luke 2v41to52 the boy Jesus

I) It’s All About the Father’s Business. Luke 2:41-52

A) File: luke 2v41to52 the boy Jesus.doc

B) Audio:

C) Series: Walking with God

II) Intro to the series: As we study the life of Jesus:

A) We must examine what it means to walk with Jesus.

1) We will look at it from this perspective.

2) Because we can still walk with Jesus. Spiritually.

(a) He speaks by His Word.

(b) He personally testifies to us and leads us by the Holy Spirit.

(c) He ministers to us by His Church.

B) We must examine His life with the cross in view

1) As we saw with the Magi’s gift of Myrrh.

2) As we will see here – obedience to Father is His priority.

III) READ Luke 2:41-52. Explaining the story:

A) The Passover feast – faithful Jews esp. went to this one.

B) Several days. Nazareth probably three days.

C) Large extended families, entire villages traveled together.

1) Women, children led, men followed.

2) ‘zone defense’ with children.

D) Twelve then not = twelve now.

IV) What we learn about Jesus here:

A) We learn some important theology:

1) Jesus grew

(a) 40 – physically (in strength, stature - 52), intellectually (in wisdom – also 52),

(b) in favor with God and man.

(i) not to suggest increasing favor with God but while growing, he was in favor with God and man.

· not sinning against God

· not sinning against man

· Note the golden rule here.

2) Jesus is aware of His divine sonship – referring to God as His Father.

(a) The earliest claim to sonship.

3) He set aside some of His divinity – He was submissive to His parents.

(a) Consistent with Philippians 2:6-8 “…though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”[1]

(b) and 2 Cor. 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”[2]

(c) This is an important point because He can sympathize with us in every way.

(i) Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”[3]

(d) No miracles as a boy – Wedding declared as the first of His signs.

(e) How can He do this? He’s God. He can even forget sins. Example: Jury told to disregard testimony.

(f) Satan’s temptations in the wilderness centered around the idea of Jesus using His divine power before His appointed time.

4) So, theologically, Jesus grew, knew divine role, set aside His powers. But we not only learn about Him, we get to observe His actions – His example in the gospels.

B) We learn from Jesus’ example here: To young people esp.

1) He grew in a balanced manner:

(a) Physically and mentally

2) He was obedient to His parents

3) Listens to the teachers at the temple.

(a) He asks questions to learn more.

4) Shares in turn His knowledge

(a) astonishing them because he was quite learned for His age.

(b) If only this could be said about us – that we are so knowledgeable about the ways of our father that we astonish people.

C) These are good, practical examples of conduct, but the most important example, the most important lesson of this story is how Jesus set His priority:

V) We learn that His Father’s business is His priority.

A) V49: “I must be in My Father’s house” KJV:

1) Look at the word “Must”– dei, it is necessary. In the New Testament, it often speaks of a divine necessity

(a) Uses it elsewhere like this:

(i) “I must preach” Luke 4:33

(ii) “The Son of Man must suffer” Luke 9:22

(iii) the Son of Man “must be lifted up” John 3:14

2) His use of this phrase in these places shows that Jesus saw His entire mission as a divine necessity.

3) This was likely always the case: let me show you.

(a) Mary lovingly rebukes Jesus – showing her concern, V48,

(b) His reply is very telling, V49. It shows that He expected them to know where He was – as if it was easily predicted.

(c) This reveals their mistake in looking for Him.

(i) After three days, two of travel, one of looking. One whole day spent searching.

(ii) Their mistake: They were looking for THEIR son, they should have been looking for the son OF GOD.

4) Therefore, when we walk with Jesus, He will always be about the Father’s business.

5) “in My Father’s house” is literally “in the things of my Father” it means being about His Father’s business – tending to those things of interest to His Father.

6) This is where we will find Him.

B) His Father’s business took priority over the feelings of others:

1) Note that Mary and Joseph are distressed.

2) He could have been concerned for their feelings – and He obviously was as seen by His submission to them – V51.

3) But He had business to attend to that was inconvenience to those who cared for Him and loved Him.

C) This must apply to our ministry and our commitment to the work of God – it must be a priority – a divine necessity.

1) If we want to walk with Jesus, this must be our mindset – that we put the things of the Father as a priority – even over our own families.

(a) You may object and say it was different for Jesus – that He was the Son of God and we are not. True.

(i) But, John 1:12 says that to those who believe, he gave the right to become Children of God,

(ii) He also said in Luke 8:21, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.

(iii) So it does apply to us – an example to follow.

2) The reason we must make the Father’s business our priority is illustrated from our story:

(a) The helps answer the question, “Why did he stay in Jerusalem?” Father’s work.

(b) Why did he not tell Mary and Joseph?

(i) Perhaps needed a reminder.

(ii) Maybe He did tell them.

3) Here’s the lesson – We are in danger of losing track of Jesus if we are not focused on the Father’s work.

(a) If they had thought about who he was and what His mission was, they would have known He was in the temple.

(b) If we are going to walk with Jesus we must stay focused on the work of God – the temple, the place of worship.

VI) We must be in the things of the Father.

VII) We must be in constant communication with Christ to remain in His presence and in the Father’s will.

January 7, 2007

Sermon Series: Walking with God.

What was it like to walk with Jesus? What does that mean to us today?

We must know that we can ___________ _________ with Jesus.

We must always keep ________ _______________ in view.

It’s All About the Father’s Business. Luke 2:41-52

Theological lessons:

Jesus __________

_________________ and ____________________ (vv. 40, 52)

Jesus was _______________ that he was the son of God (v. 49)

Jesus _________ ____________ some of His divinity (v. 51)

(see also Phil. 2:6-8, 2 Cor. 8:9, Heb. 4:15)

Jesus lives an ______________ for us.

Most importantly:

Jesus’ priority was the ______________ of His Father.

(See also Luke 4:33, 9:22; John 3:14, 6:40;)

So must ours be if we are going to walk with God.