The First Sunday after Christmas
\nDecember 27, 2015
\nLuke 2:41-52<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.\u00a0 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.\u00a0 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.\u00a0 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.\u00a0 Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.\u00a0 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.\u00a0 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.\u00a0 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.\u00a0 When his parents saw him, they were astonished.\u00a0 His mother said to him, \u2018Son, why have you treated us like this?\u00a0 Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.\u2019\u00a0 \u2018Why were you searching for me?\u2019 he asked.\u00a0 \u2018Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?\u2019\u00a0 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.\u00a0 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.\u00a0 But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.\u00a0 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n Over the course of the thirty plus years that I have been in the ministry I have learned that one of the Scriptural truths that is difficult for some people to understand is what the Christian Church has long referred to as:\u00a0 Original Sin or Inherited Sin.\u00a0 While the Scriptures clearly teach that we are all conceived and born with sin\u2014 that old sinful nature which we \u201cinherited\u201d from our Mom and Dad\u2014 it is understandably difficult for parents to look at their own child and recognize that in the eyes of the Almighty their child is indeed a sinner.<\/p>\n I can tell you from personal experience that when each of our children was born they looked so cute and so cuddly, so perfect and so innocent!\u00a0 As they grew older, however, they started to reveal that old sinful nature that their Mom and I had passed down to them.\u00a0 Even though we never taught our children how to be greedy somehow they knew how to take something away from another child and say, \u201cMine!\u201d\u00a0 Even though we never taught our children how to be angry somehow they knew how to hit someone or bite someone when they got upset.\u00a0 Even though we never taught our children how to be rebellious it was quite a shock the first time they looked up at us and defiantly said, \u201cNo!\u201d\u00a0 The undeniable reality of Original Sin is why we as Christian parents have our children baptized.\u00a0 The undeniable reality of Original Sin is why we as Christian parents strive to follow the Bible\u2019s admonition, \u201cTrain a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it\u201d <\/em>(Proverbs 22:6).<\/p>\n Right about now you might be wondering why we are even discussing all of this.\u00a0 Right about now you might be wondering how any of this ties in with our sermon text for today.\u00a0 My reasoning is this, my friends:\u00a0 The undeniable reality of our<\/u> old sinful nature serves as the dark background against which our text for this morning sparkles like the most brilliant of diamonds!<\/p>\n Our goal this morning is to look at this portion of Scripture and rejoice!\u00a0 Yes, we want to rejoice in the Amazing Yet Humble Obedience<\/em><\/strong> of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!\u00a0 There are two truths that I hope you will take home with you today.\u00a0\u00a0 First, let\u2019s rejoice as we look at Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His heavenly Father\u2019s will.\u00a0 Then let\u2019s rejoice as we look at Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His earthly parents.<\/p>\n Since this portion of Scripture is relatively familiar to us and since our goal this morning is to rejoice in the amazing yet humble obedience of our Lord we are going to concentrate our attention on verses 48-51 of our text.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s begin with verses 48 and 49.\u00a0 Luke writes, \u201cWhen his parents saw him, they were astonished.\u00a0 His mother said to him, \u2018Son, why have you treated us like this?\u00a0 Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.\u2019\u00a0 \u2018Why were you searching for me?\u2019 he asked.\u00a0 \u2018Didn\u2019t you know that I had to be in my Father\u2019s house?\u2019\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Anyone who has suddenly realized that their child was missing understands what Mary and Joseph were going through here in our text.\u00a0 For three days they could not find Jesus!\u00a0 Three long days!\u00a0 When they finally found Him\u2014 in the Temple of the Lord\u2014 they were \u201castonished\u201d<\/em> or \u201camazed.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Like any concerned yet relieved Mom, Mary asked Jesus, Why?\u00a0 Why did you do this?\u00a0 While Mary\u2019s question is easy to understand, Jesus\u2019 response is amazing!\u00a0 Very literally Jesus\u2019 response to His mother would go something like this:\u00a0 \u201cWhat is this that you were searching for me?\u00a0 Didn\u2019t you know that it is necessary for me to be about the things (the affairs) of my Father?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n I think we sometimes forget that Jesus always<\/em><\/strong> knew both who<\/u> He is why<\/u> He came into this world.\u00a0 Here at the age of twelve Jesus respectfully yet clearly reminds His mother Mary that as the eternal Son of God He has a goal, He has a mission to accomplish here on this earth.\u00a0 That goal, that mission, is to \u201cbe about the affairs of His Father.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That goal, that mission, is to obediently carry out His heavenly Father\u2019s will\u2014 which is to do everything that was necessary to save us from our sins!\u00a0 (See Matthew 1:21)<\/p>\n This portion of Scripture also reveals to us, my friends, that part of Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His heavenly Father\u2019s will was to both discuss and to teach God\u2019s holy revealed Word with others.\u00a0 That\u2019s<\/u> why Jesus was in the Temple, His heavenly Father\u2019s house.\u00a0 That\u2019s<\/u> why Jesus was \u201csitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That\u2019s<\/u> why people were \u201camazed at his understanding and his answers.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Even at the age of twelve Jesus possessed the \u201cintelligence\u201d<\/em> or the \u201ccomprehension\u201d<\/em> to take the various teachings of Scripture and put them together in such a way that everyone could understand the heavenly Father\u2019s will!<\/p>\n At the same time, however, Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His heavenly Father\u2019s will went well beyond discussing and teaching and explaining God\u2019s holy Word.\u00a0 The ultimate goal of Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His heavenly Father\u2019s will is found right there\u2014 the cross on Calvary\u2019s hill.\u00a0 In Philippians chapter two the apostle Paul reveals to us that even though Jesus is \u201cin very nature God\u201d<\/em> He \u201cmade himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.\u00a0 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient<\/strong> to death\u2014 even death on a cross!\u201d<\/em> (Philippians 2:6-8).<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience is something that you and I desperately needed, my friends.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Here is where we need to go back to that old sinful nature that we were all born with!\u00a0 Our holy, just and perfect God demands this same kind of amazing yet humble obedience from each and every one of us.\u00a0 Yet, what the God of heaven sees in us is the exact opposite of what He demands.\u00a0 Therefore, the true Son of God came into this world as the true Son of Man\u2014 our flesh and blood Brother\u2014 so that He could not only live a perfect obedient life in our place, but also endure the punishment that we deserve for our own disobedience (pointing to the cross).\u00a0 When by the grace of God we trust in Jesus as our only Savior from sin His amazing yet humble obedience to the heavenly Father is \u201ccredited\u201d to our account!\u00a0 How amazing is that!<\/p>\n Once we see and understand Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience to His heavenly Father then we are able to appreciate even more His amazing yet humble obedience to His earthly parents.\u00a0 Look at the opening portion of verse 51, \u201cThen he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The Greek verb that is translated here in our text as \u201cwas obedient\u201d<\/em> is the exact same Greek verb which is translated elsewhere in Scripture as \u201csubmit.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 (See especially Ephesians 5:21-24)\u00a0 Even though Jesus is \u201cin very nature God\u201d<\/em> He was \u201cobedient\u201d<\/em> to His earthly parents.\u00a0 Even though this Child was actively involved in the creation of the universe (John 1:3) He was willing to \u201csubmit\u201d<\/em> Himself to the care and control of mortal human beings.\u00a0 When we keep in mind the bigger picture of who<\/em><\/strong> Jesus is and why<\/em><\/strong> He came into this world how can we not be amazed at His humble obedience to His earthly parents?<\/p>\n The amazing yet humble obedience of Jesus now serves as both a tremendous source of comfort for us as well as a powerful source of motivation.\u00a0 As we already mentioned, when we believe and trust in both who<\/strong> Jesus is and what<\/strong> Jesus has done for us His obedience becomes our obedience. At the same time when we believe and trust in both who<\/strong> Jesus is and what<\/strong> He has done for us (pointing to the cross) out of joy and thankfulness we will want to strive for a similar kind of amazing yet humble obedience in our own life as a saved child of God.<\/p>\n Our amazing yet humble obedience will first and foremost be evident in our personal relationship with our heavenly Father.\u00a0 As a saved child of God we will want to follow the Lord\u2019s example and gather together here in our heavenly Father\u2019s home to study His Word and to bring Him our praises.\u00a0 As a saved child of God we will want to follow the Lord\u2019s example and humbly live our life in obedience to our heavenly Father\u2019s will\u2014 as that will is revealed to us right here on the pages of His holy Word.<\/p>\n This humble obedience to our heavenly Father will then lead to humble obedience in our relationships with each other.\u00a0 Whether we are a parent or a child, a husband or a wife, a pastor or a lay person we would do well to remember that the Greek word that is used here in our text in reference to Jesus\u2014 \u201cThen he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient<\/strong> to them\u201d\u2014 <\/em>is the very same Greek word that is used in Ephesians 5:21, \u201cSubmit<\/strong> to one another out of reverence for Christ.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Our humble obedience will indeed be evident in the way that we treat each other, in the way that we talk to each other and talk about each other, and in the way that we are willing to \u201csubmit\u201d<\/em> to one another as brothers and sisters in the faith.\u00a0 Instead of asking the question, \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d instead of wanting things done \u201cour\u201d way we will humbly put the needs and wants of others ahead of our own needs and our own wants.<\/p>\n The reality of Original Sin, my friends, is quite easy to see.\u00a0 All too often it has a visible and powerful impact on our lives.\u00a0 Therefore, as we gather together on this first Sunday after Christmas let\u2019s rejoice!\u00a0 Let\u2019s rejoice in knowing that the God of Heaven loves us so much that He was willing to send His own Son into this world to live a perfectly obedient life in our place and then suffer and die on the cross to pay for our sins.\u00a0 Let\u2019s rejoice in knowing that because of the gift of saving faith which God Himself has created in our hearts, Jesus\u2019 amazing yet humble obedience is now \u201ccredited\u201d to our account!\u00a0 Let\u2019s rejoice in knowing that because of what God has done for us we now have the privilege of saying \u201cThank-you!\u201d to Him by living our life in amazing yet humble obedience to our heavenly Father as well as in amazing yet humble obedience to each other as brothers and sisters in the faith!\u00a0 How amazing is that!<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The First Sunday after Christmas December 27, 2015 Luke 2:41-52 \u201cEvery year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.\u00a0 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.\u00a0 After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were 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