Introduction

Good morning, family! Today, we're going to delve deep into the book of Luke. Now, you might be familiar with this particular passage – it's where the young Jesus stays behind in the temple, amazing the teachers with His understanding, while Joseph and Mary search for Him anxiously.

C.S. Lewis once wrote, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." This encapsulates our theme for today - Recognizing Jesus in our lives, staying focused on Him, and living in obedience to Him.

Now, let's read the scripture together.

"Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them." Luke 2:41-50 (NIV)

Recognizing Jesus in Our Lives

Recognizing Jesus in our lives is about acknowledging His presence, His influence, and His work in our daily experiences. It's about seeing His hand in the mundane and the extraordinary, the trials and the triumphs, the ordinary and the miraculous. It's about understanding that He is not just a distant deity, but a personal Savior who is intricately involved in every aspect of our lives.

Mary and Joseph lost sight of Jesus: They assumed He was with them, but they were not intentionally aware of His presence. They went a whole day's journey before realizing that Jesus was not with them. This can happen to us too. We can get so caught up in our routines, our plans, our worries, and our desires that we lose sight of Jesus. We assume He's there somewhere in the background, but we're not actively recognizing His presence and His work in our lives.

Recognizing His authority: In the temple, Jesus was not just a passive participant, He was actively engaging with the teachers, asking questions, and giving answers that amazed everyone. He was not just a twelve-year-old boy; He was a teacher, a prophet, the Son of God. Recognizing Jesus in our lives means recognizing His authority over our lives. It means acknowledging that He is not just our Savior, but also our Lord.

Recognizing His priorities: When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple, He said to them, "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" Jesus was not lost; He was exactly where He needed to be, doing exactly what He needed to be doing. He was about His Father's business. Recognizing Jesus in our lives means aligning our priorities with His. It means seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that everything else will be added unto us.

Not a one-time event, but a daily practice: It's about cultivating a relationship with Him, spending time in His Word, in prayer, and in worship. It's about being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and being obedient to His promptings. It's about seeing the world through the lens of faith, and recognizing God's hand in everything that happens to us.

Recognizing Jesus in our lives is transformative: It changes how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we see the world. It gives us a sense of purpose, a sense of peace, and a sense of joy that transcends our circumstances. It empowers us to live a life of love, a life of faith, and a life of obedience.

Staying Focused on Jesus

Staying focused on Jesus is about keeping our eyes fixed on Him, regardless of the circumstances around us ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO