Law/Gospel Theme: Who was and is Jesus? That might seem like a simple and straight forward Gospel question. But it’s an important one to address frequently. Today we will focuses on the story of Jesus in the temple as a 12-year-old boy. The story reminds us that Jesus was aware of His identity as the Son of God. But He also obeyed His parents and was responsible to them as a human.
Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was lost. But He was where He belonged. Sometimes we might “lose” or neglect Christ, but it’s important to remember that His presence is always with us.
The amazing message of the Gospel is that God became man and lived among us. He knows what it’s like to be in our shoes. And because He lived without sin. He can take our guilt away!
This story reminds us that Jesus was fully human and fully God. He understood, even in childhood, His connection to the Father; yet He also obeyed His parents and grew physically and spiritually.
Prayer: Almighty God. You have poured into our hearts the light of Your truth. Grant that this light might shine brightly in our lives all our days. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
Hymn: # 57 JUST AS I AM Vv. 1-2
Confession/Absolution:
LORD - we pray to you also for the
forgiveness of our sins. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father.
In Your compassion forgive us our sins.
Known and unknown. Things done. And left undone. And so uphold us by Your
Spirit.
That we may live and serve you in newness of
life. To the honor and glory of Your Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you. Forgive you
all your sins.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. And may He
strengthen you in all goodness.
And by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Luke 2:41-52
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every
year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according
to custom. 43 And when the
feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group
they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their
relatives and acquaintances,
45 and when they did not find him, they returned to
Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days
they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and
asking them questions. 47 And all who
heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were
astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so?
Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you
looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”50 And they did not understand the saying
that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down
with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother
treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor
with God and man.
#57 JUST AS I AM
Vv. 3-4
Sometimes in our lives we might
completely miss Jesus. We might not do this on purpose. But we forget that His
presence is always with us. Or we neglect to focus on Him. There’s actually a
story in the Bible about a time that someone important missed Jesus…His
parents!
It’s a story from when Jesus was a boy.
We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ childhood. But there’s one passage that
describes a significant event that happened when He was twelve.
Jesus and His family traveled to the
temple for a special holiday. It was like going to church on a special
occasion, only their church wasn’t right in town. They had to take a long
journey to get there.
After the celebration was finished and
they had been on the way home, Mary and Joseph suddenly realized Jesus wasn’t
with their travel group!
They spent days looking for Him and were
very worried. Finally, they made it back to the temple, and there was Jesus! He
had been there the whole time. Talking with the leaders of the church.
Mary got a little upset that He had gone
missing. But Jesus didn’t think He was lost. He just said, “why were you
looking for me? Certainly you know that
I must be in my father’s house?”
There are a couple of important things we
can take away from this. For one thing, this is a good reminder that Jesus was
fully God and fully human. He recognized His relationship with God the Father
and knew that He belonged with Him. Jesus was and is God.
Yet at the same time, He was a
twelve-year-old boy. And His parents were worried when they couldn’t find Him.
Jesus agreed to go with His parents and obey them. Once they were reunited.
So even though He is God. He was human
and subject to normal human growth needs.
This can be hard for us to understand. If
it is, we’re in good company. Because Mary and Joseph had a difficult time
fully grasping it, too!
Even though they knew Jesus was God’s son.
It was still tough to recognize what that meant. Especially when they still had
responsibilities to care for Him as parents.
So for us. We appreciate that Jesus
experienced humanity, in order to die in our place and forgive us for our sins.
That’s what is so important and significant about understanding who Jesus is
and was.
And it’s also important to keep Him at
the center of what we do and who we are.
Mary and Joseph panicked when they
couldn’t find their son. Even if He was perfectly safe. We might panic if we
fail to prioritize the Lord.
As we begin a new year we want to
remember that He is always with us. Whether or not we feel or pay attention to
Him. Keep that in mind and thank God for sending Jesus!
Let’s pray and give thanks right now,
asking for the Lord to help us remember His power and presence.
Thank you, Jesus for your love and care. As we start a new year may we always be near you. Thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you for your many blessings. Please help us to keep Jesus in the center of our lives. And not lose sight of Him. [1]
The Lord has given us one another and we give thanks for God’s grace and mercy as we offer prayers for the sick and suffering.
The Lord has given us the beauty of worship and the gift of fellowship with one another. We thank you Lord for gathering us on this day.
The Lord has given us life in a nation of opportunities and liberty; with public services such as fire and police protection, ambulances, food pantries, schools, libraries, and hospitals. We thank you Lord for our national life.
The Lord has given us neighbors, friends, families, and coworkers to share the joys and burdens of this life. We thank you Lord, for the privilege of loving others.
The Lord has given us a world full of creatures that crawl, fly, swim, and climb. We enjoy a bounty of flowers and shrubs, grass and trees, plants and moss, and rocks and hills. We thank you Lord, for your creation.
The Lord has given us a promise that where He goes, He will prepare a place for us.
We thank you Lord for the gift of life and for giving us to one another for safekeeping. Bring us home when it is time. Lord in your grace, hear our prayer.[2]
Hymn #57 Just as I am Vv. 5-6
Luther's Seal copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
