[Statements in brackets are for the preacher not the preaching. They are notes that reflect ideas based on the homiletics recommended in "Preach with No Pants" (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/preach-with-no-pants-john-allen-sermon-on-inductive-250167) which proposes an inductive-deductive five-point outline: Trip, Tension, Twist, Truth, Triumph.]
[EXEGETICAL IDEA]
Exegetical Subject: Jesus remaining at the temple...
Exegetical Complement: ... confounded both his parents and the priests.
[HOMILETICAL IDEA]
Homiletical Subject: The unexpected actions of Jesus...
Homiletical Complement: ... should not confound/startle us.
Homiletical Complement: ... will confound/startle us.
Homiletical Complement: ... will confound/startle us less if we stay close to him.
IDEA: Don't lose track of Jesus.
IDEA: Don't lose Jesus.
IDEA: You will be confused if you don't stay close to Jesus.
IDEA: Don't be confused. Stay close to Jesus.
[Twist - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]
Count on God startling, surprising, confusing, even shocking you.
[OUTLINE]
[TRIP/UPSET]
Some story that says, "I don't understand why God is doing this!"
Being confused by God seems to be inevitable in life. Listen to Paul speak of the problems of life in 2 Cor 4:8-9. Along with the trouble that threatens to crush us and persecution that makes us feel abandoned, he adds to that, perplexity that drives us to despair. That's primarily what happened to Job.
[TENSION - Provoking the Questions, Opposites of the Truth]
[v. 42] The problem begins with our relationship with God that can become "customary," routine, mundane, even boring. Isn't that even frightening to admit that in the silent recesses of your mind?
[vv. 44-46] Then one day bad things happen. We need God. We look around and we can't find him. We have no answers to our prayers, no message from the Bible, no good, friendly advice, no idea on what to do.
[v. 48] If we are really honest, we can admit that we are even offended by God. "Why are you allowing this, Lord? How could you do this? Where are you?"
[TWIST - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]
Jesus did exactly that when he was twelve years old. Some would even call what Jesus did quite rude, bordering on outright disobedience to his parents!
But the problem is in v. 44. Joseph and Mary *assumed* Jesus was with them. The truth is the opposite. Like someone said, "If God seems far away, guess who moved?" We live life as if God is following us!
How do we deal with this?
[TRUTH - Preaching the Bible's Solution]
41-42 We need good habits. I call it the ABC's of the spiritual life: the right Attitude plus the right Behavior = the right Character, which is Christlikeness.
Habits are good, necessary, and inevitable. "We build our character from the bricks of habit we pile up day by day." (Zig Ziglar) (By the way, don't go home thinking from this verse that I said it's okay to go to church just once a year.)
Someone said, "If I don't feel like doing something in obedience to God, if I have to make myself do it, then it is legalistic not genuine obedience." Nonsense! By that foolishness, if you "don't feel like" making a meal, then you shouldn't eat! I dare you to live by that rule.
Having a sin nature means we feel like doing wrong and never feel like doing right. How many of you have to teach your children to be bad?
We must make ourselves do what God needs us to do. It's a cooperation between us and God. We both have responsibilities for living a successful spiritual life. St. Augustine in the 4th century said, "Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not."
The key to all of this, of course, is your motive: Is it to gain God's love or because you already have gained God's love?
43 But regardless of how good our habits are, God is working behind the scenes. And God will not consult you before he takes action. He will not ask your permission. And he may well surprise you. Think of Joseph having a great life until his brothers tried to murder him! Think about Job having a great life until fire fell from the sky and burned up his sheep. Talk about "Where is God?" bad days!
44-46 So we march out into our day. We look around. We can't find God. Some problem will pop up, a need to pray but we don't pray first. We pray at last. It may be a trial or fear or loneliness. He forces us to search for him. You pray harder. You seek encouragement from other believers. You search the Bible ... all just what God wants. You become active not passive or "customary" in your spiritually.
BTW, at 12 years old Jesus is doing what he's supposed to be doing. He is making his transition from childhood to adulthood, part of what today is called Bar Mitzvah. What Jesus does here is exactly what their schools taught boys from ages 10-14. Some boys enter a new stage of education called Beth Talmud school. They were taught to learn by asking questions and debating. (https://donnagawell.com/2024/02/13/what-we-know-about-education-in-galilee-during-jesus-time/)
47 God will astonish you. You will feel overwhelmed, anxious, offended. Think of the anguish Jesus put his disciples through for three days when he was crucified. I wish God wouldn't do that. I wish God made life on earth easy. But life on a sin-cursed planet ruled by a powerful, evil god in hateful rebellion against the true God cannot be easy.
49 God often says, "Why have you lost me? Why are you confused? Don't you know?" Don't you know what the Bible tells us about God? Don't you know God as the unusual, magnificent person that he is? He is an amazing person. Be where God is. Be where God is spiritually. Be where God is mentally. Be where God is emotionally. Be where the Bible says God is. As an example, think of good a marriage in which a husband and wife know each other. They can anticipate each other.
50 Even so, don't count on understanding all God is doing. Trust him anyway. Know that he knows what he is doing. That's what God is teaching us through the book of Job. Someone said it this way,
God is too powerful to lose control,
Too wise to make a mistake,
And too loving to be unkind.
[TRIUMPH - The Nugget of Truth]
Don't lose track of Jesus. Stay as close as you can to Jesus.
Know there will be times of confusion, perplexity, frustration with God. But remember that God's thoughts are higher than your thoughts, and his ways than your ways (Isa 55:8-9). You cannot comprehend his plans and actions so superior to yours.
C. S. Lewis said, "If you think of this world as a place simply intended for your happiness, you will find it quite intolerable. Think of it as a place of training and correction and it's not so bad."
Stay close to Jesus. Instead of confused frustration you will be amazed, even astonished, at the greatness and goodness of our God.
