December 29, 2024
Pastor John Hering
Luke 2:41–52
Luke 2:41–52
41 Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Festival. 43 When the days had ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it. 44 Since they thought he was in their group, they went a day’s journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? See, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”
49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be taking care of my Father’s business?” 50 They did not understand what he was telling them.
51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was always obedient to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.
We all have brothers and sisters. Some of you had biological siblings. Some grew up as a single child, but you also build relationships at school or in sports. There were times when people get along and other times were difficult. With those people who had close relationships there are things you got that others didn’t. Perhaps on a baseball team and a special signal was given that your team understood, but not others. You “get it.” (Tell the story of Frank and his neighbor Craig who “got it” but the police didn’t and ended up cutting up his logs for firewood). Whether you we came from a big family or a small family, you all had family stories that could be classified as “inside jokes.” We have those right here in church when it comes to baptism and the Lord’s Supper. For you it’s an “inside joke” because you get it, but often times visitors don’t because they’re not yet part of the Divine Peace family. That’s what happened in today’s gospel lesson.
Today we continue our Christmas celebration remembering the Gift of God. Today we see this gift of God as the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple and we learn that Jesus is Both our Substitute and our Sacrifice. Are you ready for the inside joke?
Jesus Had to Be In His Father’s House
Because Jesus IS Just Like Us
Get it? I know we just celebrated Jesus’ birth a couple days ago. We heard the account of his birth and praised God for his tremendous gift—to send us His One and Only Son! In just a couple of days we jump 12 years of Jesus’ life. It would have been fun to sit with Jesus and his brothers and sisters on the front porch and talk with him when he was 10 or 11 years old. Maybe you would ask him, “Hey, Jesus, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Isn’t that what we like to ask little kids? You know their answers! “I want to be a….. Ironman! a fireman, doctor, ballerina, teacher.” And then they grow up a little more and start to recognize famous people and their answers might change a little. “I want to be a…..a quarterback like Dak Prescott, a singer like Taylor Swift!” And then reality sets in and after school you find a job, hopefully it’s one you like.
Everyone who is born has that “I wanna be like….” tendency in us. We inherited it from our parents. It’s called our sinful nature. Satan came and tempted Adam and Eve to sin and they fell into this sinful nature that “wanted to be like God” just like the devil did in heaven.“
And the angels who did not keep their position of authority…”
Jude 6
But, God took care of that:
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned but handed them over to chains of darkness by casting them into hell, to be kept under guard for judgment”
2 Peter 2:4
Since the devil could not be God, he came to earth to tempt us to want to be like God. He works to destroy our relationship with God. He tempts us to think we can do more good than evil and then we’ll get to heaven. Or to work harder at following God’s rules and then we’ll make it. But, we can’t. Sin weighs us down. And because we can’t be perfect as God demands, we deserve the same damnation as the devil.
The only way we could be saved is if we had a sibling—a brother who is Just Like Us. That’s Christmas! Jesus came to be just like us and that’s where the story picks up today!
“41 Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Festival.”
People have tried to imagine what Joseph’s carpenter business was like. Some say he did really well because of the gifts brought by the wise men that made him rich. Remember, they had to live in Egypt for a while and that would have been expensive. Most people think Joseph did okay making cabinets and furniture, but probably not multi-million dollar mansions in Nazareth. It wouldn’t have been cheap to pack up the family to make a 4-day journey to Jerusalem. There’s food and housing, the purchase of a lamb for the Passover and their donation to the temple. But, the Mary and Joseph family did it because they loved the Lord and followed his commands.
All along the way Jesus was just like us. He learned how to talk and walk from his parents. How to fold his hands and say his prayers. They would teach him the Bible stories and sing hymns together. It says every year his parents went to the temple. And Luke also recorded this,
“52 Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.”
I had never thought of this before. We have no reason to doubt that Jesus and his parents went to the temple every year for the next 18 years! (Until Jesus was 30 and on his own). During this time Jesus was right were his Father in Heaven wanted him to be. Yes, just like us Jesus had growth spurts, big appetites, homework lessons, play time and neighborhood kids running in and out of the house, but Luke records, “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” Where did Jesus learn about God and grow in favor with him? The same place you did. Your family at home, or here at church, or someone who told you about God. Just like you, Jesus grew to know people and just like you he grew in favor with God! Jesus was right where his Father wanted him to be—in His House Learning the Bible Stories from the Old Testament. Simply put, Jesus was human just like you. Jesus is the perfect substitute and the perfect sacrifice for you because Jesus IS Just Like Us and
Because Jesus ISN’T Just Like Us
Yes, Jesus came to be our brother, however the Bible tells us something else about Jesus. Jesus was being compared to the High Priest when it says,
“15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin”
Hebrews 4:15
Jesus went through life just like us, going through everything we go through (sadness, disappointment, temptations, etc.) and did everything we are supposed to do. Jesus came to be like us but with one major way Jesus ISN’T like us! Jesus was without sin.
When God created people, he didn’t create them to be God, but to be in a close relationship with God. To be connected to God people were created pure, holy, spotless and clean. We know Adam and Eve sinned and lost that relationship. They and all their descendants became sinners. However, God still wanted people to have that perfect relationship with him to enjoy his love. God didn’t change his standards and allow sinners to be in his presence, he still demanded that people be holy. So, who would that be? Cain? Noah? Abraham? King David? Isaiah? Martin Luther? Pastor Hering? Members of Divine Peace? Could any of us be holy like God? No! If it were left up to us we would be in big trouble. So we ask with the disciples, “Who then, can be saved?” (Mark 10:26). We find the answer in Jesus Who Was In His Father’s House!
“49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be taking care of my Father’s business?” 50 They did not understand what he was telling them.”
Mary and Joseph didn’t “get it,” but you do. Jesus was in His Father’s House doing what we couldn’t do—be perfect!
One might be tempted to think that perhaps Jesus was sinning when they read this account.
“43 When the days had ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it.”
Since Jesus could not sin his parents hadn’t said to him, “Come on Jesus, it’s time to go home now,” but Jesus disobeyed and stayed behind. If anyone sinned it was Mary and Joseph. I’m not sure how the family unit worked back then, but Jesus’ parents left without him.
“Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.”
Maybe this has happened in your family or someone you know. They leave the gas station or restaurant and are 10 minutes down the road and realize one of the kids is missing. That’s a scary moment. Where do you think Mary and Joseph looked for Jesus? At the playground? At Aunt Elizabeth’s house? They knew Jesus was their son, but they also knew he was the Son of God! Then they found him:
“46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
So, we hear Jesus’ respectful, loving and appropriate question for his parents, who just like Adam and Eve, were looking for someone else to blame for their poor parenting.
“48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? See, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.” 49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be taking care of my Father’s business?”
At that time Mary and Joseph didn’t quite get it yet. But, you “get the inside joke.” Jesus ISN’T just like us. He is perfect. He is right.
Unlike us, Jesus spent his whole life continuing to do what was right as he “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” This is just the Savior we need. He is our perfect substitute and sacrifice for all our sins. You might receive honor at school for doing well, compliments from your parents or friends for an accomplishment, or even a promotion at work for your faithfulness, dedication and service. But there isn’t a day that goes by, yes, even an hour goes by that we don’t sin. You and I need the perfect substitute and sacrifice to do it all right and NOT be like us. That’s what our loving God sent to us. Jesus came and did it all right, then went to the cross to pay the penalty of all your sins and give you the holiness you need for a perfect relationship with God. Believe in Jesus Who Had To Be In His Father’s House for you.
We all have brothers and sisters whether you’re an only child or have lots of siblings. We all have brothers and sisters right here at Divine Peace because you get the “inside joke.” What does the Christ candle mean, me wearing a robe, the cross and even our stained-glass window. So, when you come to worship, please take a moment to look the “inside jokes” and rejoice! Rejoice that Jesus is just likeyou, but more importantly, Jesus ISN’T just like you. Jesus is your Perfect Substitute and Savior With You Right Here In God’s House! Amen!
