Misplaced Jesus Series

The Gospel of Luke

Chapter 2:41-51

Today is our second message in a series on the Gospel of Luke

The word “gospel” literally means “good news”

So, you could say that this series is about “The good news of Luke”

What exactly is this good news?

Simply put, it’s the life story of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most influential person who has ever existed

Even if you’re not a Christian, or even a particularly religious person, you cannot deny this fact

No one life has affected the whole of humanity more than Jesus Christ

Since He has affected the world so deeply you would think that all of us would know a lot about Him, but unfortunately that is not true

Many claim to know about Jesus, but in reality few people really do

The Gospel of Luke details the events of Jesus’ life from His birth to His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection

But why did I pick Luke?

There are 4 Gospel’s in the New Testament, all presenting the life of Jesus in a unique way

What makes Luke stand out?

There are a couple of things –

Luke is the longest book in the New Testament

Luke is written by a Gentile to a Gentile audience

Since the vast majority of us listening to this message are Gentiles I think it’s very appropriate that we study this Gospel

And finally, because Luke is my favorite Gospel

A bit of trivia before we start – did you know that Christ is not Jesus’ last name?

The word Christ literally means “anointed one,” so when we say “Jesus Christ” we are literally saying “Jesus, the anointed One”

Let’s jump right into the life story of this anointed One

Last week, being Christmas, we talked about the birth of Jesus

Unfortunately, virtually nothing is mentioned about the life of Jesus between His birth and the beginning of His ministry somewhere around the age of 30

I’m not exactly sure why this is the case, but apparently God had His reasons

We do, however, have one story from the childhood of Jesus

If you have your Bibles turn with me to Luke chapter 2

Luke 2:41-52 Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look 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 Everyone who heard him was 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 like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." 49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Pretty interesting story! Let’s take a look at what’s happening

This passage opens up stating that every year Joseph & Mary went to Jerusalem for the Passover feast

This was not an unusual thing for most Jews in this era, and in fact was something that Jews were required to do if able

It was during the Passover celebration that they were to offer their annual sacrifice for sin, so being a Godly family the fact that Joseph and Mary did this every year does not surprise me

We are told that this particular event took place when Jesus was 12 – I don’t know if there’s anything significant about the age or not

Apparently this Passover celebration went along as expected because we don’t hear anything unusual about it

It was on their journey home that Mary and Joseph experience something that no parent wants to experience –

43 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.