Leaving Jesus Behind

Luke 2:41-50

Luke 2:41–50 NKJV

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 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; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 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. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 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.” 49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

What we want to discuss tonight is:

Would you be found guilty of leaving Jesus behind?

Would you leave Jesus out of daily life? Never it be siad that any of us leave Jesus out of daily living, but it can happen. It happened to the parents of Jesus. I believe the Lord has a deep planted message about not leaving Jesus behind.

1. The Regiment and Repetition of Religiosity

Habits, structure, regiment in certain areas of our lives is vitally important. And, so goes the church. I am thankful for those pillars, those that you know that you know that you know will be here and be a part of what is happening in the church. The discipline of coming is so vitally important.

Jesus’ parents were devout practicing Jews. They went as Scripture instructed three times a year to Jerusalem.

Someone read for me:

Deuteronomy 16:16 “16 “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.”

How many of you could raise your hands that at least most of your life you have been in church? If I asked each of you this evening, what do you remember specifically about worship in your time coming up, each of you could remember a repeated practice, a tradition if you will, a norm of doing church if you will. Each of us could give testimony to the things we enjoyed about going to church, things we remembered over our lives about a pattern, a way the flow of the service went, or better yet, what we expect to happen based upon what has been the norm of our years going to church.

Now, if I were to ask you how was church Monday? Do you know where I am going with this? Church, worship, a relationship with Jesus is not a place, it is not a compartmentalized, regimented, structured event in and of itself. Obviously, church, revival, attentiveness to Jesus is a state, a place yes, but a place of the heart.

John 4:20 “20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.””

I have had the response when discussing with someone I am witnessing to about spiritual matters in a fashion such as this.

The idea of spiritual matters ties to a place, a time, a service, an event, and the subject could almost be discussed as if I asked one if they have a workout routine, if they go to the tanning bed, or a member of rotary club.

Let me ask you? Could you be guilty of leaving Jesus behind because you limit Him to a time, place and event?

Luke 2:41-42 “41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.”

If someone asked you about your church life, would it be just that? Or would you relate to your Christ life. “we’ve always done it this way.”

I believe too many people are caught up in Church life and have never fully understood or grasped Christ life.

Exodus 23:14-15 “14 “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);”

And, from my own experience of seeing some of the extended family on my adapted Father’s side of the family, it appeared that it was a “check off” or what we call a “works” style of salvation.

Now let me say something important. Does God honor your disciplines in being at church and in worship? Does He honor your regiment? He does.

Luke 1:9 “9 according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.”

Fred Lunsford’s prayer life may have been motivated out of regiment, discipline, but it became real as he kept the regiment.

2. The Response for a Regenerative Spirit

Read closely 42 with me. Age 12 we say in Baptist life today that 80% of Christians make the decision to follow Christ and if they do not decide to follow Christ by that age, the percentage of chance for them to be saved historically has dropped significantly. By the way, that data used to state 18 years of age.

Interestingly, at age 13, Bar Mitvah for a male, Bat Mitvah for a female, in Jewish life that is termed the age of accountability. The parents are no longer held liable for the sins of their children to the prior generations.

I think there is a great take away to understand that if you are over 12 years of age in our time, you and only you are accountable for your actions. From this point onward, anyone 12 years of age and older here has come to the age of accountability with our relationship with the Lord and I believe in these few verse we can learn something tremendous about never leaving Jesus behind.

A. Linger with Jesus

What are ways that you can linger with Jesus? We do not want our worship, our relationship with Jesus to become mundane, predictable, or cookie cutter. How could you linger, spend more time with Jesus this week and it be fulfilling, enriching, to keep the spice of the relationship?

ὑπομένω hupŏmĕnō, hoop-om-en'-o; from G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere:—abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.

Notice where a regenerative spirit does not reside. Among relatives and acquaintances. Am I saying that the greatest influence we have for Jesus is among relatives and acquaintances? No. I am saying that to linger with Jesus can’t be motivated by osmosis or association, a relationship with Jesus comes about by transformation. A personal time with the Lord.

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

Where do you find Jesus if you have lost Him? Go back to the time when you had Him.

Outside of my relationship with the Lord, there is no other relationship I enjoy more than marriage. I love Jane and I love being married. I enjoy counseling in marriage.

I ask the question, what there a time the marriage was really great? What do you remember about it was great? What were things you enjoyed or did then to make the marriage great? What are you doing now?

Our relationship with Jesus is described as a marriage in the Bible. How are you faring in the marriage relationship?

3. A Recipe for Real Revival

Three has always had significance in the Bible. The Doctrine of the Trinity, Three days in the tomb. Three on the cross, etc.

A completeness, a season of fullness

Found Jesus in the temple. Oh dear brother, if our Lord and Savior had to attend the temple, how much more important is it for us.

1 Corinthians 6:19 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

We see the concept of teaching, listening, asking questions.

How was your church Monday? What are you doing to avoid being complacent, sitting still, or going backward?

Ill. Jason, Bob & the 23rd Psalm

Lord’s Supper Service Next Sunday

-Fred Lunsford story-Inauguration of his son-Mars Hill College

The parents got it by verse 48-We should seek the Lord anxiously.

Luke 2:47 “47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.”

Luke 2:49 “49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?””

-I love the business world to this day. I always found business fascinating. I retired to devote myself to the greatest business on this earth and to eternity-the Lord’s business.

Pater

generator or male ancestor

either the nearest ancestor: father of the corporeal nature, natural fathers, both parents

a more remote ancestor, the founder of a family or tribe, progenitor of a people, forefather: so Abraham is called, Jacob and David

fathers i.e. ancestors, forefathers, founders of a nation

one advanced in years, a senior

metaph.

the originator and transmitter of anything

the authors of a family or society of persons animated by the same spirit as himself

one who has infused his own spirit into others, who actuates and governs their minds

one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way

a title of honour

teachers, as those to whom pupils trace back the knowledge and training they have received

the members of the Sanhedrin, whose prerogative it was by virtue of the wisdom and experience in which they excelled, to take charge of the interests of others