Turn back to Luke chapter 2. Our text is verses 40 to 52 here
in Luke chapter 2. This Bible is a holy Bible. This is a holy book. It's different
from every other book. This is the only book like it.
It's a holy book. The words in this book are holy
words. They're actually alive. They're
living. It's a living word. Sometimes the Lord allows me
to enter into that just a little bit. The account we're about to read
is of our holy God. And the only way I know to say
it is growing up. In the likeness of sinful flesh,
isn't that holy? I don't want to be flippant,
I don't want to be disrespectful with these thoughts, but think
about this. The eternal God who has no beginning and no end, the one who is the same yesterday,
today, and forever, caused himself to be an infant. And then the God of all glory
became a toddler. And he learned how to walk. And
he fell down. Isn't that amazing? And then the creator of the universe
made himself to be a young child. The one who orders and controls
every single thing that happens had birthdays. It said he was 12 years old.
They counted him. They kept log of it. He had birthdays. And he had neighborhood friends. Don't you know he was the best
friend any human being could ever possibly have? He shared everything he had. He never took anything from another
child, not one time. He never hit another child, not
one time. He never screamed out in anger
or to get attention. Not one time. He never said a hurtful word
to another child. Not one time. He never did anything mean. He stuck up for the underdog. Everything he did was good and
right. Everything he did. He was good. He was what good is. And we can't fathom how good
he was. Our brain cannot possibly understand
how good he was. He never gave Joseph and Mary
a reason to be upset with him. Not one time. They didn't know
anything about disciplining a child. They were completely ignorant
on that subject. Verse 40 says, Luke 2 verse 40,
it says, and the child grew and waxed strong in spirit. filled with wisdom and the grace
of God was upon him. Doesn't that crush your soul? Doesn't that make you want to
cry? Oh, the wretched man that I am. I'm so wretched. The child grew
and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of
God was upon him. Doesn't that make you want to
say, I'm sorry? I'm sorry. It makes me want to tell my parents,
I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Verse 41 says, now his parents, Earthly speaking, Joseph had no part whatsoever
in his birth, not one part at all. And Mary had no part other
than the fact that she was just the chosen vessel to carry out
his birth, that's it. Other than that, she had no part
in his birth. This is the Son of God. But earthly speaking, it says
in verse 41, now his parents, went to Jerusalem every year
at the Feast of Passover. And when he was 12 years old,
they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the Feast. And
when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus
tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew
not of it." They didn't know. Why didn't he tell them that
he was staying back? The child Jesus tarried behind
in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. He
knew they were leaving. He knew they were leaving. He'd
been going there for 12 years with them, every year. And he
knew how long they would be there, and he knew they were leaving.
He knew that they would be worried. He already knew that. Why did
he on purpose not tell them he was staying back? Job 33 verse
12 says, I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against
him? For he giveth not account of
any of his matters. This is God. He answers to no
one. Verse 43 says, And when they
had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried
behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother knew
not of it. But they supposing him to have
been in the company when a day's journey, And they sought him
among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. Seeking him. That's why he doesn't
give an account of his matters. Turn over with me to Song of
Solomon. It's after Proverbs in Ecclesiastes,
Song of Solomon, chapter 3. His mercy and grace to every
true family member of His is to draw back. That's His mercy and grace to
every family member. And here's why. We so foolishly
let ourselves get too comfortable with Him. We get too comfortable
with Him. We get too familiar with Him.
It says in our text, supposing Him to be in the company. I'm
sure he's here somewhere. Is he? Too comfortable. We take our
eyes off of him. They went a whole day's journey
and never once looked on him. Supposing him to be in the company.
God's mercy to us is to allow fear to set in. Where is he? I've lost him. I lost him. I had him, and I lost him. Look at Song of Solomon chapter
three. Verse one says, by night on my
bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found
him not. I will rise now and go about
the city and the streets and in the broadways. I will seek
him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him
not. The watchmen that go about the city found me, to whom I
said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that
I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth. Thanks be to God. It says, I held him and I would
not let him go. That's why he draws back. Is
there any greater feeling than that kind of desire for Him?
Is there any greater feeling that this world has to offer
us than that kind of desire for Him? I need Him. I've got to have Him. I found
Him. Back in our text, Luke chapter
2, verse 45 says, And when they found him not,
they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass
that after three days, they found him in the temple. When we lose
sight of the Lord, where does he usually reveal himself to
us again? Where do we find him? in the
temple. That's where He meets with us.
That's where we feel His presence. Turn over with me to Exodus 25.
When you need Him the most, And when I need him the most,
let's go to the place where he said he would be. He told Moses
inside the tabernacle is an ark of the covenant. And on top of
the ark of the covenant is a mercy seat. Now look at Exodus 25 verse
22. He said, and there I will meet
with thee and I will commune with thee from above the mercy
seat. If you want to meet with me, and if you want to find me,
he said, this is where I'm going to be. That mercy seat is Christ. It's where he said he would be.
It's where he's put his name. Turn over to Exodus 29. Verse
42, Exodus 29, verse 42 says, This shall be a continual burnt
offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation before the Lord, where I will meet you to
speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the
children of Israel and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory."
That's where I'll meet with my people. If you want to hear from
me, you'll find me in the temple. David said, I was so glad when
they said unto me, let's go to the house of the Lord. I'm so
glad to be here. I really am. I'm so glad to be
here. Let's go back to our text in
Luke two. Verse 46 says, and it came to
pass that after three days they found him in the temple. Three
days is a long time for a 12-year-old boy. Three days. Alone. His family left him for
three days and at least two nights. Where did he go for three days? Wouldn't you love to know what
did he do for three days? There was another blessed, holy,
glorious time that He left us for three days. And we know what He accomplished
for His people in those three days. He accomplished salvation,
redemption, safety, security, and eternal life. But where did
He go? Can you imagine? Separation from
God? Where did he go? What did he
do? What did he have to endure for
us? What all did he have to go through
for us? What did he do for three days? Scripture says the secret things
are hid with God. I don't know if we'll ever fully
understand what he did for us in those three days. I know we'll
never appreciate it like we should. Verse 46 says, and it came to
pass that after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting
in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking
them questions. It's astonishing that he was
so humble as to refrain himself and allow
those men to speak. And he sat and listened. He patiently
waited and he listened to them and he asked them questions. Isn't that something? He conversed
with them and he expounded the law to them and verse 47 says,
all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Something different about this
boy. I'm sure they said to each other,
no man ever spake like this man and he's 12 years old. He's 12
years old. Is he? Is he 12 years old? Verse 48
says, when they saw him, that's his parents. When his parents
saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said unto him,
Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and
I have sought thee sorrowing. Now here's a side note. I enjoyed
this so much. I thought this was so good. Listen
to what John Gill had to say about this sentence right here. John Gill said, Mary said, son,
why hast thou thus dealt with us? Which was said with great
tenderness of affection, and in much mildness, and may
be a pattern to parents who should not provoke their children to
anger, but deal gently and tenderly with them. Isn't that good? Isn't
that a good lesson for parenting? She said that tenderly. She said
that mildly. Son, why don't you do it this
way with us? Now the scripture says, spare not the rod. It says,
he that spareth his rod, hateth his son. And that means discipline
your child. But let's not do it in anger.
Ecclesiastes 3 says, there's a time for everything. There's
a time to hate. There's a time for war. I thought
about when our Lord drove out the money changers in the temple.
There's a time for that. But Proverbs 1632 says, he that
is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth
his spirit than he that taketh the city. Isn't that wonderful? Verse 48 says, and when they
saw him, they were amazed and his mother said unto him, son,
why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I
have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, how is
it that you sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about
my father's business? Now, I've always thought of that
as him really scolding her with a frown on his face. How is it
that you sought me? Wist ye not I must be about my
father's business? But Brother John Gill's comment
made me think about the fact that our Lord is good. He's good. He's kind, and he's
tender, and he's long-suffering. He's merciful. He's patient. He's gracious. Grace poured from his lips. And he spoke this to her and
he treated her in the same way he commands us to treat each
other. He had a smile on his face. And he sweetly and lovingly said
to her, how is it that you sought me? How is it that you sought me?
Now let's look at two ways of saying this. Here's the first
one. How is it that ye sought me? The commandment is, seek
the Lord. Seek the Lord. The reality is,
nobody has ever sought the Lord. Seek the Lord. I say that honestly. I say that truthfully and sincerely. I mean that. I say it and I mean
it. The scripture says, seek the
Lord. But nobody has ever sought the
Lord. He said, I am found of them that
sought me not. And he said, you shall seek me
and find me when you search for me with all your heart. So what
does that mean? Can a person seek the Lord? If we're dead in our sins, how
does a person seek the Lord? How can a dead man seek the Lord?
Here's how. by acknowledging and bowing to
the fact that I cannot seek the Lord. I acknowledge I cannot
seek the Lord. He must seek me. Lord, seek and save me. I cannot seek you. I pray that with all my heart. He said, how is it that you sought
me? You're dead, you can't. But if
he seeks you and if he gives life, listen to the second way
of saying it. They said, why have you done this unto us? We
searched all over for you sorrowing. We couldn't find you. Verse 49,
and he said unto them, how is it that you sought me? How did you seek me? Maybe that's
the problem. How did you seek peace? How did
you seek rest? How did you seek comfort? Did
you do it impatiently, not trusting in the power and the purpose
and the timing of God? Did you look in every place this
world has to offer, but not in the one place needful? Did you
listen to the words of men? and not to the words of God.
He said, don't you remember where I said I'd meet with my people?
If they would have just gone straight to the temple, they
said three days. They went out a day's journey. That's one day. They came back, that's two days.
And then where'd they go for the third day? They didn't go
to the temple. That was the last resort. He said, wish ye not that I must
be about my Father's business. Don't you know that I must be
about my Father's business? Know ye not that there is a place
where Jesus sheds the oil of gladness on our heads? A place
than all beside more sweet is the blood-bought mercy seat.
Come to the mercy seat. Wish ye not that I must be about
my father's business. Verse 50 says, and they understood
not the same which he spake unto them. If the Lord God doesn't
give an understanding of who he is and why he came. He said, wish ye not, know ye
not that I must be about my father's business. This is who I am and
why I came. Yet if the Lord doesn't give
that understanding, no man can understand. We pray, open our
eyes that we may see. Verse 51 says, and he went down
with them and came to Nazareth and was subject unto them. Isn't
that amazing? He left the temple and he came
with them. He went to Nazareth and he was
subject unto them. Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
for this is right. That's what he did. Servants,
be obedient to them that are your masters, according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling and singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ, not with eye service as men-pleasers, but
as the servant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
That's exactly what he did. Verse 51 says, And he went down
with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But
his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. Religion keeps
all these sayings in the mind. They know a lot. They know a lot. You ever tried
to argue the scripture with a big time religionist? They know a
lot. They keep all these sayings in their mind. A true lover of
the Lord Jesus Christ keeps all these sayings in the heart. There's a difference. Now here's
the most amazing verse and I believe this because God wrote it down.
Verse 52 says, And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in
favor with God and man. He increased in wisdom. He was 100% God. He is wisdom. He knows everything. There is nothing hid from Him.
Not one thing. But He made Himself to be 100%
man. 100% man. And as a real man,
it says He increased in wisdom. Now he said, I must be about
my father's business. And that business was to preach
the gospel. Now this, let me stop my mode
here and gather myself. This was amazing to me. This was amazing to me. And whoever
hears this on a tape, they're gonna think, why didn't you know
that? You don't know much, do you? I called my dad and I said, this
is about the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Are you ready? He said, I must be about my father's
business. And that business is to preach
the gospel. Okay? That's the whole point
of this world, is to preach the gospel. As a man, if I'm going
to preach the gospel, I must first hear the gospel. Right? I wasn't born knowing
it. I must learn the gospel. I must
have God-given faith. And faith cometh by hearing,
right? It pleased the Lord by the foolishness
of preaching. And never have I understood that
more than in this verse right here. He listened and learned from
men who learned the gospel by the Holy Spirit of Him. Isn't that amazing? His humility is greater and deeper
than we could ever imagine. Nobody had any idea what He was
doing. He sat in the temple listening to those men and asking them
questions. Isn't that amazing? This is quite a God that we have. Quite a man. Verse 52 says, And
Jesus, increased in wisdom and stature, that's age and height,
and in favor with God and man. He increased in favor with God
and man. And that's what's produced in
a man or a woman whom Christ dwells in. That's the result. If Christ is in a person, that's
the result. Favor with God and favor with
man too. If God has any delight in us,
it's not us at all, it's Christ in us. Christ in a person makes
that person truthful, because the truth is in them. Kind, kindness
lives in them. Loving, God is love. Merciful, gracious, generous. That's what a person becomes
when Christ is in them. And because of that, they receive
favor with me, and they really do. This is a wonderful gospel, isn't
it? He's a wonderful Savior to me. I pray the Lord would teach
us and bless us and stand together with me.