The Defining Moment

Jesus:

The Defining Moment From Boy to Man

? When did Jesus realize that he was different than other children? Did he always know that he was the Son of God? Did he speak even as a baby… did he just have the knowledge?

? We know that baby Jesus was consecrated to God after his birth….But we never hear a word about his childhood until Luke 2.

? Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

? Scripturally – he had to learn just like the rest of us. He was filled with wisdom.. (difference between knowledge and wisdom?)

? Knowledge is what we learn. Basic facts, information and truths.

? Wisdom is using knowledge (above) to make wise decisions

Notice: He was strong…I take that to mean physically. He was fill with wisdom… making good decisions and God’s grace was on him..

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.

What is the festival of the Passover?

1). The tenth Plague of death went over Egypt and killed the first born son and male animal to everyone except those doors that were marked by the blood of the lamb.

During the Passover, scripture is read. USUALLY they read the story of Moses. Jesus hears about the Messiah.

43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

A. Do you remember how old was Jesus at this time? 12

Some questions:

B. Was Jesus unaware that his parents were on their way home? No look at the verses… the BOY JESUS STAYED BEHIND IN JERUSALEM. He made a decision.

C. ? Is this the moment that Jesus realizes that he is not like the other kids? When does he realize that He was of heavenly origins? He had a human side and a God side??

D. When do boys become men? What age? I think it is important for us to do the same thing to our boys becoming MEN.

? According to Jewish law, when a Jewish boy is 13 years old, there is a ritual called Bar Mitzvah. It is when the boy becomes accountable for his actions as a man. The young man is examined for his knowledge of the Biblical laws. A celebration occurs and he become a man

? In our culture to do the same thing. If our government says that an 18 year old can fight a war at 18. I think we need to also be preparing our teens to leave the house. They have cooking skills, laundry skills and a job…with banking. Yes. Still a teen..but they need to become men and women.

So I want us to look at this event from 2 perspectives. Parent perspective and Jesus…the boy who becomes a man.

Luke 2

43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they-- were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him

Jesus was missing! How did that happen?

Remember back in this time/era… people travelled together because of thieves.

For one whole day… Mary and Joseph and family ( with 4 other kids) started off together…were walking back home with a bunch of people. The men would travel together in groups and the women would be following behind with their children in a group. Boys that were Jesus’s age 12 years…they could wander between the 2 groups.

(assumption he was with the other parent) At the end of the day… families would come together and prepare food and to sleep outside. The realization that Jesus was not in either group.. caused fear and panic…. So the next day… they travel back to Jerusalem. (all day) 2 days. Where do they even begin to search for him in the metropolis of Jerusalem.???

How do you think Joseph and Mary felt?

Luke has interviewed Mary for this story. There is not any other story that Luke puts in about the childhood of Jesus. Only this story is given Why? Defining moment for Jesus and for Mary. Let’s continue the story