Minister: Rev. Olon M. Lindemood

August  6 and 7, 2011

Luke 2: 41-52

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸When his parents^* saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ ⁴⁹He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’^{* 50}But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,^* and in divine and human favour.

Scriptures often have bold letters that offer headings for the passages we read:  “the Boy Jesus in the Temple”  is the title that my bible reads.  Perhaps there are some others Like:  Mary, Jesus’ mom, doesn’t ring her son’s neck!  Or “Home Alone: Lost in Jerusalem.”

(Stories of Jesus force us to consider our perspectives on life)

Today’s message has two parts:

First part:  The Rebel Yell!

Second part:  Do you Remember where to find Jesus?

PART ONE:  The Rebel Yell!

Every year the Joseph and Mary and Jesus Family made their way from Nazareth to Jerusalem (about 68 miles walking distance, four days of walking) for the Passover.  It was year twelve … Passover celebrations were great … the family scrambles all around … and the morning of starting the four day walk home … they Mary and Joseph and clan and all the Nazareth bound travellers start walking… and a days journey in… (Now how does that happen …)?  A twelve year old Jesus is not part of the walking party!?!? 

Mom and dad … turn around  /  head back to Jerusalem… imagining the worst!

After three days of searching … Mary says, “Child, why have you treated us like this?  Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”

(KING JAMES BIBLE)  “Son, why have You done this to us?  Look, Your father and I have sought you anxiously.”

(THE MESSAGE) "Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you."

… Mary the Mother of Jesus … in this moment proved her innocence… Because I know of no Mothers … or Fathers … Who would … be able to speak …

AFTER THE HUG AND AFFIRMATION OF BEING OK …. The explosion of emotions would begin.

One commentator shares that the Gospel of Luke is clear… From age 12 to 33 we hear no more of Jesus of Nazareth… that is because Mary, his mother, grounded him!  Grounded for Life!

And Jesus says to his parents:  “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I would be in my Father’s house?”  And then the Scriptures read:  “But they did not understand what he said to them… “  GROUNDED FOR LIFE! … Some say that the reason Jesus Portraits show him with long hair covering his ears … because … his mother … drug that boy all the way back to Nazareth by his ear!?!?!

Or as the scriptures read: “his mother treasured all these things in her heart.”

Think of the innocence of children and the curiosity of young adults and the knowledge of teenagers…  This account of Jesus Life is the only boyhood account we have … it lifts the raw humanity of life… What would Jesus Do?  Well… he spent time in the temple… he stayed behind away from his parents…

During the civil war … there was a sound that is reported from the battle fields …

The Rebel Yell was a high-pitched shout used by Confederate troops when going into battle. Used to frighten Union troops, the Rebel Yell was believed to have its origins in Southern fox hunting and the war cries of the Native Americans.

Billy Idol: (POP Music fame … two / three decades ago…)

In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell- "more, more, more"
More, more, more.

Yes … with a rebel yell we cry “More more more!” 

Friends … this rebel Yell of Jesus Christ the son of God and Mary and Joseph put him not in the darkness of physical jeopardy or Harm … But instead, put him in a place of trying to find a community of faith beyond his family… that is radical rebellion!

In Developmental psychology, they call this the season of Self-differentiation.  A time of discovering “who we really are!”

And that was the moment of discovering “What would Jesus do?”  ….

Self – differentiating into his Father’s son… The scriptures say … “I was right here mom… you knew I’d be here with my Father.”  Jesus went to God’s house and made a new home …

PART TWO: Do you remember where to find Jesus?

No mystery. No surprises!  Jesus was sitting talking about the mysteries of faith and life … God’s love and God’s grace.  Teaching of new kingdoms that are not of this world … kingdoms not ruled by kings and queens… But the Kingdom of God that teaches that we are all God’s children.

Andrew Attaway, one of my Guidepost friends, has an 8 year old daughter, Maggie.  Sometimes Maggie has trouble controlling her feelings.  One day she was having a mini – tantrum and her 11 year old sister Mary was annoyed!  … Mary said… “Maggie … you are acting like a 6 year old!

Maggie responded, “Well, I’m immaturing!”

Ever have days when you feel like you are immaturing? …

For Andrew Attaway… he heard is daughter’s voice as an invitation to “pick himself up … and start over again…”  (and for Andrew that meant:  To put a lock on his tongue, stay away from the bakery, clean out his in – box, and keep The LORD’s Word in his heart…)

Today, the message is simple… it is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow:

“To say “yes” to our Lord, is to Say “Yes” to being in the house of the Lord… Not just literally in Worship/ church … but it is to say … in a circle of Christian fellowship that keeps us alive in our faith and

Confident in the ways  of being a Child of God…

Confident in being Loved

Confident in knowing Compassion and Grace

“Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;

things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:

scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,

stories of Jesus, tell them to me. “

To Follow Jesus is to be a Rebel …  and to defy culture by staying in the presence of Lord!

Why were you searching for me? … I was right here… right here …”

Let us pray:

“Into your hands almighty God, we offer ourselves again… honor our rebellious spirits as we hunger for more of you.  Honor our desire to be different as we follow your son, our savior, Jesus the Christ!  Amen.