Teach Me My Child
Luke 2:52
Intro: Valerie–ready to be 5
We move so quickly from the manger to the adult Jesus we forget there was a child.
Only 2 gospels contain a birth narrative
Only Luke tells us of Jesus as a boy
-Temple episode at 12 years of age
-stayed behind after Passover
TEXT
I. The Lowly Child
Implications of Jesus being "head and shoulders" above the rest-People liked Him
*Commentary: Men of greatness were shown to possess high qualities from youth
-children were not well thought of , but people liked Jesus
*Even today in parts of the world children are thought little of -even America’s past
-sweat shops, child labor-labor laws, child welfare
People of the community accorded Him respect; even as a child He commanded respect
Jesus is/has purposefully set Himself apart as a boy, a child, a young man
Although children are looked down upon; Christ would not let Himself be looked down upon– rather He intended to set the example
Paul admonishes Timothy
I Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
*Don’t let them look down upon you because you’re young–give them reason to respect you.
People may look down upon you–but be an example –Prove God in your life
II. Reality–Children Deserve Respect
Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3-4
LUKE 9:46-48
MATTHEW 18:1-4
Disciples argue-"Who is the greatest"
James & John request to be made first in the Kingdom another time
*become like a child
Contrast:
We look down upon the young
as ignorant
as immature
as inexperienced
How Christ wants us as children
open minded-an unformed, uninformed mind
ready for growth, to grow
humbled-not assuming we know how to do it, we have the answers
Jesus grew in wisdom, and stature, and in favor with God and man, not because he exerted himself as something great, though he was, but he knew the secret-That greatness comes from humble obedience to the Father’s will.
III. Striving
We fruitlessly strive to be great in life, to make a name for ourselves. We should rather be humble
Josiah II Kings 22-23
