This sermon encourages spiritual growth and reflection through understanding Jesus' early wisdom and teachings as depicted in the Gospel of Luke.
Welcome, beloved family of God, to this sacred gathering where we come together in unity and love to break bread, share fellowship, and immerse ourselves in the life-giving Word of God.
In the midst of our daily hustle and bustle, we often forget the importance of pausing, reflecting, and nourishing our spiritual selves. We are, after all, not just physical beings, but spiritual beings having a human experience. It’s in this spirit that we turn our hearts and minds today to the wisdom found in the Gospel of Luke.
As we open the pages of our Bibles, we find ourselves in the midst of a story that is as ancient as it is eternally relevant. Luke 2:41-52 reads: "Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
In the heart of the scripture, we find a young Jesus, a mere twelve years old, engaging with the teachers in the temple. He is not just a passive listener but an active participant, questioning and conversing with the learned men. It's not enough to simply hear or read the Word of God; we must engage with it, question it, wrestle with it. It's through this process of active engagement that we stimulate our spiritual knowledge, that we grow in our understanding and our faith.
Consider the setting of this story. Jesus is in the temple, the epicenter of religious learning. He's surrounded by teachers and scholars who have dedicated their lives to studying and interpreting the scriptures. Yet, Jesus, a young boy, is not intimidated. He doesn't shy away from asking questions, from seeking to understand. No matter where we are, no matter who we're with, we should never be afraid to seek knowledge, to seek understanding.
Now, let's think about the reaction of the teachers in the temple. They were amazed at Jesus' understanding and his answers. This young boy, with his questions and insights, was able to astonish these learned men. This tells us something about the nature of spiritual knowledge. It's not about age or education. It's about openness, curiosity, a willingness to engage. It's about having a heart that seeks God, a mind that thirsts for understanding.
But let's not forget about Mary and Joseph. They were searching for Jesus, anxious and worried. When they finally found him in the temple, they were astonished. They didn't understand why he had stayed behind. But Jesus' response to them was simple: "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" Sometimes, our pursuit of spiritual knowledge might not make sense to others. They might not understand our hunger for understanding, our desire to engage with the Word of God. But like Jesus, we must stay true to our calling, to our need to be in our Father's house, whether that's a physical building, a community of believers, or the quiet solitude of personal prayer and study.
Finally, let's reflect on the last verse of this passage: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." As we engage with the Word of God, as we question and seek understanding, we grow. We grow in wisdom, in favor with God and man. This growth is not just intellectual. It's also spiritual, emotional, relational. It affects every aspect of our lives, every relationship we have. It's the fruit of a life lived in active engagement with God and His Word.
Let’s take a moment to realize how bizarre this setting is ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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