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Luke 2:39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast.
Luke 2:43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus
lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
Luke 2:44 But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s
journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Luke 2:45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
Dr. Paul Rusking described the case study patient under his care like this:
“The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes
she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about person,
place, and time. She does, however respond to her name. I have worked with
her for the past six months, but she still shows complete disregard for her physical
appearance and makes no effort to assist her own care. She must be fed, bathed
and clothed by others.
Her food must be pureed. Her shirt is usually soiled from almost incessant drooling.
She does not walk. Her sleep pattern is erratic. Often she wakes in the middle of the
night and her screaming awakens others. Most of the time she is friendly and happy,
but several times a day she gets quite agitated without apparent cause. Then she
wails until someone comes to comfort her.”
I. ARE WE GROWING AS CHRISTIANS?
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according
to the custom of the feast.
Jesus at age 12 is on the cusp of adulthood, in the last year that could be
identified as childhood because at 13 Jewish males were considered adults.
II. ARE WE RIGHT WITH THE LORD?
Luke 2:43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered
behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
Luke 2:44 But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s
journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Luke 2:45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
One of the saddest things on earth is for a person to think they’re right with God
when they’re not.
Judges 16:20 “… So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before,
at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had
departed from him.
We know that the Lord hadn’t left Samson but Samson had left the Lord.
III. ARE WE SEEKING JESUS’ FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS?
Luke 2:46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting
in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
Luke 2:47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
The Voice of the Child
Come listen awhile to the voice of a Child
Stand in awe of the wisdom of God
Hear what He has to say
For the time is today
You can come or just walk away
Luke 2:48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him,
“Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You
anxiously.”
Luke 2:49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I
must be about My Father’s business?”
Luke 2:50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Luke 2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
IV. ARE WE BALANCED CHRISTIANS?
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
