The Missing Middle Schooler
Luke 2:41-49
Introduction: The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation. We have all seen the Home Alone movies in which the family forgets their son and travels to Europe on vacation!
We often hear about Jesus seeking the lost! The lost coin, lost son, lost sheep!
1. Just like His parents lost Jesus we also have the potential to lose him!
2. Those who are closes to Christ are the ones that may lose him!
3. We should not all assume that everyone knows Christ.
With the exception of Luke’s account of Jesus being in the temple at the age of 12 we know nothing about the childhood of Jesus. We can expect that he grew up like most Jewish boys in his village of Nazareth and this is why they were unable to accept that he could be the Messiah. But when they found him they could at least take comfort in where he was and what he was doing. In this short passage of Scripture we see that Jesus has “got it!”
Every Christian parent prays that their children will have the day or moment in which they “get it!” For some it occurs when they are as young as 7 years old and for others it may take them a lifetime to “get it.”
It was the recognition of what he was and why he was here on this earth. His God ordained purpose for living. A TIME OF SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
For many parents they will watch their children chase after it in sports, cheerleading, degrees, relationships, another pageant, new toys, another career, another accomplishment, another drug or drink, pilgrimages to find themselves, by dropping out of life….and a 100 other ways
How did Jesus get it so early in life?
IN ADDITION TO HIS BEING DEVINE THERE ARE SOME GREAT CLUES IN THIS TEXT AS TO WHY JESUS WAS ABLE TO KNOW HIS LIFE’S PURPOSE AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
Jesus is one year away from accountability as Jewish boy!
I. A family that recognized the way of a child to copy--Family priorities--- His priorities were the same as his families. For his family worship and faith was a top priority. The family would go to the Passover each year. Women were not required to attend, but Mary still went! This shows the depth of the families devotion and piety.
Jesus would make this trip twenty one years later and he would be the lamb that was sacrificed on Passover!
--Going to church was fun and worshipping God was what they enjoyed doing.
---If your family tradition is going to the deer stand or the beach, bay, the football game, the Restaurant, the ball field –guess what will be your kids priority when they are able to choose. Guess what will be your grandkids priority! There are few exceptions.
Ill:----My family we open our presents on Christmas AM and my mom always made us wait until everybody was in the room. I do the same with my kids! Luke was coming into the room starting around 2:30.
Ill: 8 Coaches fired from the NFL for not having winning seasons! It all about the wins! They have one goal. ---Quarterbacks are fired….This is a game and yet people invest their time, money, and lives to watch grown me move a ball 100 yards up and down a field.
Ill: Kwame Afakula is a young man that grew up in Togo, West Africa next to Ghana. Kwame commented after finally visiting –Americans love their sports!
Not only did Jesus have the same priorities as Mary and Joseph and the rest of his extended family, but his family invited God into their Children’s lives.
---I believe that some parents do not want their children to have a relationship with Jesus because they are jealous!
--They want their kids to see them as the ultimate role model, provider and sustainer.
---They want their kids to worship them!
Ill: Joseph’s brothers were jealous of their father’s love for him, but Joseph was a good kid! He had character.
II.A family that recognized that the way of a child is to play and dream--Time to be a kid – HE IS STILL A KID!
He is described in verse 43 by the Greek noun pais, "boy, youth, child, a young person normally below the age of puberty."
At the age of 12 he is not concerned with the details of daily life. He probably assumed that they would find him when it was time to go. Maybe he told a cousin or someone where he was going and
no one paid attention.
Josiah was 8 years old!
Jesus healed a girl who was 12 years old!
Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
Jesus grew, but did he learn? He didn't start out from infancy with all knowledge -- he had "emptied himself" of omniscience when he became a man (Philippians 2:7).
----I believe God wanted this picture of a MIDDLE SCHOOLER IN HIS WORD!
----Maybe he is idealistic!
Ill: Children are being forced to choose which parent they want to live with.
Ill: They are forced to view over sexualized -- Mall adds from Abercrombie and Fitch
In 2002, Abercrombie and Fitch They had ---complete with suggestive phrases like "eye candy" and "wink wink". The store eventually (and rightfully) caved to pressure from family-advocacy and Christian groups, and pulled the provocative from their shelves.
The clothing retailer is once again in the news for another product in their kids’ line. This time it’s padded bikini tops for girls as young as eight.
Ill: Children are being forced to work in sweat shops all over the world so we always get the low price!
Ill: Many children in America are being forced to grow quick by having the innocence stolen.
They are exposed to too much too soon!
Ill: Parents taking them to R-Rated movies, adult content
Ill: Parents are buying their kids alcohol and throwing parties at their home!
Ill: Children need to time to play!
Ill: One event to the next -often to satisfy parents dreams and desires!
Jesus said, “let the kids come unto me….” --children not little adults!
Disciples did not want to fool with them!
Sub-point: A family that did not allow an incident to destroy a relationship—
“He returned home and obeyed!”
Jesus’ failure to keep up with his family set them back three days!
Have you ever wondered who went back with Mary and Joseph to look for Jesus?
When he was found did they send word ---we found Jesus!
---Children take patience.
They are full of energy!
--One incident has caused people to walk away from their families.
--One incident has caused people to walk away from church.
--One incident has caused people to walk away from God.
Deep, heartfelt relationships will require forgiveness along the way!
3. A family that recognized that the way of a child is to change ---Jesus was growing up and searching out his own faith!
It is the parents job to train up a child in the way they should go----and let them go!
Sometimes we hear this passage explained as if Jesus were teaching the teachers, but that misunderstands the context. The listeners would be sitting on the ground at the feet of the teachers, who were also seated. The rabbinical style of teaching used questions on the part of the students, from which discussion would rise. In the course of the discussion, this intense boy of twelve was both listening and asking probing, insightful questions that indicated to all his depth of understanding.
Often we have seen children and teens have better morals and spiritual bearing than their parents.
I believe that while the rest of family was ready to move on after they presented their sacrifice—Jesus was in no hurry! He could get enough of the word of God!
Ill: We often hear of Christian kids that have walked away from their faith in college, but let’s keep in mind that many kids go to college from unchurched families and meet Jesus for the first time through campus groups.
Many young people in Muslim countries are searching for something better than Islam has to offer.
Many Buddhist children are questioning why it is their fault that they were born in to poverty and having to suffer. Suffering is a result of a past life and sins.
Conclusion: Worst nightmare would be to have a missing child. The bible says, that like sheep we have all gone astray!
Rachel D'Avino, Lauren Rosseau, Victoria Soto, Anne Murphy all died in the Conn. school shooting with their arm spread out to protect their children. Jesus has done the same for us!
He longs to gather us under his arms!
