Losing Jesus

LOSING JESUS

Luke 2:41-52

INTRO. Many think the underprivileged child is the one who does not have the right kind of education or food or clothing...or perhaps one from a broken home or one whose father has been killed or imprisoned. But the true underprivileged child is the one raised in a Godless home, a home where Christ is not known or welcome.

Now, Jesus was raised in a godly home. Joseph and Mary loved and served God. They read Scripture, attended the synagogue and prayed. Once a year they went to Jerusalem for the great Feast of Passover and when Jesus was 12 years old they took him with them. As they left the city he remained behind. They began to look for him among relatives, then worried, returned to the city and after 3 days they found him in the Temple. (Vs. 48-49)

I. NOTICE THAT AT ONE POINT THEY HAD CHRIST WITH THEM.

A. Mary and Joseph had experienced His miraculous birth. Then there were the years spent in Egypt. Then the time in Nazareth where "the child grew, waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him." We know that He made the trip with them to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast and possibly His own Bar-Mitzvah. In fact, if someone had asked, "Do you have a son?" They would have answered, "Yes, we have Jesus."

B. We may also have Jesus. That is to say that we have been granted the privilege of His company in every aspect of life. We may have Him in salvation.

1. There is no reason for a man to remain in his lost condition. (II Pet. 3:9) -- "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

2. God has made provision for every sinner to be saved. For almost 2,000 years since Christ hung on the cross, the appeal has gone out; "Believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."

3. (Illus.) -- A young man I witnessed to at my kitchen table. I asked, "Are you ready to accept Christ as your personal Saviour?" He said, "Yes I am." With that he bowed his head and asked Jesus into his heart. He was later baptized and joined the church. It’s as easy as that. No matter who you are, Jesus has said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

4. I do not believe that any person ever comes to a point in which it is impossible for them to call out to Christ and receive eternal salvation, HOWEVER, each passing moment of rejection makes true acceptance more unlikely.

C. We may have Him in our daily walk of life.

1. In this life of trials and problems we need someone bigger than us to walk beside us. This is the blessing of the Holy Spirit.

2. The Bible says "Enoch walked with God." They walked so close and so often that one day God just said, "Enoch, we are closer to Heaven than earth, come on to Heaven with me." "And Enoch was not for God took him."

3. It is hard and sad to try to brave the storms of life without Jesus.

D. We may have Him at the end of life. You may think you do not need Him now. You are healthy, young and strong but it will not always be that way.

1. When death knocks at your door who will be there to help you then? "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me."

2. A dying Christian may shout to the stars, rivers, and mountains, "When you are all gone I will still be living."

II. THEY LOST CHRIST.

A. When they left Jerusalem they left Jesus behind. That happens to many people today. Thank God He does not loose us. When He saves us it is forever.

1. (Jn. 5:24) -- "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

2. John 10:27-29

B. He will never lose contact with us but it is possible for us to lose contact with Him. Remember Mary and Joseph. They had not lost their love for Him; they had not lost their faith; they had not lost their relationship with Jesus; but they certainly lost their fellowship with Him. One way is through indifference. If many church members spoke out as their lives do they would say, "I don’t care."