Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last week we finished up what Simeon and the Prophetess’s Anna had to say...

Today we will read of Jesus in the Temple all grown up at the bright age of 12

Please Stand for the reading

Pray

Context and background:

Sometime has past since Jesus was found to be called by Simeon names such as “Salvation and consolation of Israel”

Sometime has passed since as a babe Jesus was embraced by Simeon and as He being held, the prophetess Anna proclaimed Him as redemption for the people of God

And today we will read of how Jesus found His way back to His Father’s House (the Temple)

But to start out we could not leave out this portion of the text about what happened after they left the temple when He was still a newborn baby.

Luke 2:39-40 “And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.

And the favor of God was upon him.”

Jesus who fulfilled the Law, fully; even from birth.

So it’s important to see that everything that was supposed to happen in the temple according to the Law and customs of the Jews was finished and accomplished fully, as Jesus was a baby

Then they returned home “and the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.

And the favor of God was upon him.”

As any child in the home does, So Jesus grows as his parents love, nurture, care and teach him in the household

And here specifically in our text it mentions “filled with wisdom.”

That being said for context today the Boy Jesus in the Temple; not as a babe: But Jesus is now 12 years old as His earthly father (Jospeh) is leading His family to the Jerusalem for the “appointed ordinances” In Jewish custom and tradition.

Luke 2:41 “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.”

Parents meaning Jospeh and Mary, “every year” meaning every year as Joseph was a faithful Jew.

Meaning Jospeh at times past went without Mary and at times in past went without Jesus, because neither Mary nor Jospeh were on the scene yet.

So let it be said it shouldn’t be that we go to Church service for our children alone but for our owns souls and nourishment from God’s Word.

See as they are heading to Jerusalem; (“Jewish males were to go to Jerusalem three times a year: at the feasts of Passover/Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

And In Jesus' day, women usually attended with their husbands or fathers, so therefore Mary went with Jospeh (so before Mary met Jospeh it was probably that Mary’s Father took her)

So just as Jospeh was leading His family to the Feast Of the Passover in Jerusalem:

So Fathers and Husbands in here we can learn from Jospeh, we are to be the leaders of our households, we are the head of our household that God has given to us to lead well, and espically spiritually

And as an encouragement to the Husbands and Fathers’ so leading and being the head of your household; is absolutely one of the most difficult but most rewarding callings we can have!

So Press on to look more like Jesus in this area of spiritual leadership.

So Jospeh was leading His family, his wife (Mary and His Son Jesus) to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover:

If we know from last week they were just in Jerusalem in our text last Sunday (But Jesus was just an infant)

Now time has passed and they return to Jerusalem where the “feast of the passover and the temple were”

So did Mary and Jospeh travel alone?

No!

Luke 2:42 “And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.”

And they went up; all them, no one stayed back - It was time to worship!

And how old was Jesus?

12!

See the commentary I was reading said this - Soniclight “Jewish parents took their young sons with them for a year or two before the boy became a "son of the covenant" usually at age 13.

Luke called Jesus a boy (v.

43; Gr. pais, also used of servants) here rather than a child, which was the term he used of Jesus in verse 40.

"Jewish boys became responsible for their actions at thirteen.

At the age of twelve the instruction of boys became more intensive in preparation of the recognition of adulthood

So Jesus entering adulthood soon as He is 12; is being taught by His earthly Father the ways’s of not only tradition but worship (Did Jesus really need to learn this?; No but Jesus fully God and fully man (divine) still had earthly Father, who played a role in His life that which obviously left an impact.

How? (for instance Jesus was a carpenter, but you know who first was a carpenter?

Joseph.)

How important for us as Father’s to take hold the serious the calling of leading our family Spiritually: (our wife and our children)

Raising our young men to be men of the Word, integrity, strength, humility, wisdom and one day a husband

Raising our young women to be women who are of the Word, submissive, loving, compassionate and one day wives

Luke 2:43 “And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.

His parents did not know it,”

So if we are following Lukes Orderly Account of His Gospel:

What feast is this talking about and what is it’s meaning?

The Israelites celebrated the first Passover, as God commanded them through Moses.

A yearly holy day set apart for the Israelites to observe the Exodus from Egypt, particularly the passing over of the Israelite firstborn males when the firstborn of Egypt were struck down in the last of ten plagues.

So let’s jump to after the Passover, and they (Mary and Joesph) are now returning home to Nazareth...

Meaning they all attended the Passover feast, and now it t was time to head back home

But...

“the boy Jesus stayed behind, in Jerusalem.

His parents did not know it,...”

So after celebrating Passover, they notice the 12 year old boy Jesus, did not return and he “stayed in Jerusalem”

Now do we say that Jesus disobeyed in this moment his parents?

No. Jesus is perfect, and never once disobeyed which would be contrary to the Scriptures, as the Scriptures speak of “Honor thy Father and thy Mother...”

That which Jesus obeyed them perfectly!

See it was apart of God’s will, for Jesus to stay in Jerusalem; they didn’t just purposely leave Him though, we learn they just forgot to check for Him.

Luke 2:44 “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,”

See the trip back to Nazareth:

As they headed to Jerusalem from Nazareth so it wasn’t just the three of them; as this would been a weak number of people for such a long and potentially dangerous trip

But how this worked is family and friends all went together to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover:

And in this the line up would be (Women and Children in front and the Men and Boys in the back)

So as Jesus was only 12 , a child, still not yet a young boy.

So we know He would be in the middle of these two groups at that Jr. High stage of life.

Mary supposed that Jesus must of been in the back with Jospeh, while Joseph supposed that Jesus was in the front with Mary.

So we can see it was “a day’s journey” meaning Jesus had two full days at the place He intended to go, as now their was another day’s journey back to Jerusalem

So again we can’t say that Jesus disobeyed His parents therefore sinned!

No!

He didn’t disobey his parents, his parents “supposed” and they were wrong.

That was on them (parents own your mess ups; it will teach your children humility)

Luke 2:45 “and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.”

Now the search for Jesus was on, first amongst all the family and friends; then to Jerusalem to find this Son who has been confirmed as being...

Conceived of the Holy Spirit

Called Salvation, consolation of Israel and redemption

Can you imagine what Jospeh and Mary are feeling searching for little/not so little Jesus in big Jerusalem?

See when parents lose their children in a location even for a split second, so many speak of “what if moments...”

I wonder what was running through their minds?

“Such as Oh no we’ve done it this time!”

It’s funny because I think of when even lose little Oliver and Ezra in the house (for a split second) they are usually up to no good.

For Mary and Jospeh it may have been ...We have lost Jesus; and well if He is the rise and fall of many we will never know if we can’t find him.

Luke 2:46-47 “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions....

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

So after 3 days...(Can you imagine three full days, no sleep, no rest for your heart mind or soul as their is what if’s and anxieties of your lost child? in this case you know it’s God’s Son.)

One might wonder if first Mary and Joseph searched for Him in the theaters, circuses, parks, sports complexes, shops, and streets of Jerusalem.

But no this 12 year old was where?

Among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions...

Now what is important to know about this group of teachers?

These were probably different rabbi’s around the region.

As the Scripture here makes it very clear it was not just one teacher but “teachers”

And after Passover their would be a-lot of the “phd’ers’ in theology discussing their stance on their theology, and they would all go the Temple after the “Feast of the Passover to visit, and talk theology”

It’s like when we get together for SBTC annual meeting; many pastors getting together to speak on one topic the Church and theology

Theology - meaning the study of God