IN SEARCH OF JESUS: MY FATHER’S HOUSE
LUKE 2: 41-52
JANUARY 31, 2004
INTRODUCTION: “HOME ALONE” THE MOVIE??
A 10 year old girl had gone with a group of family and friends to see some Christmas light displays at various locations throughout the city. At one church, they stopped and got out to look more closely at the beautifully done nativity scene. “Isn’t that beautiful?” said the little girl’s grandmother. “Look at all the animals, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.” “Yes, Grandma,” replied the granddaughter. “It is really nice. But, there is only one thing that bothers me. Isn’t baby Jesus ever going to grow up… he’s the same size he was last year.”
TRANSITION THOUGHT: How do we grow in our understanding of just who Jesus is? How do we go from the faith of a child to the faith of an adult? When is it that we allow Jesus to grow up and no longer be the cute little cuddly baby of the manger and become the Risen Savior of the World? When do we allow HIM to completely control our lives as LORD OF ALL? As we continue going in search of Jesus, our text bears out some distinct truth from the Life of Jesus that should apply to all our lives!
THESIS SENTENCE: JESUS HAS ONE FOCAL POINT: HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS!
I. THE BOY JESUS HONORS THE PAST VV. 41-42
A. HIS PARENTS OBEYED THE LAW
1. “Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.” Joseph and Mary were devout believers and followed the Law.
2. The Law only required three trips to be made to Jerusalem and this only concerned the Males of the family.
3. Joseph and Mary set a strong example for their son and went every year. This would have been a big expense and tough for a family to do. Mary and Joseph did have other children.
4. Jesus being the oldest was going to Jerusalem for a special event. His parents made sure he was there for this event!
B. JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW
1. Jesus was going to the Temple to become a Son of the Law. Today this is called “Bar Mitzvah”.
2. His parents had made sure he was circumcised on the eighth day. At Twelve he must go to the temple and read the scripture. He fulfilled the obligations of the Law as a young man should. Isn’t it awesome when our young folks follow Jesus in being obedient to God’s will when they are young!
3. Matthew 5: 17-18 teach us that Jesus continued to fulfill the Law and did not abolish it: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
4. Jesus was/is the fulfillment of the prophets of old who spoke of the one to come as the messiah, the savior of the world!
TRUTH: JESUS’ PARENTS MODELED THE TRUTH OF HONORING GOD AND JESUS THE 12 YEAR OLD FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE!
QUESTIONS: DO WE MODEL THE TRUTH OF HONORING GOD? WHAT EXAMPLE DO WE SET FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?
II. THE BOY JESUS HONORS GOD’S CALL VV. 43-47
A. A PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITY
1. Jesus did not have bad parents. He did not have uninvolved parents. He had typical parents. Remember, they are not God, but their Son is! THEY HAD TAKEN JESUS WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE!
2. It was customary for large family groups to travel together, Jesus was with a cousin or brother, or sister.
3. Jesus was twelve now, he should know when it is time to leave and follow along with the families plan. HE DID FOLLOW HIS FAMILY PLAN!
4. His parents did find him! He was in the temple court!
B. A SON’S RESPONSIBILITY
1. Jesus was hanging out with the Religious folks of the day.
2. Some painting show Jesus, as a child, standing lecturing the teachers of the Law, this is not the case. Jesus went to Synagogue in Nazareth.
3. He knew the place of a student was to sit and listen and ask questions. 4. Everyone who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers (VERSE 47). This is not derogatory, but affirming!
5. Jesus knew how to conduct himself as a young man with his teachers. 6. In the Synagogue (Christian: Church), there was a technique for learning: A question is asked, an answer given, then discussion as to the right answer. Some suggest here that Jesus may have been asking questions to which the “Teachers of the Law,” the “Doctors (KJV)” could not answer. The point here is that Jesus knew where he should be to learn and to be about His Father’s Business.
TRUTH: Jesus knew the importance of church and models appropriate behavior for learning about God.
QUESTIONS: Do we realize the importance of Learning about our God? Is church a priority in our lives?
III. THE BOY JESUS HONORS HIS FATHER VV. 48-49
A. A MOTHER’S RESPONSE TO HERE SON
1. “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
2. Why didn’t dad ask the question?? Moms usually are a little more emotional than dads. Mary shows the heart of concerned parents!
3. Had Mary and Joseph forgotten all that they had been told?
B. A SON’S RESPONSE TO HIS PARENTS
1. “Why were you searching for me?” he asked.
2. Jesus almost seems bewildered by the fact that his parents are looking for him. He has made a shift in priority. He is seeing through new eyes!
C. A SON’S RESPONSE TO HIS FATHER
1. Joseph does not pipe in here and say, son your father’s house is in Nazareth, not Jerusalem!
2. Joseph knew the Father of His Son!
3. Jesus knows who His Father is!!
TRUTH: JESUS HONORED HIS FATHER BY BEING ABOUT HIS BUSINESS!
QUESTIONS: DO WE KNOW WHOM OUR FATHER IS? DO WE HONOR HIM WITH OUR LIVES?
IV. THE BOY JESUS HONORS THE PRESENT VV. 50-52
A. THE PRESENT IS THE HERE AND NOW
1. Jesus honored his Father and Mother as the Law/ the word of God, demands! 2. Jesus went home and was obedient to his parents.
3. Jesus lived where he was!
B. THE PRESENT LEADS TO THE FUTURE
1. The net effect is that Jesus prepared for the future by living in the present. 2. Jesus continued to GROW UP!
3. He grew in Wisdom: he wised up!
4. He grew in stature: he matured physically, emotionally and socially! 5. He grew in favor: he found depth in his relationship His Father: God and with His fellow man.
TRUTH: JESUS MODELS MATURITY!
QUESTIONS: ARE WE LIVING GODLY LIVES IN THE PRESENT? ARE WE GROWING UP IN OUR FAITH? ARE WE MODELING CHRISTIAN MATURITY?
CONCLUSION: As we continue searching for Jesus, I hope we are learning that Jesus is our example. As we watch His life, we find a life worth living. We find true life in the life of the creator of life. I hope we never tire of learning of Jesus, for He is the WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE! AND REMEMBER, JESUS IS ABOUT HIS FATHER’S BUSINESS!
BENEDICTION: REVELATION 22:21
