LUKE 2:40-52 – GROWING UP
LIFE OF CHRIST #4 of 60
(This message may be used as an individual sermon or as part of the series.
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 Jerusalem that the men were required to attend during the course of a year. They were Pentecost, the feast of the Tabernacles, and the Passover. By the time Jesus came, many Jews attended just one of the three festivals in a year.
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 Jerusalem to see if they could find their son!
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 Gethsemane Jesus, yielded His own personal will to God, saying, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done”.
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.
- We are to be submissive to our parents when under their authority. Colossians 3:20
- Wives are to be submissive to husbands. Colossians 3:18-19
- Churches are to be submissive to their leaders. Hebrews 13:17
- 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?