sermon052205
I was blessed to speak at Parkway South High School’s baccalaureate service this year and the one issue I had with it was that I had to limit my talk to five minutes. My entire point of the talk was to get the students and parents to slow down enough to reflect on what has been accomplished. The problem with our fallen condition is that it is so much a part of us, our makeup, our thinking and our actions. We awaken to it and we retire to the bed with it. I agree with David and it is part of my daily prayer, what he mentions in Psalm 51; “restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” I agree with John on the island of Patmos, that if we are not reminded, we will leave our first love.
My brothers and sisters, I am blessed to stand before you, one more time, to bring to you another reminder that scripture is exactly what it says about itself; “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” That passage, as we well know, if found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and it is the main passage of our first essential of our faith, ‘our faith in the scriptures as the word of God.’
From here, if you recall and reflect, we approached the essential of our faith dealing with God. And in order to see God better, we must understand Jesus clearer, walk with Him closer, and commune with Him more intently.
Be reminded again from the Word of God;
Philippians 2:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
· Do you hear it; let this mind be in you or have this attitude in yourselves. It is something you have control of, just as I mentioned last week, you have the power to make yourself glad
· I have been using Scripture as an illustration of this and God in His wise way has me looking at the illustrations at the start of Jesus’ human life
· And so today we continue with another illustration where so much is there but in our hurried state, we miss so much of it or we have chosen to ignore it and not apply it to our lives.
· Open your Bibles to Luke 2:41-52
Luke 2:41-52
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.
51 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. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
· This is the only scripture passage that brings some light to Jesus Christ’s early life.
o Have you ever asked questions about it yourself?
o Are you amazed at what this passage says?
Observe:
· It was the observation of the law that brought Jesus to Jerusalem during this feast of the Passover
o Later in His human life, Jesus would die on the cross during this feast of the Passover as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
· Dr. Luke makes a point that Jesus is just 12 years old.
o The law gave a year or two leeway, usually the boys were 13 years old
· Scripture does not say, in words, how this trip had an impact on Jesus but we know that it did by the actions of Jesus,
o 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
· And if that wasn’t enough that He lingered behind, observe what they found Him doing when they finally found Him three days later
· Put yourself in the place of Joseph and Mary
o Listen to verse 43-48 again
o It deals with the frustration of parents, even with Jesus as a son
· If we are honest with ourselves and each other, we should be asking at this point
o Our of all of the things that may have gone on in Jesus’ life, why this passage
o I am aware of the frustration of parents dealing with a lost child; I don’t need scripture to tell me that.
o Since all Scripture is profitable, how is this passage so profitable to me and this fellowship?
· This is the earliest occurrence that Scripture gives that Jesus is aware of his mission, calling or reason for being here
· Jesus share that he is aware of his mission in rather strong words to His parents who could not understand what this statement meant
o Jesus the wonder child
o Jesus so amazing that He amazed the teachers in the temple
· But verse 51 is not the logical result that we would expect
o After this awareness one would expect for Jesus to perhaps stay there at Jerusalem learning more
o Continue in His Father’s business
o Explain Himself more
o But instead He became
· Subject to them for 18 more years see Luke 3:23
· Luke 3:23 23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
Application:
· Our idea of mission, calling and even education, also means getting started in it as quickly as possible
· What do we expect of our graduates, from high school and college
o From our careers, marriages, and young families
· Here is the hidden key, lesson and reason for this passage. Even at the age of 12 Jesus is our role model of a totally different way of approaching life
o Listen to verses 51 and 52
o 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.
· These three forgotten virtues are wisdom, status and favor
· Wisdom the quality or state of being wise, knowledge of what is true
· James 3:13-17 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
· Stature is the degree of ones development
· Favor is goodwill, being approved or held in high regard
· Our society and community is knowledge based and not so much on wisdom, stature and favor.
· Older people has a very important role in wisdom base but a limited role in knowledge base
· Everything from our food that we eat to our performance as an athlete is speed developed and our stature is poor
· Favor with God and men is not so important any more and it is an issue because we fail in the first part, our favor with God
What am I saying to you New Hope? Are we moving too fast? Do we expect much from ourselves based on the worlds standard of knowledge, power and prestige or are we willing to take a little longer and do it the Lords’ way?
Jesus was active in the business at home and observe that he was subject to his parents. Are our kids forced out too quick and removed from this vital growth?
Pray that our children and we ourselves can apply verse 52 to our lives.