LUKE 2:41-52
ON THE GROW!
"In the Last Days Newsletter, Leonard Ravenhill tells about a group of tourists visiting a picturesque village who walked by an old man sitting beside a fence. In a rather patronizing way, one tourist asked, "Were any great men born in this village?"
"The old man replied, "Nope, only babies."
"A frothy question brought a profound answer. There are no instant heroes - whether in this world or in the Kingdom of God. Growth takes time, and as 1 Timothy 3:6 and 5:22 point out, even spiritual leadership must be earned."
Charles Simpson, Pastoral Renewal, writes:
"I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He said one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet.
"That also happens to some Christians. I've seen the cutest little six-inch Christians who swim around in a little puddle. But if you put them into a larger arena - into the whole creation - only then can they become great."
We are talking about growth tonight. We love babies, but we are unhappy when they don't grow properly. We love baby Christians, but we are unhappy when they don't grow properly.
This evening we are looking at the only incident recorded about Jesus' childhood and we see that the people he touched in this story were primarily his parents.
The interesting thing we want to note tonight is that the Lord Jesus had to grow up just like the rest of us. Jesus was God at birth, but because He came as a human, He went through the growth process, just like us. The only difference is that He did it perfectly.
Tonight we want to look at Luke 2:41-52 and consider:
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM - Vss. 43-45
PRIORITIES IN FOCUS - Vss. 46-50
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT - Vss. 51-52
BACKGROUND - Vs. 40
All that Luke tells us about Jesus' life from the time he was presented in the temple until He was twelve years old is found in this verse.
Luke tells us that his childhood was normal.
According to this verse Jesus grew physically, intellectually and spiritually.
G. Campbell Morgan - "The one business of every child from birth until twelve or somewhere around there is to grow, and nothing else. The child should grow without any sense of responsibility except obedience to authority; and obedience in the case of the child is always in order to give the child perfect freedom from everything else, without any sense of responsibility. That is the story of Jesus: He grew!”
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
Vs. 41 - At first, it was required that devout Jews would go to Jerusalem three times a year. By the time Mary and Joseph lived, once a year was required by custom. It was at Passover when Mary and Joseph made the prescribed trek.
Notice that it was not just the custom of Joseph, nor just the custom of Mary. In fact the law was for the males to assemble, so she could have stayed home. They went together!
Mary and Joseph were not rich. There would have been the loss of income. There would have been the long journey, probably on foot. There would have been a need for someone to watch the other children. And Mary might have made some of these trips while pregnant. Yet they went together.
Too many church children in this country have witnessed a disparity between parents. Generally speaking one will do the training. One will do the going, one will to the leading in Spiritual things, while the other one just tags along or does absolutely nothing, or discourages the whole matter.
Dottie and I both had the privilege of coming from families where both our Moms and our Dads were actively involved in church. Everyone went regularly to church.
Genesis 2:24 - Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Husband and wife should be one flesh emotionally, spiritually and physically.
Marriage is a partnership. Genesis 2 also states that the woman is to be a helper to the man. Thinking of Spiritual things, this would imply that both husband and wife are to be involved, but the husband is to take the lead.
Speaking of Mary and Joseph, Bishop Ryle said, "When they went up to the feast they always went up side by side, so ought it to be with all Christian husbands and wives. They ought to help one another in Spiritual things, and to encourage one another in the service of God."
It is good that husbands and wives pray together, study the scriptures together and serve the Lord together.
I have seen many pastors' wives in my time. The most successful are the ones who consider themselves to be in support of and partnership with their husbands. They don't consider themselves pastors, but partners in the work given to their husbands.
Vs. 42 - Mary and Joseph's Spiritual partnership is seen in the raising of their son.
At age 12 Jesus was ready to go to the feast also. At around age 12 or 13, at puberty, a Jewish boy became personally committed to his religion. We think of it as Bah Mitzvah today. Some Christian denominations offer confirmation. The idea is the same. The child becomes personally responsible for his or her religious faith.
In the Jewish faith a boy became a "son of the covenant" or "son of the law."
I personally feel that this was the time of Jesus' Bar Mitzvah. That made Him responsible for himself for Spiritual things. That is why he could stay at the temple when his parents left, and have done nothing wrong.
Note that when Jesus was 12 his parents did not send Him to Jerusalem. They went as a family. The parents led by their own personal example.
And may I remind you that whatever patterns the parents set for Spiritual behavior, the children are likely to follow. The children will tend to do as we do more than they will do as we say.
It seems to me that for many families church is not a priority, but something we do when we don't have anything else to do. I have often seen better compliance to some coach's sports schedule than a church schedule. Parents need to ask, "What's more important, my child's athletic career, or my child's Spiritual walk with God?"
Ps 92:13 - Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
We have children who are not as Spiritual as our Lord.
How much more do they need our direction and help.
"I vividly recall attending a Rotary meeting in Illinois a few years ago with my friend Gypsy Smith. I was sitting next to him at the speaker's table when suddenly just before he arose to speak, he asked me to mark carefully his closing words. When the moment arrived he lifted high his well-worn Bible. "How many of you men can recall a saintly mother and a godly father who loved this Book, read it, lived it, and seeped it into you?"
Practically the entire group, with moist eyes, raised their hands. Then, quietly Gypsy swung home deftly this shaft, "With all your influence today, how many of you are so living that your children will remember you for you faithfulness to this same book?" It was a tense moment. I felt the impact more than Gypsy did, for I knew a few there whose children are today's problem. No hand was raised."
No matter how old we are as parents, let's make sure that we have a partnership in Spiritual things, and that we strive to be the right example.
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM - Vss. 43-45
Vs. 43 - I believe that Jesus now considered himself to be a "Child of the Law" or "Child of the Covenant". It was his own personal responsibility to seek out God's Word, and He did!
There should be a time when our children start to show Spiritual interest. We should encourage them! Let them strike out on their own in pursuit of the things of God.
A couple of years ago Josh and Adam pursued summer ministry with C.E.F. This year Holly and Eden did the same thing. They were encouraged by their families and by their church. This is the way it should be.
When our children show a desire to serve the Lord, let us encourage them and not discourage them!
Vs. 44 - You might ask, "How could parents be so irresponsible?"
Well, first of all, Jesus probably never missed an
appointment in His life. He was a compliant, obedient
Son.
Secondly, the family would have traveled in a caravan. Family, friends and neighbors would have traveled together. Also, the custom was that the women and children traveled in front, and the men in the back. Jesus was at that age when he could have been with either group. Mom may have thought he was Dad, and Dad may have thought he was with Mom.
Vss. 45-46a - Jesus was missing for three days. The first day was
the trip out.
The second day was the trip back.
They found Him on the third day.
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM - Vss. 43-45
PRIORITIES IN FOCUS - Vss. 46-50
Vs. 46 - Jesus was found in the temple. He was not where the sacrifices were offered, but rather on a porch or in a room in the temple complex.
Jesus was meeting with the teachers of the law. Because this was a feast time, there was a good possibility of a great number of the noted teachers being there.
The method of learning for that day was for both teacher and student to ask and answer questions. This is what Jesus was involved in when his parents found him.
Vs. 47 - Of course this verse should not surprise us. Jesus was well advanced in his knowledge of God's law. His grasp of the law was amazing to the teachers of the law. Although Jesus was not yet the teacher, He showed His great potential.
Vss. 48 - You can imagine both the relief and the consternation of Mary and Joseph. They were relieved that Jesus was found safe and sound. They were ticked off that Jesus had stayed behind and caused them so much grief.
Vs. 49 - Now Jesus shows us His priorities.
Jesus always knew who He really was.
Although He reverenced His earthly Father, His true
Commitment was to His real Father. His commitment
was to God, His Father!
Luke 2:49 - "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" NIV
Mary and Joseph should have known that Jesus was going to be about His Father's business, in His Father's house!
More than anything else, Jesus came to do the Father's will.
Hebrews 10:7 - Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
John 17:4 - I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Luke 22:42 - Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Jesus says, I must be about my Father's business.
To do the will of God was the most important priority of Jesus' life.
This verse has impacted me more than any other in this passage.
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 say "I must be about my Father's business." Here are some suggestions.
I must pray.
I must read.
I must memorize.
I must meditate.
I must be filled with the Spirit.
I must attend.
I must share.
I must obey.
One of our greatest problems is that we don't feel compelled to do these things. That's how we get away from doing them.
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 - His parents didn't understand.
Had they had Him so long, that they forgot who He
really was?
This lack of understanding was a problem people would have with Jesus all His life. Not even His disciples always understood His commitment to the Father. They didn't always comprehend His "I musts!"
And friend, when our priority is to do our Father's business, there will be times when people will not under the "I musts" that the Father has given us to do.
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM - Vss. 43-45
PRIORITIES IN FOCUS - Vss. 46-50
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT - Vss. 51-52
Vs. 51 - It is important to note, that although Jesus did express some independence in His commitment to His Heavenly Father, He did not become an impertinent twelve-year-old!
Luke quickly shows us that Jesus stayed in submission to His parents. As kids and teens begin to express their Spiritual independence, we all remember that they are not to throw off all authority! Honor, obedience and respect are still to be given to parents.
There is a little aside in this verse. Note that Mary "kept all these sayings in her heart." Also look at Luke 2:19. - Read.
I believe that these remembrances of Jesus birth and early years came from Mary. Luke was an historian. I believe Luke did His homework. Mary, who remembered, shared what had happened.
Of course, all of this was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is the true author of the Scriptures.
Vs. 52 - 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.
Physically - Taking care of our bodies.
Spiritually - Continuing to grow in grace and knowledge.
Socially - Making friends and being a good testimony.
PARTNERSHIP IN SPIRITUAL THINGS - Vss. 41-42
PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM - Vss. 43-45
PRIORITIES IN FOCUS - Vss. 46-50
PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT - Vss. 51-52