Where Is Jesus?

WHERE IS JESUS? (Outline)

January 16, 2011 - Epiphany 2 - LUKE 2:41-52

INTRO: Can there be anything scarier than a lost child? Even for a few minutes? Such a situation fills any parent with shock and anguish. Joseph and Mary certainly asked over and over: “Where is Jesus?” Today that question is seldom sounded. Not too many in our day and age are overly concerned about Jesus. Even so, Jesus is still with his creation. Paul preached in Athens. He proclaimed to those unaware of the true God the true meaning for their “unknown god”. The Lord God Almighty had created all things. The creation of humans reflected God’s glory in this creation. "God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us" (ACTS 17:27). By grace we do know where Jesus is. We will want to remember the very comforting truth knowing where God’s son is.

WHERE IS JESUS?

I. In his Father’s house. II. In his people’s hearts.

I. JESUS IS IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE

A. Verse 41. Joseph and Mary faithfully went to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover.

1. Verse 42. When Jesus was old enough his parents took him to the temple for Passover.

2. Verse 43. You can well imagine that the very Son of God wanted to stay close to the temple.

3. Verse 44. The family traveled with other family members. The kids played with each other.

B. Verse 45. Where is Jesus? They had to return to Jerusalem to look for their son. It took another day.

C. Verse 46a. A day traveling from Jerusalem and a day back and a day searching = three days.

1. Verse 48. The parents’ anxiety was replaced with astonishment. They found their son.

2. Verse 49. Jesus calmed his parents’ fears. His heavenly Father would also care for his Son.

3. Verse 50. It would take more time to fully understand completely God’s divine plan.

D. For a time earthly anxiety and worry clouded the thinking of Joseph and Mary. Not too much has changed over the generations since that time. Parents still worry about their children. It seems that more and more in our day and age our world offers a great number of things to worry about. Our world does not point us to Jesus. Instead our world promotes fear and anxiety about dire events that may happen or may not happen. Our world wants us to believe that money is the end all and cure all for everything. Jesus teaches differently in the parable of the seed and the sower. "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful" (MATTHEW 13:22). How often have the “worries of this life” or “the deceitfulness of wealth” choked out God’s word in our lives? Probably more than we want to admit.

E. Where is Jesus? This is the very important question we will want to ask ourselves when tempted by the attractions and distractions of this world. Our world only offers worry. That is not what Jesus wants us to have. We need to understand that the Jesus is close to each one of us. Jesus is the very word of God that became flesh. Jesus is in his Father’s house. God’s house is where God’s word is proclaimed and taught. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (ROMANS 15:4). All of the Scriptures reveal to us Jesus. All of the Scripture give us hope that our world does not offer.

F. It is no surprise that we find Jesus in his Father’s house. We are still at the beginning of another new year. We have the opportunity to start anew and commit ourselves to the importance of being in God’s house at every opportunity. Consider Jesus who was the very Son of God. "He (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read"(LUKE 4:16). On the Sabbath – Jesus is in his Father’s house, our example.

WHERE IS JESUS?

Jesus is in his Father’s house. Jesus is revealed in his Father’s house in his word.

II. JESUS IS IN HIS PEOPLE’S HEARTS

A. The Passover was when the angel of death passed over the children of Israel in Egypt.

1. The firstborn of the Egyptians, man and animals, died. All were to attend the annual feast.

2. Large crowds gathered. Families reunited. Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem at the temple.