Sermon #17 Luke
Sermons
Title: LESSONS FROM
THE MASTER’S BOYHOOD
Text: Luke
2:41-52
Subject: Christ
and His Parents Worshipping God
Date: Sunday Evening – November 7, 1999
Tape
# V-53a
Readings: Office:
Merle Hart Auditorium: Gary Baker
Introduction:
The title of my message tonight is Lessons From The Master’s
Boyhood. What was life like for our Savior, as he grew up in the
home of Joseph and Mary? What occupied his time? How did he and his family live
day by day? Those might be interesting questions; but they are questions for
which no answers are given in the Word of God.
All that we know about our Master’s boyhood, youth, and
early manhood, we have in the twelve, short verses which form our text tonight
(Lk. 2:41-52). We know absolutely nothing else about the earthly life of our
Savior from his infancy until he was thirty years old, except that which is
written in these twelve verses.
That is
as it should be. God the Holy Spirit has given us everything that is needful
and profitable for our souls. We would be wise to recognize this fact. It is
both the depth of folly and the height of arrogance for men to speculate about
things God has chosen not to reveal. It is an act of wisdom, faith, and
humility to simply believe and heed that which is revealed.
Here,
the Holy Spirit gives us the history of our Master’s boyhood. May he graciously
teach us the lessons it is intended to convey.
41.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
42.
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of
the feast.
43.
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not [of it].
44.
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and
they sought him among [their] kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45.
And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking
him.
46.
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them
questions.
47.
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48.
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why
hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee
sorrowing.
49.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be
about my Father's business?
50.
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)
Proposition: The believer’s only hope of
life before God is the death of Christ; and our only rule of life is the
example of Christ.
Do you understand these two things?
1. Our hope of
salvation, eternal life, the forgiveness of sins and everlasting acceptance
with the holy Lord God is the expiatory sacrifice and sin-atoning death of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
We live by his death. Christ’s payment canceled our debt. His obedience was our obedience. His judgment was our judgment. His death was our death. All the obedience he performed, -- all the agony he suffered, -- all the hell he endured, -- all the debt he paid was as our Surety! Our life is in his blood!
· We are justified by his blood (Rom. 5:9).
· We have forgiveness through his blood (Eph. 1:7).
· We are reconciled to God by the blood of his cross (Col. 1:20).
· We drink his blood for the quenching of our souls’ thirst (John 6:55).
· It is his blood that purges our consciences from dead works and satisfies the demands of the conscience (Heb. 9:14).
· It is his blood by which we are brought nigh (Eph. 2:13), who were by nature far off from God.
· It is his blood that gives us peace (Col. 1:20).
· His blood gives us free access to the holiest and emboldens us to come to God upon the blood sprinkled mercy-seat (Heb. 10:19-22).
· We are sanctified by his blood (Heb. 13:12).
· His blood is the purchase money and ransom price paid for the redemption of our souls (Acts 20:28).
· His blood is the seal of the everlasting covenant (Heb. 13:20).
· His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7, 9).
· His blood speaks for us in heaven (Heb. 12:24).
· His blood will give us the victory at last (Rev. 12:11).
Dear, dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved to sin no more.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wound supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme
And shall be till I die.
When this poor, lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave,
Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I’ll sing Thy power to save!
Our obedience has nothing to do with our salvation. We are saved by Christ’s obedience unto death as our Substitute. If you would be saved, you must look away from yourself to Christ. You must trust Christ alone. Oh, may God give you grace to trust him now!
Our only hope of life is Christ. That is the first thing, and the most difficult thing to be learned. The second thing is this…
2. The believer’s rule of life, the pattern by which we must mold our lives in all things, is the example of Christ.
Our blessed Savior was much, much more than an example for us to follow; but he was and is the example by which our lives must be molded. Is this not what he taught us?
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:13-15)
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
Tonight, I want us to look at the family life of our Savior, as it is recorded in Luke 2:41-52, and see what lessons the Holy Spirit would have us to learn from it. It appears to me that four distinct lessons are obvious in our text.
I. A lesson About Marriage (vv. 41-43)
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not [of it]. (Luke 2:41-43)
A. Husbands and wives ought to help one another in the worship and service of Christ.
Joseph and Mary worshipped God together. Every year, at the appointed time, they went together to Jerusalem to keep the feast of the Passover. It was their custom to observe all the ordinances of divine worship, in the appointed place, at the appointed time, in the appointed way. Joseph and Mary honored God, and honored him together.
The trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem was long, dangerous, difficult, and costly. They did not have much; but all that they had in Nazareth, they left for at least two weeks three times a year to go up to Jerusalem to worship God.
Some would say this was a matter of great irresponsibility on their part. How could they, especially such a poor couple, be so irresponsible as to neglect their property for two weeks at a time? It was not irresponsibility at all, but faith. They believed the God they worshipped.
Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. (Exodus 34:23-24)
· They knew God’s will; and they it.
· They knew that the worship of God was the one thing they had to do and had to have.
· They worshipped God together. -- Side by side, they walked into the house of God. -- Side by side, they prayed. -- Side by side, they sang Jehovah’s praise. – Side by side they heard his Word.
Let every married man and woman observe and learn from this couple. Let every man and woman contemplating marriage lay these things to heart. You will never make a decision so important as the decision you make about who you marry. Nothing will have a greater effect upon your soul for good or evil. The person you marry will either help you upward or drag you downward. Your marriage partner will either lead you to heaven or to hell.
Will you hear the counsel of God’s Word? Let me say what I have to say about this briefly, but with great plainness of speech.
1. Seek your life long companion by divine guidance.
2. Marriage is forever.
3. Marry only in the Lord.
4. Worship God as a family.
B. Nothing is more important to you and your family than public worship.
These days, men and women treat church attendance as a matter of convenience. I warn you, you do so only to the ruin of your own soul and to the ruin of your families.
Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Note: Not only is it important that you worship God, it is important that you commit yourself to the building of God’s church and kingdom in a specific place.
II. A Lesson About Presumption -- “They, supposing him to have been in the company” (v. 44)[1].
We must never presume upon the goodness of God, or presume the Lord’s presence with us in our most solemn services or our most diligent labors. I know the Lord’s promises (Matt. 18:20; 28:20), and rejoice in them. But I know this too…
A. If we would have the Lord’s presence with us in his house, we must want it and seek it.
B. If we would have his power and blessing upon our labors, we must need it and depend upon it.
C. If we would have Christ in our company, we must stay in his company.
III. A Lesson About Obedience (vv. 45-47)
And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. (Luke 2:45-47)
Let me address myself specifically to you children and young people.
You parents ought to see to it that your children obey you. Unruly, disobedient, ill-mannered children are produced by self-centered, selfish, irresponsible parents.
Having said that, let me have the attention of the children and young people here. The surest path to happiness and well-being in this world is for you to honor and obey your parents.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Ephesians 6:1-3)
· Honor your parents as fully when you are out of their sight as when you are before them. If you want your parents to trust you, prove yourself trust worthy.
· Seek the company of those who are most likely to have a good influence upon you.
· Make it your business to seek the Lord for yourself and learn all you can about the things of God.
IV. A Lesson About Christianity (v. 49).
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49)
What a solemn question! Let every child of God apply it to himself personally. It is our business in life to be about our Father’s business.
Illustration: The Preacher and the Business Man
[1] It was customary with the Jews, when traveling to the appointed feasts, for the men to walk together in one group and the women in another, in large caravans. It is, therefore, perfectly understandable that Joseph presumed that the child was with Mary and the women, and that Mary presumed he was with Joseph and the men.