Learning from a 12 Year Old

Introduction

As we continue our theme series, Rooted and Built Up in Jesus, we are moving on to the next part of the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Prior to this we examined Christ before Bethlehem in a several message series.

Christ Before Bethlehem - pt.1-6

I. Christ, the Founder

II. Christ Foreordained

I. Salvation Through Faith in Christ

The Constant Throughout the Bible (Heb. 11)

III. Christ Foreshadowed

Explicit Connections: (i.e. Jacob’s Ladder, Bread from Heaven, The Rock in the Wilderness, The Passover Lamb, Brazen Serpent, Tabernacle)

Implicit Connections: (i.e. the Ark of Naoh, the Ram for Isaac, Boaz)

IV. Christ Foretold

Prophesies concerning Christ are Logistically & Statistically Impossible

V. Christ Foreseen

Pre-Incarnate Appearances of Christ (Christophanies- i.e. Jesus in the Burning Bush, Fiery Furnace, the Wilderness - Hagar, Wrestling Jacob, Jesus with Abraham)

The Incarnate Christ - pt.1-2

I. The Mother

Was Sanctified, but not Sinless; was an Instrument, not an Intercessor; was to Be Respected, not Revered

II. The Method

Christ Regains His Divinity; but Gains Humanity

III. The Motivation

To be Qualified, to be Crucified, to Cleanse Our Sins, Driven by Compassion

Today we're going to look at what is essentially a one-off and it's the only mention of Jesus between the babe and the man. That is found here in Luke 2.

The title of this message is "Learning from a Twelve-Year-Old." I titled it this for two different reasons. First is to instruct us, aged, not the behind mind, that we can learn something from those younger than us.

Secondly for the younger generation to encourage them to be like Christ. That they could be leaders to where others would be amazed and astonished at their understanding and answers.

I. His Foundation

(Joseph & Mary - their focus on the things of God, and also their failures. They were humans that did their best)

The first thing I want to address is Joseph and Mary. These were the people that God had entrusted Jesus to shepherd Him through his youth.

Let me just say this: parents are vital to children. (Remember, Jesus was not of the seed of Joseph but he was his parent in the sense that it was his task to raise him and to care for him as if he were his father.)

Parents are so vital. I have some policy initiatives That I believe will help the children of our state but let me just say this: there is no replacement for parents.

Let's look at a couple of the character traits of Joseph and Mary.

They were Faithful (v41-43)

Notice where they went - Jerusalem - unto the House of God.

Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth. The typical travel route would have been somewhere between 80 to 100 miles from Jerusalem for them to travel there. The quickest you were making it was three days but most likely it took them five to seven, given how they were traveling with a group.

Why did they go? Because God commanded it.

Deuteronomy 16:16 “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:”

The Feast of Passover is often included in the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as you had the Passover on the 14th day of the 1st month Abib, then the feast of Unleavened Bread began on the 15th w/ A holy convocation on the first day. It would last seven days, with a holy convocation also on the seventh. (Holy Convocation, meaning it was treated as a Sabbath day).

How Often did they go? EVERY YEAR (v41) - and they “fulfilled the days” (v43) Meaning they went as often as was required and stayed until it was done.

Our children NEED faithful parents who do as Joseph and His mother did for Jesus:

We need to be faithful in taking them to the House of God.

Our children need to be at the house of God, around the people of God, enjoying the things of God.

If you come to every service, you are in the house of God a total of about 5 hours a week out of 168. In other words, about 3% of your time. Most children will spend at least double this EACH DAY around the things of the world.

They see how the world operates.

They see the priorities of the world.

They need godly influence in their lives. It's important to be at the House of God!

If that’s not reason enough, we need to be there because God said so!

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We must be faithful because God said so!

Let me just say this: If you’re too bust to give God 3% of your time at His House, then you’re far too busy. And I might add, Satan doesn’t need you to sin to make you ineffective, he just needs to keep you busy.

Joseph & Mary were Faithful caregivers to Jesus - as all parents should be

They had Faults (v48)

Now you notice that I did not say that they were perfect for they were not. Mary nor Joseph were - And we see that in v48.

Here Jesus, at twelve years old, is rebuking his mother with truth and kindness while still honoring her. She recognized Joseph as Jesus' father and he was not. Jesus was born of the seed of the Holy Ghost. He took on the flesh of man from the womb of Mary but did not inherit the seed of sin from man.

Why is this important? It's important because we recognize that parents are not flawless. They are not perfect.

There are two danger zones when considering this.

Some will understand that they'll never be perfect; therefore they use it as an excuse to be pathetic.

Others strive to do well but constantly feel defeated because they're not perfect.

Church, listen. None of us are perfect and none of us will ever be perfect this side of heaven but the most important thing is what they had right and that is we need to have the base for our children found in Jesus Christ.

So we look at his foundation. Joseph and Mary were faithful but they were not faultless. You will never be faultless but Christian, you should be faithful.

We see his Foundation

II. His Formation

(He was 12 years old - consider the struggles of that age)

Can you remember what you were like when you were twelve years old? I certainly can.

And before you say anything about him being God, yes he was God but he was still man as we examined over the last few messages. He still had all of the same feelings and such that you and I have. He was tempted to sin yet he sinned not.

But let's look at a few of those real quick.

His Immaturity

Here Jesus is twelve years old. Think about where you are today vs. where you were when you were 12. Think about where you are today vs. where you were when you were 12 in the maturity level. (Ill.) For some of you it may not be far off.

When I think back to how ignorant I was at 12 years old, I'm amazed I didn't drown in a bathtub.

Jesus was God but at this time he was a twelve-year-old boy in the flesh. Along with that comes immaturity, not in a negative sense. I'm not calling Jesus immature.

What I am saying is he had not grown enough to become mature. BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THAT IMMATURITY CAN BE OVERCOME WITH WISDOM

We see his Immaturity, next we see His Impulses

His Impulses

(Ill.) Right about the time I was twelve years old, I was in sixth grade and it was then that my rebellion came about. I rebelled against my parents, the school system, everything I knew to be right. I began rebelling against it.

When Satan was lifted up with pride, rebellion came as the result.

Jesus was not immune to feeling pride. He most certainly could have been lifted up with pride.

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he began the first two temptations by saying, “IF thou be the Son of God…” Provoking Him to feel the need to prove himself.

Jesus had all the impulses that you and I have - BUT WHAT WE SEE IS THAT IMPULSES CAN BE OVERCOME

Jesus had all the impulses that a twelve-year-old boy would have - This is just one example.

His Inquisitiveness (v46)

It’s good to ask questions:

We see here in this verse that Jesus asked questions. Church this is a good thing.

It’s not just a good thing for a 12 year old - but for everyone. It’s good to ask questions from those to which you agree, and especially from those whom you don’t.

(Ill.) I love having conversations with those to whom I don’t agree. I have done that on the religious side many times concerning doctrine and WHY I believe what I believe, and now I’m doing that in the political realm as well. But when you ask questions, you understand the basis of another one’s reasoning for why they believe differently… and it forces you to educate yourself and be solid in your beliefs.

It’s good to ask questions - but what I increasingly find is that many want to share their opinion, but don’t want to hear another’s. WE CAN’T EXPECT FOR SOMEONE TO HEAR OUR REASONS IF WE’RE UNWILLING TO LISTEN TO THEIRS.

It’s good to ask questions.

Children will ask questions:

Children will especially ask questions and we as parents should encourage that. Anything, no subject, is off the table. We should always encourage our children to ask questions and even question their faith.

A faith not tested is unreliable. (Ill.) This is why we see so many church kids that have just grown up in a Christian household. They heard all the terminology but they never questioned it. When they go off to college that's all that is done and they find that they don't have the answers and so therefore they get swayed to a different opinion.

Children will ask questions and that should be encouraged. Some subjects are uncomfortable to talk about. Maybe you want to discourage some conversations because you don't know about it but what that means is you should educate yourself so you can have those answers for your children.

Children will ask questions - but notice what Jesus was doing: Hearing them

Notice what else Jesus was doing - “hearing them”

We see Jesus here listening to the answer.

Church, make no mistake. Your children are listening to you. They're listening to you to see if:

You care enough to sit down with them and explain it to them

You tell them the truth

You give valid reasons for your beliefs

You practice what you preach

Children are inquisitive. Here’s the thing: Where will they get the answer?

They will get it from you, they'll get it from church, or they’ll get it from They're friends or they'll get it from the world.

Look at where Jesus was! He was asking and hearing these questions at the House of God.

The church only has as much influence as you frequent it and they'll only listen to the pastor as much as they respect him. If you are openly running down the preacher or disagreeing with him in front of your children, then he will have a whole lot less influence on your children than probably you want him to have.

We see His Inquisitiveness

We see his Foundation, His Formation

III. His Focus

(Was still on the things of God)

Even though he was only twelve, in no small part because of His good foundation in Joseph and Mary. His focus is on the things of God.

On His Father’s House (v46)

This is where they found Jesus.

Not out walking the streets.

Not out playing. Hopscotch in the square.

Not playing video games.

They found him in the temple. Do you know why? Because the temple matters to God.

Now let me say that I understand that the church is the body of Christ and we are the temple of the Holy Ghost. I understand all that. But what you need to understand is the house dedicated unto God is still special in the sight of the Lord.

Jesus frequented them:

John 18:19–20 “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”

Luke 19:47 “And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,”

Jesus cleansed the Temple:

John 2:13–17 “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

We’ve seen Jesus sad, astonished and various other things: The only time I recollect where Jesus was angered was when it came to cleansing the temple - AND HE DID IT TWICE!

His focus was on His Father's House.

About His Father’s Business (v49)

(Ill.) I was talking about social media with my wife last night. Social media is a very narcissistic tool in that it’s really easy to become self-absorbed. There’s a bunch of people who are so interested in themselves, they think other people are just as interested.

Let me say this: It’s not about me, it’s not about you - it’s all about Him.

When we leave this world, how many followers you have on Facebook isn’t going to matter a hill of beans. What’s going to matter is how many followers you made of Jesus.

Church, we need to be about the Father’s business.

John 4:34 “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”

Jesus was about the Father’s Will. What instruction did Jesus give us:

Matthew 28:19–20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

We need to be making disciples. That was the focus of Christ, and should be ours as well.

Conclusion

What can we learn from a twelve-year-old? A lot actually.

A strong family foundation matters.

Immaturity and Impulses can be overcome

Inquisitiveness is good - we should ask questions and gain wisdom and knowledge

The House of God should be a priority

We should be about our Father’s business