Sunday, December 30, 2018 - 9 AM

Hebrews  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  22:59
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What Do You Know? – Luke 2:41-52 Bascomb UMC / December 30, 2018 / 9AM & 11AM Focus: The child Jesus is still growing and learning God’s grace at 12 years old. Function: To challenge believers to continue into 2019 to grow in grace as well. 5 Purpose Outcomes of the Church: Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Evangelism, Service Luke 2:41–52 (CEB) Jesus in the temple at Passover 41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to their custom. 43 After the festival was over, they were returning home, but the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t know it. 44 Supposing that he was among their band of travelers, they journeyed on for a full day while looking for him among their family and friends. 45 When they didn’t find Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed by his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Listen! Your father and I have been worried. We’ve been looking for you!” 49 Jesus replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he said to them. 51 Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother cherished every word in her heart. 52 Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people. Jesus says: Mom, Dad, didn’t you know? Two songs come immediately to my mind after hearing this scripture. I’ve already mentioned Mark Lowry’s haunting song “Mary Did You Know” and a song you might not know is Joseph’s song from his own personal perspective, asking his own questions about this baby. Little Yeshua Verse 1 Are You a prophet Are You a king Or just a small baby who makes angels sing I'm not a wiseman I need a light To shine on my questions tonight Verse 2 What will I teach You A carpenter's trade The tools and the wood and the way things are made What will You teach me Will I understand The mysteries You hold in Your hand Chorus Little Yeshua Morning Star I'm filled with the wonder of who You are Child of Jehovah and yet my son Little Yeshua….. my little one The early church wondered, even fought over their understanding of Jesus as “God made flesh.” Was he 50% human and 50% divine? Did he have two natures – 1 divine and 1 human? The Nicene Creed is focused on the person of Jesus. [recite that part at 9AM – remind them that they said it at 11AM] Only Luke’s gospel gives us any early account of Jesus the boy, the child, except the visit of the Wise Men (next week on Epiphany Sunday) in Matthew’s gospel. How was Jesus as a child? Did he come “fully aware?” Did he have power to heal? Did he have other power of life and death that he couldn’t control and as a child? There are early stories not in the Bible. One early church collection is called The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. It was rejected – considered NOT authoritative, just speculation on what a God incarnate (in the flesh) would look like. Smarter than even his teachers? Could he even socialize with children his own age? What was it like to live in a household with Jesus? [play the video: Jesus Had A Little Brother by Michael, Jr.] Even in 2004 an author named Christopher Moore tried to imagine the early life of Jesus. He wrote Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. Biff is the Messiah's best bud and the story Biff tells us is full of miracles, remarkable journeys, and healings. The book uses Jesus’ true Jewish name – Yeshua or Joshua. This story tries to imagine the big gap that occurs between Jesus' birth and the years of public ministry. Told from the modern-day perspective of Jesus' best friend, the book portrays the Messiah as that perfect kid you couldn't even hate because he is just too good. According to some reviews, the book doesn't settle into any philosophy or theology, but it apparently manages to avoid making fun of Jewish and Christian beliefs as well. I’ll have to check it out. Anyone familiar with these Non-Bible accounts of the child Jesus (amazing or terrifying his friends, helping his parents, or punishing bad neighbors) should appreciate the quiet reserve of Luke’s narrative. The events of Jesus as a child unfolds normally, free of miracles, fulfilled prophecies, and special revelations. Luke tells us both, a birth story, and this ONE childhood event - yet sees no need to bring the language of this event (using language like “his parents,” and “your father and I”) into harmony with the virgin birth. It is what it is. Luke has, perhaps, a different intention for telling this story. First: Jesus is on his way to the Temple. Luke wants us to know how Jewish this family is - with Jewish parents, living according to Jewish law and customs. And the Temple was an important part of the Luke’s gospel throughout. Jesus was dedicated in the Temple and the next time, after today’s events, Jesus is seen cleansing the Temple and teaching on the steps each day right before his death. By the time Luke wrote this gospel the Romans had destroyed the temple. Luke wants the reader to know that Jesus was familiar with the temple and its teachers. Luke’s criticism of temple leadership - the unfaithfulness of Jewish leaders. Whatever us modern parents think, remember, it was a different age. Not long ago, parents would release their children into the neighborhood with no other instructions than to be home before dark. Traveling to Jerusalem was group affair. They didn’t notice he was gone until he didn’t show up at bedtime. And three days (lost for three days – see that as significate?) three days of searching would be stressful on a parent, but he was found in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and putting questions to them - not learning from them. He was the teacher. Socrates was already well known - the one asking the questions is the teacher. On the third day found him alive and well. But they didn’t find him in the expected places -- the safe confines of his extended family in the pilgrims’ caravan. After three days, Mary and Joseph found Jesus alive and well in the Temple at Jerusalem among the teachers of the law, the very company where it all will end when Jesus is tried, convicted, and handed over to be killed. Mary and Joseph find Jesus alive and well after three days in a place they didn’t expect. This is a foreshadowing of Easter. And everyone is amazed – there is obviously a budding insight already present in this 12-year-old boy. But the parents are shocked. Really? What do they know? Well, more than rest of US! According to Luke, Joseph and Mary both had inside knowledge on this child, but let’s cut them a little slack; their understanding was limited and, I’m sure, faded over time. They fell into the routine of everyday life and perhaps, even forget, at times, their unique situation. Mary did you know? Yes and No – look at him – he’s just a boy! Jesus’s response is a mild rebuke of his parents. Those in “blended” families know the “parent card” is being used here. Maybe not as harsh as modern children play the “you’re not my REAL father” card. But Jesus does say “I’m in my Father’s house” - “I’m attending to my Father’s affairs.” No offence Joseph, but Jesus is first seeking God’s approval over his earthly parents. Growing into the mission of God is more important than pleasing earthly parents. Jesus’ ministry and teaching must come first. Later, the family went all the way to Capernaum to bring Jesus back to Nazareth. Mary is widowed by then, but she had James in tow, but Jesus says: “My mother and brothers are those who listen to God’s word and do it” Luke 8:21 (CEB). However Luke points out that Jesus is not being a sullen teenager, instead, Jesus is “obedient to them,” and his parents cherished every word. The family is still connected to God’s will and the fifth commandment to honor father and mother is still in effect. But the error was not with Jesus, Joseph and Mary don’t have the big picture yet. What do you think you know Mary and Joseph? Not enough, not everything. Mary asks Jesus, “Why have you treated us like this?” And don’t we ask God this question when our expectations are shattered?” So Mary “keeps” these things in her heart, these events perplex and trouble Mary, who turns them over and over again and again.” And it’s clear that Jesus doesn’t know everything. The text declares: Jesus matured in wisdom and years, and in favor with God and with people Luke 2:52 (CEB). The NRSV says Jesus “grew” in wisdom. Growing in age and in favor with people is understandable, growing in wisdom and favor with God is more perplexing. Jesus may have been a child prodigy, but he gained even more wisdom about the realm of God as he grew and matured. Jesus continued to mature in the awareness of God’s grace pouring out through the realm. What does it mean for Jesus to mature? If Jesus was fully human, then human experiences like growth and development would be necessary. Now I ask you: “what do you know?” Do YOU know everything? Well, if Jesus can grow, shouldn’t we? And how did Jesus grow in grace? By going to Bible study. By learning in community. By going to Temple with his family. By being a part of a community that nurtured him. Yes, he had a special relationship with God, even from the start, but that relationship was not fully realized. How do we position ourselves to grow in God’s grace? Make sure in this coming NEW YEAR that Christians here at Bascomb keep growing! As disciples, our relationship with God should imitate Jesus’ own growth and development. Mary Did You Know Verse 1 Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you Verse 2 Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to the blind man Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with His hand Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod And when you kiss your little baby you've kissed the face of God Bridge The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the Lamb Verse 3 Oh Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb And the sleeping Child you're holding Is the great I AM
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