Understanding God.

As a Christian, have you ever felt overwhelmed in trying to understand God? Like do you ever find yourself puzzled, maybe even frustrated in trying to figure out why some things are the way they are? Such as “why do people not see how good God is to save us from sin?” or “why is holy living so difficult?”

For some this can lead to giving up learning about God thinking it is for other people with brains.

But what if we had a change in perspective? If you knew there was a treasure of fine pearls, gold and silver hidden within a field outside of Glenbush, to what extent would you go to get your hands on that field? Jesus tells us in

But if I may, can I ask you a question? If you knew there was a treasure of fine pearls, gold and silver hidden within a field outside of Glenbush, to what extent would you go to get your hands on that field? Jesus writes in

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Since God is our treasure as Christians, how should we respond? Through the bible, God has given us all that is needed for faith and practise. As believers, it is to be our absolute joy to seek the will of God, to know who he is and to encourage unbelievers to come enjoy this treasure for themselves.

So how does one learn about God? Our text this morning reveals for us two facts about understanding God. First is that he is understandable, and second is that he is not always understandable.

Point #1 - God is understandable (41-47).

We now enter into the life of Jesus as a 12 year old. This is the last account of Jesus’ life before his earthly ministry begins. Joseph, as obedient to the law has gone every year to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. More than likely Mary stayed back at home with Jesus.

But this year Jesus joins them for the journey which likely included many Jews from their community and surrounding area. This feast was a 7 day festival and every adult male was required to come.

After the feast was over, everyone headed back home. Often the women and children would lead and the men would follow with animals and whatever in tow. At the age of Jesus, he could have been with either the moms or dads.

This would give some logical reasonings as to why they walked a whole day without considering where their son was. But when evening came and they prepared for the night they realize to their horror that Jesus is not with either. They search for him but realize he must be in Jerusalem.

So the next day they head back a full day travel. The day after that they search Jerusalem high and low. You can imagine the panic as parents if you couldn’t find your child how distraught they would be.

Three days from the time they originally leftJerusalem they finally find Jesus in the temple (46). Was their 12 year old child crying and stressed about being alone and abandoned? Nope, there he was sitting with the teachers or rabbis. Listening to them and asking questions about the law and the prophets.

The way teaching was done was by question and answer. Much like what we call catechism today. So when they asked Jesus a question, they were amazed at the depth of this young boys understanding and answers.

I wish to interject that this type of learning is invaluable for raising children in the gospel, to solidify their faith (as well as the parents) so that we understand why we believe what we believe. New City Catechism is a great free app that has these types of Q & A for all ages. Such as “what is our only hope in life and death?” Answer “That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Here we start to see the humanity of Jesus that hinders his divinity as God. Jesus needed to learn about God just like anyone of us. His attitude was that three days in the temple being taught was nothing. To know about who God his Father is, what his expectations are for his children was a joy.

To understand God takes time, it takes patience, it takes hunger for the bread of life, it takes what has been taught and applying it to daily life. For us as the body of Christ we are given what is needed to know and understand God’s will through his word and teachers.

These teachers have spent seven days teaching fervently through this great feast and still take more time to teach.

To understand God takes time, it takes patience, it takes hunger for the bread of life, it takes what has been taught and applying it to daily life. For us as the body of Christ we are given what is needed to know and understand God’s will through his word.

[11] And he (Christ) gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (why?) [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (how long?) [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ()

To understand God, we need to be reminded of Who our treasure is. That no matter what education or gifts of understanding we have, we all hunger and thirst for righteousness and we will be satisfied.

Let us therefore use our gifts to teach one another with patience and love. Let us learn from one another with humility and desire to know the understandable God revealed in his word.

Point #2 - God is not always understandable (48-52).

[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV)

Even though God has given all that we need to know about God in the bible, this is the eternal God we are talking about. The prophet Isaiah lays out this truth that with God, there is mystery. To try to understand all his ways is like trying to capture a volcano with a plastic bag. In times like this, our responsibility is to simply trust in God our Creator and submit to mystery what cannot be comprehended with our finite minds.

We pick it up in (48) where Mary comes up to him and exclaims “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” Jesus replies “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus was not sarcastic in the least. Even at this young age he knew that he was unique. His understanding at 12 years old was that he first submits to God his Father, then to his physical parents. This is never contradictory for God gives the command that children are to obey their parents.

Yet, Jesus is understanding that his life is dedicated to the Lord his God. So he responds to his mothers worry by calmly asking the question “why did you look all over Jerusalem for me? Shouldn’t you know that I would be in my Father’s house, as I am concerned about doing my Father’s business?

(50) states the obvious, Mary and Joseph did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. Yet as we see in (51) Jesus did not disobey his parents. He got up from sitting with the teachers and went with his parents back to Nazareth and was submissive to them.

I like how Luke intentionally adds this to his narrative to suppress any thought by the critical mind that Jesus was not perfect even from childhood.

Mary treasures up all these things that occurred in the life of her miracle son. Jesus increased in wisdom, he grew up in the trade of his earthly father as a carpenter. He grew up like any other adolescent into adulthood. His life was marked by humility and grace, love and respect.

Jesus grew in favour with God and man, meaning neighbours, customers, family and the Jewish community. Jesus’ life serves as our example in how we are to mature. Young people, treasure up these examples of Christ in how you want to grow up and be a godly woman or man. Make honesty, integrity and virtue your chief goal by searching God’s word, submitting to your parents and listening to your spiritual leaders in the church.

Brothers and sisters, with God not all things make sense as to why we do things for God. Parents can become distraught when a child senses the call of God to enter ministry and pursue being a missionary in dangerous places.

Our human side wants to protect them and we don’t maybe understand why they would flee the safe confines of home in Canada. God works mysteriously and our goal as parents is to desire that God would use our children to advance the Kingdom. Obviously much prayer and counsel from leaders in the church should be sought out before making a decision. But let us also submit that we don’t need to understand all things that God does.

Nancy and I felt called here. Many people thought we were nuts. There were family members who just didn’t get it. Were there some mistakes made in communication on our part? Yes and we hope to have worked that out. But moving from our disabled adult child Jesse was a hard decision.

These past few months have been some of the most difficult since we came out here as his health deteriorates. We would like it all laid out for us but God says “trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding.”

Many of you can resonate in your own way so what can help us understand God better? Surrender to the goodness of our Father in that he always knows best. Learn as much as you can about who God is as Creator and who we are as the created. Pray for wisdom and increased faith to strengthen your love for God. Worship God as Sovereign and praise him for revealing himself in the face of Jesus and in the written word.

As followers of Jesus, let us seek first the kingdom of God. Let us set our hearts and minds to be about our Father’s business. Let us serve the church with our gifts for the glory of God. Let us know God more fully so that we would all attain to spiritual maturity.

With God as our treasure, we accomplish this best through fellowship, prayer and meditating on God’s word. Amen!

God brings trials in our lives so that we will realize our weakness and depend fully on him as our Father. So like Jesus, let us set our hearts and minds to be about our Father’s business and serve the church for the glory of God.

May these words encourage your heart to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you! Let us know God more fully so that we would all attain to spiritual maturity. Amen!

May these words encourage your heart to seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you! Let us know God more fully so that we would all attain to spiritual maturity. Amen!