What Doest Thou Here Jesus? Series

From The Desk Of Pastor Toby Powers

Truth Baptist Church

Bremen, GA

WHAT DOEST THOU HERE?

Sermon 7

Luke 2:40-52

Intro: As a child, TWICE, my parents left me at church! As just a toddler they left me at Union Hill Church, thinking I had gone home with my grandparents, and as a grade school kid, they left me at Temperance Church in Carrollton. In both cases they supposed I had gone home with my grandparents, and in both cases I was still at church. Unlike the boy Jesus in our text, however, I had found a quiet place in the sanctuary while there was a meal in the fellowship hall, and I went to sleep!

Can you imagine the fear that struck the hearts of Joseph and Mary when they talked with their family and realized that they had left Jesus in the big city of Jerusalem? This was the largest city in the region, and it was during the busiest feast time of the year! Furthermore, it was at a time when there was civil unrest, and the city was occupied by Roman military forces. It was one of the worst possible situations in which to lose a child. Joseph and Mary combed the city searching for our Lord. After three days, they found him in the Temple. Mary reacted as any mother would, but our Lord simply asked, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Notice some of the beautiful illustrations in this story:

1. Jesus was working, even when others could not see it and did not know it (v. 43).

2. They could not find Jesus, so they began to ask others, “Has anybody seen Jesus? Can anyone tell me where to find him?” They began with their family (v. 44); it is a sad thing when nobody in a family can tell you where to find Jesus. They started back where they came from (v. 45); that’s a good place to start! If you once had fellowship with him and you do not today, go back to where you lost his fellowship and seek for him.

They found him in the house of God (v. 46). That’s a good place to find him!

3. They found him after three days of looking (v. 46). He can be found because of what happened on the third day!

4. Once Mary found him, she never let his words out of her heart again (v. 51).

Today, however, I want us to look at this passage in light of the study we have been doing for the last seven weeks. We started by looking at Elijah in the cave as God asked him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” In subsequent weeks we asked this same question of David, Solomon, Paul, the Christian, and the rich man. Today, as his parents seek him in the Temple, I want us to direct that question to our Lord. “What doest thou here, Jesus?”

I. I’M HERE TO SHOW THE WISDOM OF GOD: v. 40 & 52, As our Lord’s human frame grew more capable, his divine nature was communicated more and more. Here he is as a young boy in the Temple questioning the doctors of the law (v. 46-47). It is not that he is asking to find out the answer, but rather it is as if he is quizzing them and showing them their error! He is the wisdom of God. I Cor 1:20-21 “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Jesus was the bodily manifestation of the wisdom of the Lord. Proverbs 8 tells us that the Son of God is the wisdom of God. v. 14, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” v. 22-30 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.”