They Should Have Known

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. 43 After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44 because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

I love This passage because it seems to be so connected to real life…This is the only passage that speaks to what kind of Child Jesus was and the truth is that Jesus was both unique and ordinary. He was unique obviously because He was the Son of God. But as far as being Kid goes he was normal.

I love This passage because it seems to be so connected real life…This is the only passage that speaks to what kind of Child Jesus was and the truth is that Jesus was both unique and ordinary. He was unique obviously because He was the Son of God. But as far as being Kid goes he was normal.

Both of these aspects are observable in this text. Yet…these are secondary to what the main idea of the Text really is.

Jesus wants us to know that he values mission over safety. Jesus shows us that in order to be about our fathers business we must be engaged with each other even when others think we should be engaged with other things.

Did you not know I would be in my fathers house?

When Mary and Joseph finally do find Him Jesus is in conversation where the text says that they were amazed at his understanding and his questions.

Jesus was not arguing or being petulant but he was genuinely engaging with other people of faith to learn and to teach.

This is a very important aspect of our mission to be and to teach engaged followers. This is why it is so important to Gather for Worship and to Grow through small groups. Both of these aspects are modeled here.

It was simply a natural response to His mission to be in his Father’s house.

Not only was he engaged he was genuinely surpriesed that those that knew him most were surprised to find Jesus in the Temple doing and becoming.

New Living Translation Chapter 11

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see

Hopeful Followers of Jesus find gathering together on a regular basis essential to living a dynamic and fulfilling life.

A few things before we dig in to the main part of the passage.

45 When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46 Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant. 51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

A few things before we dig in to the main part of the passage.

Jesus parents were very committed to Jewish Worship.

It was so important that they were willing to take the 100 mile trip from Galilee by foot to take part in worship…this was not an easy trip it took a significant part of their life. They took off work, suspended their entire life to travel and take part in this feast.

Think about the difference between ideas of worship between then and now. Jesus Family was willing to sacrifice everything to worship…many in todays culture will not even sacrifice a ball game.

Community was an essential part of the Culture during this time…

They traveled together to worship together. They loved each other they took care of each other…this is why it was not a big deal that they had not seen Jesus on the trip…they looked after each other.

Community is still an important aspect of our culture. Over 50% of our younger generation see community as an important aspect of finding a Church.

Not just people of their own age but people who would simply be interested in them. In a lot of ways they are looking for people to share and learn from just like Jesus in this passage.

However when we take a consumeristic approach to Church we focus on taking and tend to give anything

Jesus family functioned just like every other family…

What have you done to us????Etc.

Even though the family did know who Jesus was they still did not quite no how to handle him.

Again this is something that I think we all struggle with a times. We all know that gathering together is important but because we may not understand everything we let our fear of being embarrassed outweigh our need to grow.

Most importantly Jesus models how we should seek to draw closer to God.

Jesus was exactly where He was supposed to be doing what He was supposed to be doing. He was worshipping in public and he was engaged in discussion about faith.

Jesus is telling us through this narrative that Gathering in worship is not only expected by God but Essential for Hope in our lives.

When gathering and growing are not essential to a follower of Jesus not only is there a lack fruit in their lives but a lack of awareness abounds. We become a people of conspiracy and defensiveness instead of a people of reason and confidence.

We become a people of conspiracy and defensiveness instead of a people of reason and confidence.

Jesus was not simply deconstructing what “Has Always Been” But he is boldly in opposition to the expectation of anyone or anything other Than that which draws us closer to God.

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

48 His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.

This is the unique part of Jesus. He was not being smart or disobedient he was simply stating the truth. Jesus was and is more interested in drawing Closer than He is about meeting the expectations of anyone.

There will always be those that question different…Mary and Joseph while everyone who has ever been parent understands where they are coming from were totally missing the bigger picture.

There will always be those that question different…Mary and Joseph while everyone who has ever been parent understands where they are coming from were totally missing the bigger picture.

There should be no doubt as to why we have hope in our future when others are engrossed in maintaining what they have.

There should be no doubt as to why we have hope in our future when others are engrossed in maintaining what they have.

While the old adage of if it ain’t broke don’t fix it may seem like common sense what it really does is keeps us from seeing that something is indeed broken.

51 Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

52 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Jesus does not abandon His pursuit of God here…in fact He goes home and allows His Faith to strengthen his ability to be a great son and grow as a teacher and Messiah.

It is important that we maintain a level of respect for others but even as we respect people we must keep in mind that we are meant for so much more.

These can be found in Gathering together for worship, fellowship and learning…Better yet purpose can never be fully realized apart from these opportunities.

Some of my best memories revolve around being in the House of God. I have glimpses of every Children’s program I was ever in. I think about singing We Three Kings as a pre teen in between Yak Mosley and R.L. Hall, I have memories of the very first time I saw Crickett when she visited our Church.

All of these were great memories that are easy to pick out. However I also remember many Saturdays at workdays, special services like revival, Sunday Mornings where I stayed up too late the night before. I have glimpses of times in Church where I would rather be anywhere else but there.

Had I not seen being is a service or special meeting or workday or Bible Study as essential I most likely would have missed out on the greatest moments of my life. We must move from judging Gatherings in terms of how it makes me to feel to How can I engage in such a way as to live the Hope of Christ in my life?

Crickett and I celebrated our 29th Wedding aniversery and I have been thinking about when I knew I loved her. My mom and dad were hosting a church campfire where we roasted hotdogs, smor’s and all the regular things.

I really did not want to go to it and as a matter of fact I showed up a bit late and there she was. Sitting in front of the fire we the same smile that each and every of you have seen. I was hooked…even though it would be several months later before I even got my first date…I was in love right then.

What if I had not gone to the church camp fire? What if I had let the fact that I saw this activity as lame keep me away? What if I had decided that there was simply nothing for me?

Sure I might have gotten in trouble with my mom. But more importantly I would have missed God’s most sacred blessing for my life…My wife.

But more importantly I would have missed God’s most sacred blessing for my life…My wife.

I wonder how many of have missed sacred blessings because we did not believe or allowed others to convince us there was nothing for us in fellowship, Worship Gathering or special events.

Jesus said Didn’t you know I would be in my fathers house or about my fathers business?

Is this what people would say about you? It starts with embracing worship that focuses on God instead of on us. This leads to Hope that can never be extinguished or dulled by consumeristic tendencies.

Hopeful Followers of Jesus find regular worship gatherings essential to living a dynamic and fulfilling life.

As we Come to the Table let us come as Hopeful Engaged Followers of Jesus.