The Boy Jesus Luke 2:39-52 I. INTRODUCTION- a. We spent the Sundays before Christmas talking about the birth of Jesus. b. Today we continue a study the life of our Lord as we begin a new sermon study on the life of Jesus entitled One Perfect Life. c. In this study we will look at different scenes in the life of our Lord and we will listen carefully to His words. d. The goal of this study is to study the one and only perfect life ever lived and let God speak to us and change our lives as we do. e. After the visit of the Wise Men Joseph was warned by God in a dream to carry Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt to escape the attempts of King Herod to kill Jesus. f. We are not sure how long the Joseph, Mary and Jesus stayed in Egypt it could have been as long as 2 years or more. g. But not long after Herod died Joseph was told by God to take his family back to Israel. h. By the way how did a poor carpenter finance such an extended in Egypt?... through the gifts of the Wise Men gold, frankincense and myrrh. i. Apparently Joseph s first intention was to return to Bethlehem but when he learned that Archelaus a son of Herod who was just as insane and evil as his father had been had taken his father s throne. j. And when Joseph was warned by God again in another dream not to go to Bethlehem Joseph and his family returned to his hometown of Nazareth to live.
II. THE SILENT YEARS- a. It was in the village of Nazareth that Jesus grew from a child into a boy into a teenager into a young adult and finally into an adult man. b. The Bible tells us almost nothing about the life of Christ from the time He was around two to four until He began His public ministry at the age of 30. c. Those 26 to 28 years of the life of Jesus are known as the silent years of the life of Christ. d. Over the centuries many attempts have been made to fill in the gaps in our lack of knowledge concerning the silent years of the life of Jesus. e. Many false gospels were written after the life of Jesus which made up all kinds of fanciful stories and tales about Jesus as a boy and young man but none of them are true. f. Some of these writings say that as a young man Jesus went to India, China or other exotic places and this is where He learned much of the wisdom He shared as the Son of God again absolutely not true. g. The only reliable information we have about the silent years of Jesus is found in the Bible and what the Bible says about Jesus during these years is not much. h. So what do we know about Jesus during His silent years?... #1, We know He had brothers and sisters. i. The Bible makes it clear that Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born but after Jesus was born Joseph and Mary became a normal married couple and they had many children together. j. Mark 6:3 (NIV) Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?
k. When Jesus was growing up for all the world to see He was just a typical boy in a typical family. l. There is no doubt that Jesus was an exceptional child and young man He had to be given who He was but His life during the silent years was for the most part unexceptional. m. As a boy Jesus ran He played He laughed He did chores He went fishing He grew and He learned He was just a boy. n. Luke tells us that the growth and development of Jesus appeared to be as normal and typical as any other boy. o. Luke 2:40 (NIV) And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. p. #2, We know that as a child Jesus would have gone went to school at the synagogue. q. #3, We know that as a young man Jesus learned a trade from His earthly father Joseph Jesus became a carpenter He worked with His hands. r. #4, We know that sometime after He turned 12 years old Joseph the earthly father of Jesus died Jesus knows what we feel when we lose a loved one. s. After Joseph died Jesus as the oldest son became the head of the family responsible for caring for His mother Mary and His brothers and sisters until they became of age Jesus knows what family life and family responsibility is about. t. #5, We know that throughout the silent years Jesus participated in the religious life of Israel. u. The Bible says that it was His custom to attend worship in the synagogue in Nazareth and as a young man He would have assumed a leadership role in the synagogue.
v. #6, We know that from an early age Jesus knew who He was but He performed no miracles as He was growing up during the silent years He did nothing supernatural or out of the ordinary. w. No one in Nazareth or Israel other than Mary and Joseph knew who Jesus was until He began His public ministry. x. The only knowledge we have of something Jesus did or said during His silent years is what is recorded in this passage when Jesus and His parents went to the Temple in Jerusalem when He was 12 years old. y. If this is the only incident recorded out of all of those years then it must tell us something very important about Jesus and it must say something important to us. III. A TRIP TO THE TEMPLE- a. There is little doubt that Mary herself told the gospel writer Luke about this story from the childhood of Jesus. b. When Jesus was 12 years old Mary and Joseph took Him and their other children to the Temple in Jerusalem to observe the feast of the Passover a very important feast and festival in Israel. c. The family of Jesus would have traveled to and from Jerusalem with a large caravan and company of relatives and friends from Nazareth. d. The women and children would have gone first since their pace would be slower and the men of the village and the pack animals and provisions would have followed them. e. When the observance of the Passover was over the people from Nazareth assembled together and started on their journey home. f. When they started home apparently Joseph thought Jesus was with Mary and Mary thought Jesus was with Joseph.
g. But when they stopped for the night Mary and Joseph were shocked when they could not find Jesus anywhere in the caravan. h. The next day Joseph and Mary traveled all the way back to Jerusalem and the following day they finally found 12-year-old Jesus in the Temple sitting with the rabbis talking about the Bible. i. When a very worried Mary asked Jesus why He had done this to them with love and respect in His heart for his mother and earthly father Jesus assured Mary that she had nothing to worry about He was safe and sound He had been in the Temple taking care of His Heavenly Father s business. j. Jesus was not being disrespectful or disobedient to Mary this was just a preview of the ministry of Jesus to come. k. Then Luke says that Jesus returned to Nazareth with His parents and continued to be subject and obedient to them in all things. IV. LESSONS FROM A 12-YEAR-OLD- a. What lessons can we learn from this episode in the life of Jesus? b. #1, The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph in the spiritual development of Jesus. c. Even though Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was a special child He was still a child their child and as His parents they were faithful in His spiritual development. d. The greatest responsibility any parent has is to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. e. Parents can t believe for their children but we are to do all we can to bring our children up to know and love the God who made them and to receive Jesus Christ as their own Savior and Lord. f. Too many parents today will spare no expense when it comes to
clothing their children in seeing that their children are healthy that they get a good education that they are involved in activities and experiences that they have stuff all the latest gadgets and there is nothing wrong with any of that. g. But many of those same parents put little or no effort in the spiritual development of their children. h. Mary and Joseph taught Jesus at home and as He grew it was their custom to carry Him to the Temple in Jerusalem and to the synagogue in Nazareth. i. #2, Jesus loved the Temple even as a child Jesus loved the House of God to Jesus the Temple was not just another building it was a sacred and holy place. j. We know today that for the Christian our physical body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. k. And we know that as Jesus told the woman at the well God is seeking those who will worship Him anytime at any place in spirit and in truth. l. But I also believe that we to love the House of God also the place where God s people assemble to worship and pray. m. I believe the church building no matter how big or small no matter how ornate or plain it may be is a special and holy place and it should be respected. n. This church building is not like any other building this church building has history much good for the Kingdom of God has been done and is being done here we should love this place and respect it. o. #3, Jesus loved the Word of God we are not told why Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem but when Mary and Joseph found Him He
was in the Temple discussing the Bible with teachers and spiritual leaders of the day who were stunned at His understanding of the Word of God. p. Jesus loved the Word of God and so should we. q. The Gideon s International is dedicated to distributing the Word of God around the world printed inside every Gideon Bible you will find these words The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler s map, the pilgrim s staff, the pilot s compass, the soldier s sword and the Christian s charter. Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents. r. #4, As Jesus was about the Father s business so should we. s. We don t know when during His childhood that Jesus became selfaware that He was the Messiah the Son of God but we do know that He knew this when He was in the Temple at age 12. t. What was the Father s business for Jesus?... to reveal the person and the truth of God and to make salvation possible for all mankind by going to the cross and dying for the sins of the world. u. What is the Father s business for us?... to love God to live for Him and to lift up the name of Christ as the Savior of all who will believe in Him and as the Lord of all.
v. Are you busy about the Father s business? V. CONCLUSION- a. For Christians let us be about the Father s business loving our church loving and reading the Word of God proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. b. If you are not a Christian are you ready to give your life to Christ today?... repent have faith and surrender to Him.