The Unifier of Heaven and Earth
Notes
Transcript
Can you imagine losing Jesus?
Can you imagine losing Jesus?
Mary & Joseph take 12yo Jesus to Temple in Jerusalem for the Passover
Mary & Joseph take 12yo Jesus to Temple in Jerusalem for the Passover
When the party’s over, they journey a day back to Nazareth, discover Jesus is missing
Journey 2nd day back to Jerusalem, 3rd day searching all over Jerusalem for Jesus
It’s scary enough losing a child. Imagine losing the Savior of the world. "Hey, God...”
It’s scary enough losing a child. Imagine losing the Savior of the world. "Hey, God...”
Mary and Joseph are ignorant that Jesus is missing, go through effort to find him, search in all the wrong places.
Do you ever feel like you need to find Jesus?
Do you ever feel like you need to find Jesus?
Feel totally ignorant as a Christian, lack understanding
Feel totally ignorant as a Christian, lack understanding
Don’t know how to pray, don’t understand Bible, don’t know how to talk to kids re: faith
Feel like despite all your efforts to find Jesus, your faith still isn’t what it should be
Feel like despite all your efforts to find Jesus, your faith still isn’t what it should be
Wish your faith was stronger, better devotional habits, talk to people about Jesus more
Feel like you’re going through life looking in all the wrong places
Feel like you’re going through life looking in all the wrong places
Getting into trouble, indulging pet sins, doing things under the cover of darkness
Don’t want to go to church, anger, get back at people, addiction, porn, tempted to steal, assassinate reputations, heart can’t stop coveting
Do you ever feel like you need to find Jesus, and you’re looking in all the wrong places?
What was 12yo Jesus up to?
What was 12yo Jesus up to?
Mary & Joseph finally find Jesus at the Temple talking with teachers, listening/asking questions; amazed at understanding & 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.”
Why would Jesus do that to His parents?
Why would Jesus do that to His parents?
Supposed to be sinless! He might be 12, but He’s God! In this case, He’s responsible, not parents!
He should honor His Father and Mother…and that’s what He’s doing:
49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Reminder: first & foremost, Jesus = Son of God the Father on mission
Tempting just to see Jesus as Example in Bible
Tempting just to see Jesus as Example in Bible
“See, Jesus doesn’t obey his parents! Why should I?”
Jesus’ devotion to the Temple
Jesus knowledge of the faith
Jesus does obey His parents
Challenge: not just Example; how is this Jesus FOR YOU (even at 12yo)?
Jesus is the Unifier of Heaven and Earth!
Jesus is the Unifier of Heaven and Earth!
10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
Jesus comes to unite Heaven and Earth starting with Himself.
Jesus comes to unite Heaven and Earth starting with Himself.
12yo Jesus = baffling story for new Christians! Jesus is 100% God & 100% Man
God almighty, Maker of Heaven & Earth—yet grows in wisdom, stature, asks questions
12yo kid who has to obey his parents—yet eternal author of the cosmos.
All-knowing God asks questions; all-powerful God in a growing, adolescent body
God dwelling with us, for us, uniting Heaven & Earth
In Jesus, heaven and earth are one in the same.
In Jesus, heaven and earth are one in the same.
Our future is living eternally in heaven on earth, new creation
Perhaps Heaven on Earth will look like 12-year-old Jesus
This same planet with all created things, yet it’s all made holy.
Jesus unifies Heaven & Earth by returning us to the Father Creator
Jesus unifies Heaven & Earth by returning us to the Father Creator
Just outside Temple walls where 12yo Jesus was, He would be crucified, bring reconciliation between God and humanity
God the Father would forsake his obedient Son, lay upon him the punishment of all our sin, curse
Temple curtain (separation of Holy of Holies from man) would split
After 3 days, God would raise his Son to life, so that the God-Man Jesus unify all of heaven w/creation
12yo Jesus knows He unifies Heaven & Earth by making us right w/Father
Why Jesus asks haunting question: “Did you not know?”
Why Jesus asks haunting question: “Did you not know?”
“Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But [Mary & Joseph] didn’t understand what he meant. Then Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.
Wish we could have gotten 12yo Jesus asking & answering, but this is the story we need to hear
Even Mary & Joseph, who know more about who Jesus is than anyone else, leave confused.
Some folks don’t like Mary Did You Know?, but maybe it has a point!
Mary & Joseph don’t completely get it, yet God goes home w/them.
God dwells with His people, even when they do not understand
You may feel like you don’t understand God, faith isn’t what it should be, can’t kick sin problem...
You may feel like you don’t understand God, faith isn’t what it should be, can’t kick sin problem...
But Good news is not that you ascend into heaven, but that God has chosen to dwell with you.
Jesus unites Heaven & Earth by
giving even infants all the understanding they need
giving you all the faith you need
and lavishing you in forgiveness
12yo Jesus was the heavenly being living an earthly life & He visited the Temple where heaven & earth come together
We are earthly beings receive a heavenly life in baptism; gather as church where we experience heaven on earth
What it means to be Christian: submitting yourself to the care of the Lord who dwells with you.
Good News: You aren’t the Unifier of Heaven & Earth. But Jesus is! Amen
Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with his favor and grant you His peace. Amen.