8014 The End of the Beginning

I.                   Jesus and Jerusalem.

A.                 First visit when few days old.

B.                 Went home and grew, became strong, filled with wisdom, grace of God was upon Him (Lk 2:40)

1.                  c.f. Lk 2:52  grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God and men.

II.                Text:  Lk 2:41-50.

A.                 Religious training included parental visits to Jerusalem.

1.                  Must have known His future place; knew Father’s house.

2.                  Hoffman’s painting saw Jesus standing and teaching the scholars.  Not what Luke says.

B.                 Can learn from one another and minister to one another all at the same time.

1.                  Recognize the value of each one.

a.                   Listening is the best way to value another.

2.                  Remain teachable.

C.                 Absorbed and lose track of time?

1.                  e.g.  Stanley Cup final Sat night.

2.                  e.g.  U. S. Open golf match yesterday.

3.                  Jesus so absorbed he didn’t realize how long he had been there.

III.             Was getting at what He came to do.

A.                 Focused on the future.

B.                 Knowing who you are allows you to clearly inaugurate the future.

IV.              Joseph and Mary were lost.

A.                 Thought they knew where they were.

B.                 Loss of contact with God’s plan for them made them self-centered.  (“Why have you treated us like this?)

C.                 Lack of focus and contact with God made Jesus statement confusing and incomprehensible to them.

V.                 Conclusion.

A.                 Clear view of relationship with God necessary to clear planning.

1.                  Even if negative, honest self-appraisal important.

2.                  e.g.  Feelings toward Anthony after yesterday.

B.                 Distance from God leads to self-absorbed loss of vision.

1.                  Protecting what we have rather than looking toward the future.

2.                  Immediate concerns distract us from possibilities.

C.                 Other lessons from them?