The In-Between: Looking for Jesus

Introduction

This past Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There was a pivotal moment (one of many) that led to the movement Dr. King would help lead—a moment that happened on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

December 1, 1955. Rosa Parks had just finished her shift as a seamstress. She boarded the Cleveland Avenue bus, paid her fare, and took a seat in the middle section—the part of the bus where Black passengers could sit if white passengers didn't need it.

A few stops later, the bus filled up. The driver, James Blake, told Rosa and three other Black passengers to give up their seats for a white man who had just boarded. The other three moved. Rosa didn't.

Now, Rosa Parks wasn't raised to be a troublemaker. She was raised in the church. Her mother was a teacher who instilled in her dignity and faith. Her community supported her. She'd been involved in civil rights work for years, yes—but on that bus, in that moment, no one could make that decision for her.

Her mother couldn't. Her husband couldn't. The NAACP couldn't. Rosa had to own her conviction.

And when she did, even people who loved her thought she was being reckless. "You're going to get yourself killed," some said. "This isn't the right time," others warned. "Why do you have to be the one?"

The cost was real. She was arrested. She lost her job. Her family faced death threats. They eventually had to leave Alabama altogether.

But Rosa Parks didn't lean on her own understanding of how things should work out. She didn't calculate the odds or wait for everyone to agree with her. She trusted God. She trusted that doing the right thing—even when it's uncomfortable, even when it costs you something, even when people don't understand—is worth it.

Years later, she said this: "I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."

Rosa Parks made her faith her own. And in doing so, she helped change the world.

Congressman John Lewis—who marched with Dr. King, who was beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, who spent his life in the struggle for justice—called it "good trouble." The kind of trouble that comes from stepping into what God is calling you to do, even when it disrupts the status quo, even when it costs you something.

Today, we're going to look at a twelve-year-old boy who caused some "good trouble" of his own. His name was Jesus. And in Luke 2, we see Him stepping into His calling in a way that no one—not even His parents—understood.

If you have your Bibles, or on your devices, would you turn to Luke 2:41-52. If you are willing and able, would you stand with me as I read God’s word this morning.

This is the word of the Lord. Praise be to God. Let us pray. Amen (please be seated)

Control to Influence

As we left our passage of Luke during Advent, we pick it up 12 years later and Jesus is a boy.

When we left him, Jesus and his parents were in the temple square and had been visited by Simeon and Anna. They returned to Galilee to their own hometown of Nazareth. Luke concludes this section in vs. 40

Luke 2:40 “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”

So Luke lets us know what is going on for 12 years. Jesus is growing, becoming strong, being filled with wisdom (maybe talk about difference between knowledge and wisdom) and that the grace of God was on Him.

This passage today that we just read, is the hinge moment between His birth narrative and His ministry that he starts at age 30.

What a gift that Luke included this for us.

For 12 years they have been coming to the Festival of the Passover.

The Passover festival commemorated God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery. It is rich with significance that we can’t unpack today. But from the corporate celebration to the communal meal, it all retold the story of God’s faithfulness.

After ten plagues, Pharaoh finally released them—only to pursue them into the wilderness. God parted the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground while the Egyptian army was destroyed in the collapsing waters. Passover reminded them: God is faithful. God delivers.

Every year, Jewish men were required to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for worship. Families were encouraged to go and so caravans from towns like Nazareth would travel together, celebrate the week-long festival, and return home as a group.

This time, I don’t think Joseph and Mary ever forgot about. Traveling home after going to the festival, Jesus stayed back at the temple but they had no idea. If you have a group of friends that you are in community with that have children as well, you all know that you assume care and some responsibility for everyone’s kid if they are in your purview. You look out for them and care for them. I feel this.

Illus:

The feelings that Joseph and Mary must have had having lost Jesus. Who knows why he wasn’t with the caravan. Was he hurt, was he taken, was he talking and making friends with other boys and didn’t see that the caravan had left?

Luke tells us, 3 days!! 3days!! they looked for Jesus.

Finally they found Him at the temple.

Luke 2:47–50 “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.”

In Jewish rites and customs… the ages of 12 and 13 was the coming of age.

Jesus’ response to His parents is powerful. These are the first recorded words of Jesus (more on that later).

Luke 2:49 ““Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?””

Something I think important here… some translations have “be in my Father’s house”, “be about my Father’s business”, and some don’t translate it… because it’s not “house or “business”. In the original language, it’s obscure. I think our Bible translators have been helpful giving us an idea of what’s trying to be communicated… What Jesus is saying is I have to be about what my Father wants me to be about.

Mary and Joseph are being confronted with the enevitable dynamic of control and influence.

I have found this extremely helpful in our journey of parenting. While this is not prescriptive, I hope it’s helpful in being even able to see in Jesus’ family dynamic that there is this moment where Jesus is finding his calling and purpose and living into that.

There are things that we want for our children. When they are younger there is high control and very little influence. Control meaning that we set boundaries, schedules, and have much control over what they do and who they do it with.

As children get older we will eventually have no control and only influence. They make their own decisions and we are there to guide, share our experiences, give them our perspective, but ultimately they have to make the decisions and be responsible for the consequences.

It is that in-between time that can be difficult to navigate. Go ahead and complicate that with each child is different, unique, and has their own thoughts and perspective. It’s nuanced as we walk in this space of control and influence. When I read this portion of scripture here, I see Mary and Joseph being confronted with this transition.

We see Mary’s influence on Jesus later in beautiful interchange at the wedding in Cana (his first miracle)… John 2:3–5 “When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.””

Parents, be encouraged. Be mindful. Let us take from Joseph and Mary. Train up our children to know God. Let them come with you in the journey of discovery of His goodness and faithfulness. Bring them to church, bring them into the things of your life, let them see God move, provide, change, and form you. Let them taste and see the goodness of God in your life. Bring them to youth group, encourage them in their own Bible study. As Joseph and Mary brought Jesus regularly to festivals (and no doubt synagouge on Shabbat), let your children experience the rhythms and life in the church community.

Then, as they get older, making their own choices, there will likely be an awkward transition where they are figuring out there independence, you’re figuring out where you end, but ultimately they have you as a source of wisdom, experience, and a cheerleader as they start to navigate this world on their own. Like Joseph and Mary, there are no doubt going to be anxious moments, frought feelings, and lack of control, but as we trusted God when they came into this world, we can entrust them to God as they navigate this world.

Calling and Purpose

Jesus is now finding, discovering, uncovering His identity and purpose.

No doubt He is finding Himself in scripture, He is discovering His role. He is inquiring at the temple amongst the religious teachers.

Jesus was “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

What that must of have been like.

If you are anything like me, you’ve probably thought… “Oh, He’s Jesus… He knows everything… fully God and fully human, right?”

Jesus learned who He was and what His mission was as He grew older.

Jesus understood He was born by the will of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Though their hometown was Nazareth, circumstances were such that he was born in Bethlehem which fulfilled scripture of where the Messiah would be born.

The prophecies of Anna and Simeon who confirmed His being the anointed one of God, promised to deliver us.

Scripture was making sense to Him. Seeing God’s plan before Him.

Hebrews 5:7–8 “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered”

Philippians 2:6–11 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There comes a point in our lives where the faith that we have learned has to become our own.

Mary and Joseph were faithful to YHWH. They were young parents trying to figure it out. At some point, Jesus needed to make His allegiance to YHWH His own.

Jesus had to make a conscious decision that He would know, find, understand what His calling is and then walk in it.

It starts with, who do you say that Jesus is?

Jesus would ask this of His followers: Matthew 16:13–16 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.””

This is the beginning. When we make that confession and understand it to be true, then we begin to grow in our knowledge of God, wisdom in His word, and we start to understand and discern how we are made and how we fit into His body.

Romans 12:3–8 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

This is not an exhaustive list, but you get the idea.

Pay attention to this: Luke 2:49 records Jesus's first words in all of Scripture. Whenever we encounter "firsts" in the Bible, we should lean in—they matter. And what does Jesus say? "Didn't you know I had to be about my Father(‘s business)?"

From the beginning, Jesus is about what the Father has for Him. And if we follow Jesus, we must be about what God has for us.

When we confess Jesus as Lord—when we answer Jesus’ question, "Who do you say I am?"—everything changes. Our identity is no longer rooted in performance, approval, or our own plans. It's rooted in Him.

And that identity has implications. It means participation, not observation. We're in the body—gathering with the church, using our time, talent, and treasure for the sake of others. We're living in such a way that people taste the fruit of our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—and they see how good God is. They want what we have. And we get to share the gospel with them.

But this isn't performative. It's not about polishing an image or checking boxes. It's organic—like Jesus in the temple: alive, growing, attentive, and obedient to what He sees the Father doing. That's the call. That's the life.

Jesus made His faith His own at twelve years old. He spent the next eighteen years growing in wisdom, in favor with God and people, preparing for what the Father had for Him (Luke 2:52).

The question for us is simple: Are we doing the same?

As we ponder that, we have to be mindful of the fact that it will cost something.

Cost of the Calling

Look again at what happens in this passage. Jesus does what He knows He must do—He stays in His Father's house, learning, dialoguing, growing into His calling. And the people closest to Him don't understand.

Verse 50: "But they did not understand what he was saying to them."

Mary and Joseph love Jesus. They're faithful. They've raised Him well. But in this moment, they don't get it. They're hurt. They're confused. They've been searching for three days in panic, and Jesus seems almost... casual about it. "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be here?"

There's a cost to following God's call on your life. And sometimes that cost is being misunderstood—even by the people who love you most.

When you make your faith your own, when you step into what God is calling you to, not everyone will understand. Some will think you're being reckless. Some will think you're abandoning what matters. Some will be hurt because your obedience doesn't look like what they expected.

That's the tension Jesus lives in here. And if we're honest, it's the tension we live in too.

This won't be the last time Jesus chooses obedience over comfort. This won't be the last time His calling creates misunderstanding and pain. The cross is coming. But even here, at twelve years old, Jesus shows us what it means to walk with God when it's uncomfortable, when it doesn't make sense to others, when the cost is real.

But notice what Jesus does: He doesn't abandon His parents. Verse 51 says He "went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them." He returns. He honors them. He grows. He doesn't force understanding—He trusts the Father with it.

And Mary? Verse 51 again: "His mother treasured all these things in her heart." She doesn't understand yet. But she holds on. She trusts. She waits for God to make it clear.

That's the invitation for us: When you follow Jesus into uncomfortable places—when your obedience creates tension, when people don't understand, when it costs you something—don't lean on your own understanding. Trust God in the process. Commit the results to Him. Keep your mind on Him, and He will guard your heart and mind with a peace that passes all understanding.

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

It won't always make sense. But it's worth it.

Conclusion:

This week, I want you to sit with this passage. Let it work on you.

We've seen three movements here:

First, the shift from control to influence. Parents, as your kids grow, you're not losing them—you're releasing them into God's care, just as Mary and Joseph had to do. And for all of us, there's a reminder here: God is moving us from dependence to maturity, from inherited faith to owned faith.

Second, the call to make your faith your own. Jesus shows us what that looks like—alive, growing, attentive to the Father, discovering His calling in Scripture and community. That's the invitation for us: to confess Jesus as Lord and live as active participants in His body, not passive observers.

Third, the cost. Following Jesus will cost you something. It will create tension. It will be misunderstood. But like Jesus, we don't abandon those we love—we honor them, we return, we grow. And like Mary, when we don't understand, we treasure, we trust, we wait for God to make things clear.

Here's the question I want to leave you with—the same question we asked in the second point:

Are you making your faith your own?

Are you sitting in your Heavenly Father's house—learning, growing, discovering what He has for you? Are you participating in His body, using your gifts, letting others taste the fruit of your life? Are you willing to step into uncomfortable obedience, even when it costs you something, even when people don't understand?

Jesus was twelve years old when He said, "Didn't you know I had to be about my Father's business?" He spent the next eighteen years preparing for what the Father had for Him.

Jesus caused good trouble at twelve. Rosa Parks caused good trouble at forty-two. The question for us is: Are we willing to cause a little good trouble for the sake of the Kingdom?

Let's pray.