Finding Jesus

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Did you know that Mary lost Jesus?

The mother of the savior of the world lost Jesus not once but THREE times!

Let me prove it to you:

Luke 2:41–52 ESV

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

So we know about this one but she also lost him to his ministry

Luke 8:19–21 ESV

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

She also lost him to death

John 19:25–27 ESV

but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

We talked last week about Jesus being the king that no one expected

The people of Israel were looking for a conquering king who would deliver them from oppression

They wanted immediate salvation. Jesus knew they needed eternal salvation.

But Mary...

She knew who Jesus was going to be.

Luke 1:26–37 ESV

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Yet each time she found Jesus he was nothing like she thought he would be.

At the temple

She was scared to death - SHE HAD LOST THE MESSIAH!!

But he was about his father’s business

When she came to visit

I’m sure she thought that he would come out to meet them

but he was about his father’s business

Looking at him on the cross

I know her heart was hurting

But he was about his father’s business

Each time she saw him, from the temple to the cross, there was more to him than she could imagine

We

She hid the things he said to her in the temple in her heart, probably for the moment that she saw him on the cross

I wonder if then she realized exactly what she was seeing

From her baby boy to the messiah coming to save the world

But each time she found him, he was more than she thought he was

Maybe you are searching today.

Maybe you are looking for something

But I think she was and maybe, just maybe she was in the room when he appeared to the eleven

Eit

Or maybe you are like Mary and have lost Jesus completely

The disciples were

They were lost

This man was the messiah

The redeemer of Israel

But now he is gone

Luke 24:13–53 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Jesus is the Teacher

Jesus Spent his time teaching all who would listen about his father and what He had for them

HE would teach the multitudes but he spent time teaching those who were close to him more than any

He was preparing them for what was promised

Even after his death he was teaching those close to him

Luke 24:27 ESV

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

These were probably men who spent time with him daily

He was enlightening them to who he was

Our world is where it is because of the rejection of who Jesus is

We have missed the point of seeing Jesus and allowing him to pour into our lives

The reality is it starts with the church

Much like the men who walked the road to Emmaus we are blind to the true Jesus

What he looks like

What he wants us to look like as people and his church

We have to allow Jesus to open our minds to understand these things

says he opened their minds to understand the scriptures

We need this revelation in our lives to understand exactly who Jesus is

It takes a personal relationship with him to receive this knowledge

Not just a surface relationship but a deep understanding

Jesus desires that relationship to open our minds

To teach us the things we need

it has to be more!

Jesus wants us to see that he is the giver

He Is Our Counselor

Jesus is the Giver

Luke 24:49 ESV

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus had more in store for them then they could ever imagine

He wanted them to

A promise that would empower them to do more than they were capable of

To deliver to them the Holy Spirit to go and tell the world about the gift of Jesus

A gift that would be more than just an immediate freedom from Roman oppression

He wanted to bring them life and life more abundantly

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus came so we could live a full life

A life that even in the midst of suffering, we could find joy and peace and comfort

A life filled with power and passion!

Luke 24:32 ESV

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

I imagine this conversation with these men brought joy and comfort in their time of grief

But Jesus’ mere presence caused their hearts to BURN

There is a passion deep inside of us that is waiting to burn

I don’t know about you but I want to live a life that is filled with a burning passion!

Only Jesus can give that

TO do more than just live and die

But to live a life that God wants us to live!

For God so loved the world that he gave...

He gave us a a savior to be our redeemer

He Is Our Protector

Jesus is the Redeemer

Luke 24:46–48 ESV

and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

While their expectations were nowhere near what Jesus truly was, they were made aware of what Jesus was here to do.

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Jesus was sent to redeem

A redemption of a people who were outcasts, slaves, lesser than

I am not sure about you but there was a time when I felt lesser than

Unworthy of anything, let alone the love of my creator

Mistakes and bad choices had left me feeling like I could do nothing and was worth nothing

But Jesus still loved me enough

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This tells me that God loved me enough that even in the middle of my junk, he wanted to redeem me

He saw me as his child and wanted me to know the love that he had for me!

Where are you?

God loves you enough!

That even in the middle of you feeling unworthy, he wants to redeem you, to set you into your inheritance that he has for you!

He Is Our Joy

Why is this important

The most important thing about to day is to know that the teacher, the giver and more importantly the redeemer lives

We do not serve an idea or a theology

We serve a risen savior

A savior that walks with us, talks with us

This redeemer loves you enough that he gave his life for you.

No matter where you are, you are never too far

Much like the father of the prodigal son, Jesus is waiting for you to turn around and run to him

To allow him to teach you about his love, to give you everything that he has for you and redeem you as his own!

He Is Life

Where do we go from here?

Response -

Meditate -

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Believe that He died for you and commit to living your life in the way that he intended!