Lost and Found

Jesus Celebrates passover

Luke 2:41-52 “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But t…”

Introduction

During the less than 13 years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership of the modern American Civil Rights Movement, from December 1955 until April 4, 1968, African Americans achieved more genuine progress toward racial equality in America than the previous 350 years had produced. Dr. King is widely regarded as America’s pre-eminent advocate of nonviolence and one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history.

Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the peaceful teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King led a nonviolent movement in the late 1950s and ‘60s to achieve legal equality for African-Americans in the United States. While others were advocating for freedom by “any means necessary,” including violence, Martin Luther King, Jr. used the power of words and acts of nonviolent resistance, such as protests, grassroots organizing, and civil disobedience to achieve seemingly-impossible goals. He went on to lead similar campaigns against poverty and international conflict, always maintaining fidelity to his principles that men and women everywhere, regardless of color or creed, are equal members of the human family.

Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Nobel Peace Prize lecture and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” are among the most revered orations and writings in the English language. His accomplishments are now taught to American children of all races, and his teachings are studied by scholars and students worldwide.

He is the only non-president to have a national holiday dedicated in his honor and is the only non-president memorialized on the Great Mall in the nation’s capital. He is memorialized in hundreds of statues, parks, streets, squares, churches and other public facilities around the world as a leader whose teachings are increasingly-relevant to the progress of humankind.

So, as we remember the great civil rights leader, american patriot and baptist preacher Dr. King I want you to also keep in mind that even before Dr. King there was Dr. Jesus Can you say Amen!

Luke 2:41–42 (NKJV)

His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.

Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth (Chapter 11: “Favor with God and Men”)

Luke begins this section by informing us that “Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom” (vv. 41–42). The Hebrew Scriptures, in three separate places, called for the mandatory attendance of all males age thirteen and above at the feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (cf. Exodus 23:14–17; 34:23; Deuteronomy 16:16).

Thus the multiple pilgrimages of Joseph and Mary together testify to their deep piety and devotion.

They were committed to a religious life style

Luke 2:42 “And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.”

The Lost sight of Jesus

Luke 2:43-44 “When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”

We too have lost sight of some things!

Jalya Mays right foot and heel need special prayer today 40 steps...

They stopped everything to look for Him

Luke 2:44 “but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.”

They went back to the place where they last saw Him.

Luke 2:45 “So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.”

Three Days

Gen 5:22 “After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.”

Gen 6:10 “And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

Ex 2:2 “So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him three months.”

Ex:23:17 ““Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord God.”

Matt 12:40 “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Matt 17:4 “Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.””

Matt 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””

Matt 26:34 “Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.””

John 2:19 “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.””

Luke 2:46 NKJV

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

They found Him in the Temple!

Luke 2:46 NKJV

Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

In My Father’s business!

Luke 2:48–49 NKJV

So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

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Luke 2:50–52 NKJV

But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Don’t stop until you find him!

I am so glad that I found Him in time!