Sermon post: Luke 2.41-52 - Ever lose your kid?

 

Snow has come to Ohio and it seems each weekend brings a little more.  The photo above shows our barred front doors of the church for a few days but it was removed before the next service.  

We finished up our mini-series through the chapters of Luke 1 & 2 this Sunday.  It was great to slow down and take a deep dive into the events and people associated with Jesus' first coming.  Luke and all of his details informed us of 3 angel appearances; helped us triangulate with historical figures the time frame of Jesus' birth; brought to light near and far prophecies; supplied witnesses with the final two being Simeon and Anna; and provided through his words the physical growth of Jesus from newly born, to in the arms of another, to being able to render help, and finally to being under the law.

This is a "Luke only" passage.  None of the other gospel accounts, Matthew, Mark, and John, give us this scene when Jesus is 12 years old.  It makes you ask the question, "Why did Luke give us this snapshot of Jesus?"  We won't hear of Jesus again for another 18 years at His appearance at His baptism by John the Baptist.

We have the backdrop of His parents losing Him.  This event many of us can relate to.  At times I see it happen in the four walls of the church.  I know the look on the face when a parent becomes aware that they don't know where their child is.  Compound this with a possible 5 day absence from Jesus and the city of Jerusalem that would swell to 2 million during the festival days.  Mary and Joseph must have been frantic.  

The interchange between Jesus and His parents is the pivot point of the passage.  Jesus actually speaks and we have His words!  12 year old Jesus tells His parents that they should have known that they would find Him in His Father's house.  He tells them in so many words, "I am the Son of God" or "The One they worship at this temple, He is My Father."  Couple this with 18 years later, at His baptism, when the voice from heaven (God's) responds back, "This is My beloved Son..."

We all get selfish at times.  We think about how this is affecting us.  Many times it paralyzes our actions or even brings about a response that takes us deeper into fear.  Our selfishness and fear needs to be addressed with putting our eyes back on who Jesus is.  He is the Son of God.  He is our Savior.  If you are a Christian, you are a child of His.  You have His words and are a part of His family.  Tremendous resources have been given to us to use in our times of need so we keep walking in faith rather than running in fear.  

Just some final thoughts before moving on...

Adam