Have You Left Jesus In The Church House?

"Have You Left Jesus In The Church House?"

Text: Luke 2:41-52

Intro:

Ø Very little information is given of Jesus’ childhood in the scriptures.

Ø Here Luke gives us an incident when Jesus was 12.

Ø In our passage we have the story of Mary and Joseph going with Jesus to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.

Ø When they were finished observing the feast of the Passover they immediately started for home.

Ø They journeyed for one whole day before realizing that Jesus was not among the group that they were traveling with.

Ø They retraced their steps all the way back to Jerusalem.

Ø Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple discussing spiritual matters with the doctors of the Law.

Ø I going to preach a message this morning entitled, "Have You Left Jesus In The Church House?"

Ø What I want you to see is this here are two people who probably love Jesus more than anyone else on the earth at the time.

Ø Mary his mother and Joseph his stepfather.

Ø However, despite their love for Jesus they left Him in the church house there back in Jerusalem.

Ø I want us to notice some things this morning.

I. V. 43 - "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned"

Ø Notice Mary and Joseph were in hurry to get home.

Ø They did not linger there in Jerusalem.

Ø They had accomplished their religious obligation and did not want to hang around the church house any longer than they had to.

Ø Sound like most independent Bible believing Baptist, Amen!

o Can’t wait to get home -

§ To eat Sunday Dinner.

§ To watch the ball game.

§ To take a dip in the pool.

§ Go to the mall.

§ Ladies to change into those britches - Amen!!

o Can’t wait to get outside -

§ To have puff on the cigarette - Amen!

Ø Mary and Joseph were in such a rush to leave the church house that they left without Jesus.

o V. 43 - "the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it."

Ø V. 43 - "the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem"

o Jesus was in no rush.

o He stayed behind in Jerusalem

o Obvious by the following verses He was interested in what he heard.

o Because when Mary and Joseph came back and found Him, Jesus was listening to what the men of God had to say and was asking questions of them.

o Sometimes we need not be in such a rush to get out the door of the church but mediate and reflect on what you just heard and ask the preacher questions.

o Any true man of God is not afraid of questions because that shows that somebody was listening to what he had to say.

o Many times Christians fail to hear God because they always in a rush going no where.

Ø What a sad situation Mary and Joseph left Jesus behind in the church house and they did not even know it.

Ø How many times do you leave the church house without Jesus and don’t even know it?

II. V. 44 - "But they, supposing him to have been in the company,"

Ø Mary and Joseph took it for granted that Jesus was with them somewhere amongst the group they were traveling with.

Ø They just assumed Jesus was around somewhere.

Ø How many of us Christians do exactly the same thing

o We take Jesus for granted and assume that He is with us even when we show no interest in Him.

Ø V. 44 - "went a day’s journey; and they sought him"

Ø Can you image here a two people who loved Jesus probably above anyone else at the time and they went a whole day without thinking about Him.

o Without missing Him.

Ø How can any one of us get through the day without Jesus.

Ø Oh! some of us think we can, by the way we neglect our relationship with Him.

Ø If you love someone that you are always thinking about them and checking in and seeing where they are at and how they are doing.

Ø My dear friend if you think you can go through a day without Jesus then you are in store for a day trouble and turmoil.

Ø How can you begin your day without Jesus.

o We do exactly that when we fail to begin our day with prayer and Bible reading.

Ø You just cannot suppose anything.

Ø If you want Jesus to be real in your life that you need to spend sometime with Him.

Ø How many of us feel the effects of going without water and food for the day.