LIFE OF CHRIST
Luke 2:40-52
GROWING UP,
Life of Christ #4
There is nothing
more adorable than a baby.
There is nothing
more tragic than a baby who never grows up, who remains forever a baby, forever
a child.
There is nothing
more exciting than a person being born into the family of God, which is,
becoming a “born-again Christian”, a child of God.
There is nothing
more disappointing than a born-again Christian that does grow and mature in the
Christian life. 2 Peter 3:18
Vs. 40 – Luke
tells us that Jesus grew up. He
increased in the important areas of spirit, wisdom and grace. I believe that the Lord Jesus became more and
more aware in his human mind, just who he was and where He came from.
I have entitled
this message, Growing Up, because
that’s exactly what Jesus was doing in the passage before us this morning. His growing up is a reminder that’s something
every Christian should be doing no matter how long we have been in the faith.
Philippians 3:12-14
Let’s see how
Jesus grew up, and try to follow His example.
HE PURSUED HIS
FATHER
Vs. 41 – Originally there were three feasts in
It was Joseph and
Mary’s custom to come to the Passover.
Joseph and Mary
were a good example of setting a Godly example in the home.
Whatever example
you set, your children will likely follow.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he
should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
To “train up a
child” you as a parent must set the example.
Vs. 42 – At twelve or thirteen years old a Jewish boy was embarking on
manhood. Probably at thirteen, or
perhaps as early as 12, a boy was admitted into the synagogue as an adult.
At this age the
child was considered to be a “son of the commandment”
Vs. 43-44 – How could this have happened?
It was really
quite simple.
The family would
have traveling with other families.
This was for
safety in numbers as the group traveled through some dangerous areas.
A time and place
was set for the group to leave.
Usually the women
and children traveled ahead of the men.
Mary could have
considered Jesus to be with Joseph.
Joseph could have
thought that Jesus was with Mary.
Or, perhaps they
thought that Jesus was with the neighborhood children.
Please bear in
mind that Jesus was sinless.
He was never
irresponsible.
The parents had no
reason to think that Jesus was not in the group.
Vs. 45 – The parents of course, would have been frantic and returned to
Vs. 46 – You can imagine the parents’ relief when they found the Lord
Jesus. You can also imagine their consternation
that he hadn’t headed for home when he was supposed to.
Jesus was found in
God’s house the temple.
He was sitting
among the learned teachers of His day, and “soaking it in”. He was both listening to the teaching and asking
insightful questions.
Vs. 48 – Was Jesus wrong? Mary seemed to
think so, because Jesus had inconvenience them.
But the Bible
clearly teaches that Jesus was sinless, so this couldn’t have been wrong.
Vs. 49 – Jesus speaks to his mother about two very important topics – identity
and priorities.
As to identity, at
age 12 Jesus knew who he was.
He knew that He
was the Son of God.
Therefore, Jesus
realized that He had to be obedient to His heavenly Father ever more than He
was to be obedient to his earthly parents.
That leads to his
priorities.
I think that Jesus
was basically asking his parents why they had so much trouble finding him.
Jesus said,
“Didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business.
Jesus knew that it
was time for Him to learn and grow.
So, he was in his
father’s house doing just that.
All through His
life, Jesus was about His Father’s business.
Whether He was
spending time alone with His Father in prayer, or teaching, or healing, or
training the disciples, or confronting His enemies, he was always about His
Father’s business. Hebrews 10:7,
John 4:34
In the Garden of
The phrase to be
about my father’s business can also mean to be about my father’s house.
Jesus was the Son so He was concerned about being in, worshipping in, and
learning in, His Father’s House.
The Jews of Jesus
day would not have referred to God as their Father. The Old Testament did not emphasize that
truth, because it really wasn’t true on a personal basis until Jesus came.
Jesus could indeed
call God “Father”.
And Jesus taught
us to call Him, Father, as well.
On what basis can
you and I call God, “Father”?
We can call God “Father”
when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, as the one who
died for our sins to give us eternal life.
When we trust
Jesus as our Savior, believing in Him as the only way of salvation, forgiveness
of sins, and eternal life, we are “born again” and born into the Family of God.
John 1:12-13,
So, at the point
of salvation God becomes our “Father” in an intimate way. Romans 8:15-16
If we are God’s
children, shouldn’t be “about our Father’s House”?
Our Father’s house
is where God dwells.
Our Father’s house
today is very easy to find.
Our Father’s house
is where God dwells.
God dwells inside
of us. We are God’s house.
We are God’s
temple. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Jesus says, I must be about my
Father's business.
As we already saw, to do the will of God
was the most important priority of Jesus' life.
The priority of Jesus is His Father's
house, His Father's business. It is a must that He do
what the Father wants Him to do!
Just think of what you and I will be saying
if we follow Jesus’ example and say "I must be about my Father's
business."
When things are a must, they get done!
With God's help, let's make the right
things a must in our lives.
I need to learn to say, you need to learn
to say, "I
MUST!"
Vs. 50 – Notice that his parents didn’t understand.
And guess
what? Not everyone is going to
understand when you start making sacrifices to do God’s will.
We have to decide.
Are we going to please God or please man?
Jesus grew.
HE PURSUED HIS
FATHER
HE PRACTICED
SUBMISSION
The incident in
the temple was over.
They went home.
Vs. 51 – Notice what hadn’t changed.
Jesus continued to do what He
was told.
When it came to
specific issues concerning God, He obeyed God.
That’s why He had stayed at the temple.
When it came to
living in the home His Heavenly Father had given Him, Jesus was submissive. He
did as He was told.
Jesus submitted to
God first.
But He also
submitted to those who were in authority over Him.
There is a lesson
here, being submissive to God, being totally yielded to Him is important.
Romans 1:21
But as we are
submissive to God we will also be submissive to those who God wants us to be
submissive to.
1.
We are to be submissive to our
parents when under their authority. Colossians 3:20
2.
Wives are to be submissive to
husbands. Colossians 3:18-19
3.
Churches are to be submissive to
their leaders. Hebrews 13:17
4.
Everyone is to be submissive to
each other. Ephesians 5:21
Remember, Jesus was
superior to Mary and Joseph, but He submitted to them because He submitted to
God first.
Not everyone you
will be asked to submit to will be as good or as capable as you.
But God will want
you to submit to them because you are submissive to Him.
Jesus was growing
up.
HE PURSUED HIS
FATHER
HE PRACTICED
SUBMISSION
HE PROCEEDED TO
MATURE
Luke 2:52 - And Jesus increased in wisdom
and stature, and in favour
with God and man.
Now we see that there was a normal process
of development for our Lord. He grew in four areas that everyone of us should
grow in.
HE GREW INTELLECTUALLY - wisdom
HE GREW PHYSICALLY - stature
HE
GREW SPIRITUALLY - favor with God
HE GREW SOCIALLY - favor with man
And we too, should grow in these areas:
·
Intellectually - Continuing to accrue the
right kind of wisdom.
The right kind of wisdom has the fear of
God at the center of it.
Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the Lord is the instruction of
wisdom; and before honour is humility.
·
Physically - Taking care of our bodies.
·
Spiritually - Continuing to grow in grace
and knowledge.
Philippians 3:10 - That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
·
Socially - Making friends
and being a good testimony.
Romans 15:7 - Wherefore receive ye one
another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your
Father which is in heaven.
Jesus grew up.
HE PURSUED HIS
FATHER
HE PRACTICED
SUBMISSION
HE PROCEEDED TO
MATURE
Will you do the
same?