People Who Lost Jesus (Luke2:41-52)

People Who Lost Jesus (Luke2:41-52)

 ⁴¹ His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. ⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. ⁴³ When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother^[l] did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. ⁴⁵ So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. ⁴⁶ Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

⁴⁹ And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. ⁵¹ Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

 

Intro)

1. Pastor Dong-Ho Kim who is main pastor of Soong-ee church sent out a story to magazine long ago. Story was about one of Beetles member was out of group and coming back as solo, but someone came up the stage and said he will kill him with his pistol. People took him down and asked him “why are you so angry?” and he replied “he has no soul in his music, so I won’t let him sing a song without soul.

 

2. Some lady went to Hair salon, because her daughter was getting married.  She told owner that she got wedding so asked if they can do it within 30minutes, and they said no problem. After hair was done but curls are bit undone. Would you like to do it again? So, she said yes, so she spent 3 hours. When she came back from hair salon the wedding was already over and her family was very upset with her.

 

3. Some Pastor was visiting his church member in rush and left his phone in his house. When Pastor arrived to church member’s house he asked one of church member if he can use her phone. She replied “oh, pastor! You can’t forget stuff already!” and she went to other room to get her phone. When pastor received her phone pastor said “Uh, is this a phone?” and church member replied “Oh my I brought a Tv remote …haha.” We live our lives soulless without thinking sometimes.

When God created our world he did his best. Every little thing he worked with his soul. After 6 days of creating work he was so tired he had to rest for 7 days.

People who believe in Jesus also have time when they don’t have Jesus in their mind. Sometimes church that gathered people to believe in Jesus don’t have Jesus in them.

(In Today’s verse Jesus’ mother and father, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus on the way back from holy temple. This gives few lessons, let me share the lesson we can learn from this.)

Body)

A) First: Reason why they lost Jesus.

1 In verse 44 says ‘⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances’ this mean Joseph and Mary were not paying attention.

 

2. When we live in faith we can’t consider neglecting is common things that happens in our daily basis. It’s because this can become habit and later on it can be our personality. Living faith life is facing new thing every other day and a spiritual war. If we don’t entirely rely upon God we can’t win a war. Therefore, we need to be careful and pay attention in many ways in daily basis.

 

3. one good example that Jesus gave us.

Jesus said who calls God is not someone who enters Heaven, but person who follow God’s word. Matthew 7:21-23 says, ‘²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Believing in Jesus has to come with their heart, just believing Jesus with their lip will not work, but with act and love. People can do good work without loving others, and there’s a case where people put Legalism first, and take an advantage of belief that people have.

 

 

 4. Saint Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:12, ^“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” And 2 Corinthians 13:5 “⁵ Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. Let us always check what God’s will is.

 

5. Samson was one of God’s people, but why he had to end his life like that? It is because God prohibited marriage with a foreign woman, but he ignored it. Therefore, Samson captured by the Philistines and lived his life as slave until he died. This shows what we should not do when God tells us what not to do and do. So, let’s listen to our God.

 

B) Second: Important to realize what we have lost.

 

1. If you take a look at book of Revelation, Ephesians overcame people of cult who threaten them with wisdom and sturdy belief. They guard their church with so much effort, but the most important element ‘love’ towards God was gone.

 

2. Church Thyatira worked hard on missionary, volunteer, salvation works, but Pastor of Thyatria church taught people that they can take food that was for idolatry. Revelation 2:22-23 says ²² Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. ²³ I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 

3. The Laodicea Church members had wealthy life therefore, they were lazy to work on faithful life such as praying or act like no Christian, so God came and said in Revelation 3 :17 ‘¹⁷ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

4. Era of Jesus, Jewish scholars waited Messiah, and knew where he will be born, but when Jesus came they denied their messiah. So, now they lost their messiah for over 2000 years.

 

5. When Joseph and Mary lost Jesus they spent 4 days to find Jesus. When you lose something it can be quite of work to find it. Have you lose anything in faith life? If it is what is it? Let us find what we have lost before this year passes.

 

C) Third: what we lost we must find it.

1. When Joseph and Mary lost Jesus they didn’t give up on Jesus and spent 4days to find him. This is important if we lose something it is important to gain again. If we come up with excuses in belief it won’t end well.

 

2. Have you lost your faith? power of prayer? Love? Pleasants in life? Let us check what we have lost and regain what we have lost.

 

Con)

1. Jesus is our soul to Christian. If he leaves us we are soulless, therefore all kinds of hard work without Jesus does not mean anything.

2. If you lost something in the past do not give up to find it again and try your best to find something you have lost again. If you lost Jesus in faith life I hope you get Jesus back in your faithful life again. Let us pray.

* By pastor Ahn 122516