Is Something Missing In Your Life?

Luke 2:41–52 ESV

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 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, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 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. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Have you ever lost something, or someone?

Lost Car Keys

Lost Cell Phone

Lost a child

Lost a parent

I’ve had several experiences with missing persons throughout my lifetime.

My first experience with a missing person, I was the missing person. I was with my mother and older brothers at K-Mart. It was frightening

Once our friends called us to ask for prayer and help, locating their child, who was missing for a couple hours. He was eventually found, napping underneath some clean laundry.

I’ve been involved with a number of Search and Rescue calls, in the Allegheny Forest as a member of the Spring Creek Vol. F.D. and also had to search around the 70 acre central part of camp, at MMR as the camp director, for a missing camper.

It is important for us to remember, that Luke is giving us an orderly account of Christ’s life, these verses are significant , in that this information is included in no other Gospel account. Remember, Luke is writing what is essentially an investigative report, by the inspired work of the Holy Spirit , so that Theophilus (& we) can be fully convinced, what has been taught concerning the Good News of Jesus Christ.

What can we observe here in the verses we just read?

Joseph’s Family Tradition of the celebrating the Passover:

Luke 2:41–42 ESV

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.

Mary & Joseph clearly believed that the Passover/ The Remembrance of the Salvation/Redemption of Israel from the captivity in Egypt. was an important event. Participating in this time of celebration and remembrance was not a simple task. They would have traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem, stayed in Jerusalem for 7-8 days, and then returned back to their hometown. It would have been a 4-5 day walk each direction, making the entire ordeal at a minimum of a 2 week event, if not longer.

Luke’s Report of a Missing Child

Luke 2:43–45 ESV

43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 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, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.

This is no ordinary child, that has gone missing.

Luke 1:30–33 ESV

30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 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, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

This isn’t the first time, that Jesus has been to Jerusalem for the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread.

This time however, he stayed behind, while His parents walked a days journey toward Nazareth (20-25miles/day walking).

Imagine the thoughts running through their heads, as they realized this boy, whose name means “Savior”, who they were told by the angel Gabriel, would be called the Son of the Most High, and “Immanuel” (God with us) will reign over Israel, on the throne of David, forever . . . that same child who all these things has been said, is missing! He’s gone . . . Nowhere to be found!

PUT OUT THE AMBER ALERT!!!

Imagine Mary and Joseph’s state of mind- Their son was missing but not just any son.

In case there was any confusion about who this child was, several times in the first two chapters of Luke, Jesus’ identity as Savior, Lord, The Anointed Son of God, the Messiah was declared and testified of, by the angel Gabriel, to both Mary & Joseph, as well as confirmed by the testimony of various people. (Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon, Anna)

Back to the facts in Luke’s missing person report

So they traveled a full day, not realizing they lost the Messiah. Then they travel a days journey back to Jerusalem, and on the third day they see Him. This twelve year old boy is found.

And of course, like any investigative reporter, Luke begins to answer questions, and revealing facts about the situation.

Where do they find Him? Where has He been? What is He doing? Why is He there?

Luke 2:46 ESV

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Where was the missing boy found?

In the Temple:

They find the boy in the temple. The term temple has become synonymous with the term “House of God” Jesus refers to it as His Father’s House, which we will see later on in our study of the Gospel of Luke is an important term, and is actually somewhat of a theme throughout the Gospel of Luke, as Christ refers to the temple in this manner several times, later on in His ministry, but for right now, let’s take a close look at Luke’s investigative report.

They find him sitting in the temple, among the religious leaders,

What was He doing?

Listening!

Asking Questions!

Amazing People with His understanding

Luke 2:47–48 ESV

47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.”

Jesus was even at this age, showed incredible humility and grace.

The Anointed Son of God, (God in the flesh) was “asking questions”. Do you think this was for His benefit? More likely it was for the benefit of those in His presence.

One commentator suggested that Luke included this “missing child report” to show that Jesus Christ was already aware of his being the Christ, the Lord, the Son of God, even at the age of twelve. I don’t disagree with that but I believe there is more to it than that.

Even as Christ was considered “missing” He was already revealing in subtle ways, that there was something missing in the lives of those worshipping in the temple.

He astonished them! They were amazed at His understanding & His answers. Is it not a wondrous things, to be astonished and amazed by the Word of God!

Why did Jesus do this?

Luke, in classic, investigative reporting fashion gives us the answer. In fact, he offers us the answer to this question in the form of a quote, from the mouth of the Chosen One. The first, “red letters” of the Gospel of Luke. The earliest recorded words from the mouth of God in the flesh.

Luke 2:49 ESV

49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

What I find interesting is that Jesus answers Mary’s question, with two questions of His own. This is something we see Him do, many times throughout His time on earth. He does it with a numerous people, in a variety of circumstances.

The Two Questions of Jesus, reveal that something might have been missing, and it wasn’t Him.

Why were you looking for me?

This question may have accomplished a few things

It may have prompted Mary to question the underlying motive for her frustration or the underlying cause of her distress. Was she genuinely concerned for Jesus’ safety, or concerned about what the extended family would think of her parenting skills? Was she frustrated that she had to walk an extra 40-50 miles, or frustrated that he was spending so much time in the temple talking about spiritual things?

Why were they looking for Him? (could be a question intended to reveal their motive, or a question of their ignorance, or a question to cause them to recognize, what may have really been missing.

Did you not know that I must be in the of my Father?

This is ins’t a typo. Though it doesn’t make grammatical sense in our language, that is the literal translation of the Greek manuscripts, into English. Which actually is best translated “Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business.” (NKJV)

Another way to put it, “Didn’t you know, that it was absolutely necessary for me to worship, to engage in the work of my Father, to be about His cause?”

The Greek word for “house”, which Christ uses in other instances (6:4, 19:46), when referring to the temple, as God’s House, is not recorded in this verse in the manuscripts. Certainly, to say that He needed to be in His Father’s House, can bring us to the same understanding, but it takes a bit more work to get there.

In short, Jesus, in essence says, I stayed here in the Temple, because I absolutely needed to be here involved in my Heavenly Father’s affairs. It’s what I had to do, as the Son of God, this was the priority, even over the concerns of my earthly parents.

Why didn’t Mary and Joseph know this?

Certainly, Jesus (as the sinless, holy, perfectly righteous Son of God) had He not remained in the temple, He would have been missing, a providential appointment and a providential conversation.

Jesus’ 2nd question, offers an answer to Mary’s question.

He MUST be about His Father’s business.

Jesus said, “I must!” not “well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”

I believe, & I hope that you who are sons and daughters of God, have come to a place where you believe, that it is absolutely necessary for us to be about the Father’s business!

We must be about our Father’s business.

Sometimes that business, takes place in church, sometimes it takes place in our home, sometimes it happens along the roadside or at work, (sometime work is along the roadside). sometimes it may inconvenience others, but when the Spirit prompts us, when the Spirit guides us we become aware of exactly, where, when and how we, must be involved in the Father’s business.

Now let’s look at the last 3 verses of this chapter, for a few more nuggets of truth, I believe are helpful for us.

Luke 2:50–52 ESV

50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 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. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

In these last three verses of chapter 2, Luke’s report continues to teach us.

From verse 50-51 and the testimony concerning Mary, we learn to . . .

Ponder the parts of the Word of God, that you don’t understand.

One little side note here, relating to the “investigative report” by Luke. Doesn’t it seem that Mary, may have been Luke’s eyewitness, that gave him some of the “backstory” to the events of this day. Some of the family members may have recalled, the time when Jesus was lost, and Mary and Joseph had to go searching for Him. But, who else would have been able to say, “his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”?

Be Submissive

Luke 2:52 ESV

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Go where you need to go, in a spirit of humility and submissiveness.

Be Teachable

Be ever willing to increase in wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Be Favored among God and Man

Obviously, we are not to simply try to please all men, but when it is up to us, within the boundaries and parameters, that God has set up for us, we should try to live a peace with all men.

Romans 12:18 ESV

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

That is not permission to be a push-over, milk toast wimp, that allows people push you around and manipulate you, sometimes maintaining peace requires the difficult task of educating others with TRUTH and defending what is right.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Are you following the example of Jesus, and engaged in the Father’s Cause or Is there something missing in your life?

Is the Father’s business missing in your life?

Are you endeavoring to honor and obey the Heavenly Father, which will ultimately glorify Him? Because doing so, is in summary, what He is in the business of doing?

That is God’s call upon all who are His and Jesus Christ exemplified that as a 12 year old boy.

Spurgeon once said, that the call of God is the “arm of omnipotence” to a person as they go about the task at hand. We need to be quick to hear the voice of God and His call upon our lives. We become incredibly strong, omnipotent, in fact, when we are “about His business, answering His call.

Think about that for a moment.

Consider that in relation to Jesus in the story we’ve been focused on this morning.

We don’t see Jesus, quivering, fearful, or ashamed of inconveniencing Mary and Joseph, because He was fully aware, that He was about His Father’s business. He was doing what He was called to do. Therefore, He was able to do what He did, and move on to the next task, which was to go back to Nazareth, submitting to His earthly parents, to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, He does that for another 20 years.

Talk about a humble mission, for a King. Go live in some little town, obeying and submitting to these fallible human parents, day after day, month after month, year after year, after year, decade after decade. But that is what He did! That is our PERFECT EXAMPLE!