Where Did You Leave Him

Where Did You Leave Him?

Beloved today, we delve into a poignant and urgent question: "Where Did You Leave Him?" Our foundation is the scripture from Luke 2:41-51. Let us listen to the Word of God:

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Where Did You Leave Him?

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. We thank You for this opportunity to gather in Your name, to worship You, and to seek Your face. Lord, we acknowledge that without You, we are nothing. We confess that at times we have become so engrossed in our own plans and agendas that we have left You behind.

As we prepare to hear Your Word, we ask for Your Holy Spirit to move among us. Open our hearts and minds to receive the message You have for us today. Reveal to us the areas in our lives and in our church where we have strayed from Your presence. Give us the courage to turn back, to seek You with all our hearts, and to place You once again at the center of all we do.

Father, we pray for a spirit of humility and repentance to fall upon us. Help us to recognize the emptiness of our efforts without You and to return to the true essence of our faith - a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. May we be reminded of the joy and peace that come from walking closely with You.

Bless this time together, and may Your Word penetrate our hearts and transform our lives. We pray that as we lift up the name of Jesus, You will draw all people unto Yourself. May Your presence be felt powerfully in this place, and may we leave here changed, renewed, and more in love with You than ever before.

In Jesus' mighty name, we pray.

Amen.

The Problem: Leaving Jesus Behind

In this passage, we see a profound and troubling scenario. Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, unknowingly leave Him behind in Jerusalem. It is only after a day's journey that they realize He is missing. This narrative is not just a historical account; it is a spiritual metaphor for the modern church.

Like Mary and Joseph, many churches today have left Jesus behind. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of religious activities, programs, and performances. We assume that Jesus is with us in our grand plans and busy schedules. But have we paused to check if He truly is?

Reasons We Have Left Jesus Behind:

Prioritizing Performance Over Presence:

In many modern churches, there is a heavy emphasis on performance. We have professional worship teams, captivating speakers, and state-of-the-art facilities. While none of these are inherently bad, they become a problem when they replace the genuine presence of Jesus. Our services are polished, but are they powerful? We must ask ourselves: Is Jesus truly at the center of our gatherings, or have we made the stage our focal point?

Focus on Numbers Rather Than Discipleship:

Growth is often measured by the number of attendees rather than the depth of discipleship. We celebrate large congregations, but do we celebrate lives truly transformed by Christ? Jesus commissioned us to make disciples, not just to fill seats. Have we left Jesus behind in our pursuit of popularity and numerical success?

Consumerism Over Commitment:

Today's church culture often caters to consumerism. We offer programs and services designed to attract and entertain, but do we challenge and nurture genuine commitment to Christ? Are we feeding spiritual hunger or merely providing temporary satisfaction? Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. Have we replaced this call with a message of convenience?

Isn’t it our responsibility as Believers to follow Jesus instead of assuming he’s with us?

Jesus has promised never to leave us or forsake us. We can’t wander away from his presence. Unfortunately, we can easily lose the experience of his presence. When we leave it behind, it can be a long time before we notice. It can take even longer to remember where we were and what we were doing the last time we noticed him. Then we have to go looking for Jesus.

The church and the individual members too often go through church activities and personal quiet time as a routine. When we’re finished, we do something else. Do we leave Jesus behind, intent on the next thing on the schedule? That might be the meaning of “all we, like sheep, have gone astray.”

Throughout his earthly ministry, Jesus performed many of his miracles when he was on his way to do something else. He frequently allowed the opportunity to minister to the needs around him to change his plans.

If Jesus pauses to go about his Father’s business and we keep plodding along out of force of habit, we will leave him behind. Maybe we will even be as upset as Joseph and Mary as they backtracked and added two days to their journey looking for Jesus.

When we find him again, do we then scold him?

The baby in the manger has grown up. Why are we so bewildered that Jesus wants us to grow up too!

Here’s The Appeal: Search Back Where We Left Christ

Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was missing and they turned back to Jerusalem to find Him. We, too, must turn back and search where we left Christ. This search requires introspection, repentance, and a sincere desire to return to our first love.

Return to Prayer and Worship:

True worship is not a performance; it is an encounter with the living God. We must prioritize prayer and worship that seek God's presence above all else. Let our services be marked by a genuine hunger for God, where hearts are transformed, and lives are surrendered.

Emphasize Authentic Discipleship:

We need to refocus on making disciples. This involves teaching, mentoring, and walking alongside individuals as they grow in their faith. It is a commitment to spiritual maturity and Christlikeness, rather than mere attendance.

Commit to Christ-Centered Community:

The church should be a place where the love of Christ is evident in our relationships. We must build communities where people experience the grace, truth, and love of Jesus. This means fostering genuine connections and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys.

Conclusion: Finding Jesus Again

When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, they were amazed. He was right where He belonged, about His Father's business. Similarly, when we return to where we left Jesus, we will find Him in His rightful place - at the center of our lives and our churches.

Luke 2:51-52 says, "Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." When we find Jesus and treasure all things about Him, we will experience growth in wisdom, favor with God, and with people.

Let us commit to lifting Jesus up in all we do, for He promised, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32).

It’s all about Him (Jesus the Christ)

The Great I am

To the Tourist = I am the Way

To the Biologist = I am the Life

To the Philosopher = I am the Truth

An Astrologist = I am the Bright and Morning Star

To the Geologist = I am the Rock of all Ages

To the Jeweller = I am the Pearl of Great Price

To the Baker = I am the Bread that came down from Heaven

To the Carpenter = I am the Hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces

Let us go back, beloved, and find where we left Him. Let us bring Jesus back to the center, where He belongs, and watch as He draws all men unto Himself.

Amen.