Christians we rear them in church, educate them in Christian ways and then when they are around twelve years of age - they get confirmed - attend a confirmation ceremony.
I've often wondered . . . what is so magical about age "twelve?" I know that the Jewish people have a bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah at age 12 and that's what they have been doing back to the Old Testament days. Jewish children (boys especially) were required to study and be able to recite the first five books of the Bible - the Torah (also known as the Pentateuch which means five books in Greek) by that time. I always considered myself lucky that I did not have to memorize FIVE BOOKS because, I guess, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. But . . . why TWELVE? Here's what I learned:
Do you remember this Scripture in Luke 2:41 - 50?
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Many churches confirm children in their faith at the age of twelve because Jesus, at that age, claimed God as His Father. At confirmation we ask our young people to profess publicly their faith and their relationship with God, just as Jesus did that day in the Temple. They say to the congregation, in essence, I choose to trust in God as my creator and heavenly Father, I choose to accept Jesus as my Savior and follow him as my Lord, and I choose to invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in, shape, empower, and guide me." Confirmation is a defining moment in our lives - a time to claim our relationship with God, just as Jesus did in the Temple at age twelve.
What a beautiful event! Do you remember your confirmation? Did you have someone in your life who ensured you continued to build your relationship with the Lord. Do you know a child who had a confirmation? Remember how they got all dressed up in their specially bought outfits just for this occasion - all the people who attended - a party was held for them. Are they active in their faith? Are they going to church? Are they actively choosing to follow Jesus Christ? Or is the party over - the gifts long gone and now it's just a nice memory with pictures to look at periodically?
As parents and grandparents we are reminded by God in Deuteronomy 4:8-9: "And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."
Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
I Corinthians 11:1 - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.