The Family Business

TITLE: THE FAMILY BUSINESS

SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 2:49

It was just two months ago we gathered here in the sanctuary as we celebrated the birth of our Lord and Savior. We had special programs like Candlelight Service, attended Christmas Sing Along over at Macedonia Baptist Church, and of course culminated with Christmas Sunday Worship Experience. Here we are just two months down the road, and we catch up to Jesus as he is now 12 years of age.

In reality life really does go by just that fast, doesn’t it? It seemed like yesterday Michelle and I were raising the children next door in the parsonage, which is now the First Touch Learning Center, we first arrived here in the year 2000.

• Nicole was a Senior at Ardmore High School

• Bryan was a Freshman at Ardmore High School

• Cory was in the 8th Grade at the Ardmore Middle School

• I believe the schools were referred to as “New” back then

Hard to believe, next year Nicole will turn 40 years of age, our young men are in the mid-30’s – I can’t help but wonder every now and then, where did the time go. Oh, how they do grow up! They start out as cute little babies, but before you know it, they’re twelve, and that original cuteness has begun to wear off. 12-year-old kids are liable to speak their minds – even to their parents. So, would it surprise you to learn that Jesus was no different?

Babies do grow up, taking on their own identity, and breaking free of their parent’s grasp. In most societies this begins to happen around age twelve, and while we have a long period of preparation called adolescence, ancient societies lacked this intermediate period of life. You went from childhood to adulthood almost over night.

• Even in our society there is what is called a BAR MITZVAH

• It is a solemn ceremony held in the synagogue, usually on Saturday morning, to admit as an adult member of the Jewish community a Jewish boy 13 years old who has successfully completed a prescribed course of study in Judaism

We don’t know very much about Jesus’ process of maturation. The Gospels are rather silent about his growing up years, with Matthew being the only other canonical gospel that even offers a birth narrative, and he is silent on the years between birth and baptism. Look at VS. 51 which takes place shortly after Jesus is found – “AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM, AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM….”

What we have before us in this morning’s text is the lone canonical picture of Jesus’ growing up years, and it’s just one snapshot, that’s all we get, that is all we are offered. The picture comes from a trip South to the annual Passover celebration. Jesus is twelve and the family had traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem in a caravan. On the way home, about a day into the trip, the parents discovered Jesus was missing. That sounds sort of odd to us – we would probably report parents like these to Child Protective Services, but this is a different time and place.

• I must admit however, that I have forgotten and left a child or two over the years

Upon returning to Jerusalem, the frantic parents finally stumble upon the young Jesus after a three-day search. I can only imagine how frightening that must have been for Mary and Joseph. They find their son, Jesus, he’s just sitting there in the Temple courts, talking theology with the teachers of the day.

• Everyone is amazed at his level of understanding

• This is a precocious child!

• It might be worth noting Jesus ends his teaching ministry in the same Temple precincts – but His message twenty years down the road will not be as well received

When the parents confront Jesus, he seems rather surprised they were worried about him. As he saw it, they should have expected him to be about his father’s business!

• If you read between the lines, it would appear his tone isn’t all that pleasant

• It almost seems as if he is talking back to his parents

• Maybe he thinks they’ve embarrassed him in front of his new friends

• You remember how it was to be age 12

• My grandson is 12 and I watch he and his Dad

• At 12 somehow he things he already has all the answers!

• I am sure we were the same way at that stage in our lives as well

“WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ME? DON'T YOU KNOW THAT I NEED TO BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS?” Well that's interesting. Because Jesus had two different roles that He played in, just as we do too.