Sermons

In My Father's House

January 24, 2020 Preacher: Gareth Franks Series: The Gospel of Luke

Topic: Christian Living Scripture: Luke 2:39–52

Home Group Study - Sermon Date: 24 January 2020

Text: Luke 2:39-52

Opening Discussion: All of us at some point have been lost. As a parent, losing a child can be one of the most horrifying moments you can have or one of the funniest. What is your experience? Share your story of when you were lost or when you lost a child.

Summary:

Jesus Christ is the only one ever to live a sinless perfect life. First and foremost, we must come to know Him as our Savior, but in addition to that, He is our primary example for godly living. He lived in perfect dependence to the Father, always obedient to His will. This was true not only after He began His public ministry, but also from His youth up.

In Luke 2:39-52, we have the only reference in Scripture to the years between Jesus’ birth and the beginning of His ministry when He was about 30. Charles Simeon (Expository Outlines on the Whole Bible, [Zondervan], 12:269) speaking about the young years of Jesus says, “There is little related of him to gratify our curiosity, but enough to regulate our conduct.”

The question might be asked, “Why did Jesus come into the world as a child and not as a full grown man?” Firstly, Jesus needed to be the representative of people of all ages. He did not only come to represent adults. He came to represent infants, babies, children, boys and girls, and adults. From birth as an infant to death as an adult, Jesus fully represents all people. And second, Jesus needed to experience life at every stage so that he could be the perfect sympathizer and Savior.

Luke includes the story primarily to show us who Jesus is as the unique Son of God, but also so that we will imitate Him in our conduct. We should imitate Jesus, the Son of God, in spiritual growth, in routine faithfulness, and in commitment to God’s purpose.

Investigation & Interpretation:

  • Read: Luke 2:39-52
  1. How did Jesus get left behind in Jerusalem? (verses 43-44)
  2. What was Jesus doing during the three days that he was on His own? v.46
  3. Luke records in v.49, the response of his parents’ question, “Son, why have you treated us so?” (48). Why do you think Jesus answered like he did?
  4. After replying to His parents, what did Jesus do? v.51
  5. How does this story illustrate the tension Jesus may have felt between obedience to his Father and obedience to His earthly parents?

Application

How must I change?

  • Is there a Truth to be believed?

Imagine you had never heard of Jesus or read the Bible, and you had picked up Luke’s Gospel and reached 2v40, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.” What would you think about:

- who this baby is?

- what he has come to do?

  • Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

What are the reactions of people who truly realize who Jesus is (as Luke has shown us). How would these reactions look in our daily lives?   

  • Is there a Behavior to be changed?

Jesus parents, for a time, seemed to forget that Jesus was on a mission. They forgot that Jesus was to fulfill his heavenly Father’s will. Why do you think that it can be easy for a Christian to forget that they are on mission? What are some of the things we need to do so that we no longer live for ourselves, but for the glory of God?

Conclusion

An Irish legend tells of a king who disguised himself and went into the banquet hall of one of his barons. He was escorted to a lowly place among the throng who sat at the feast. The brilliance of his conversation and the nobility of his manner soon attracted the attention of someone with sufficient authority to escort him to a higher table. The same thing occurred once more, and soon he was seated among the nobles of the land. After a display of great wisdom, one of the lords spoke out, “In truth, sir, you speak like a king. If you are not a king, you deserve to be.” Then the king removed his disguise and took his rightful place among his subjects.

That is what should have happened when the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth. Although he was “disguised” as a lowly carpenter from Nazareth, He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. But His subjects were so blinded by their own pride and sin that they were not willing to bow before Him, even though He stated repeatedly and gave sufficient proof that He was the eternal God come down to redeem them. (Adapted from Donald Barnhouse, Let Me Illustrate [Revell], pp. 180, 181.)

Do you recognize the son of God as Jesus Christ? One day, everyone will get it right. The apostle Paul says (Phil. 2:10-11) that “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Some will bow on that great day in terror as they hear the Lord say (Matt. 25:41), “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Before it is too late, you must bow before Him now as your Lord, so that on that day you will hear Him say (Matt. 25:34), “Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

If He is your Savior, imitate Him in spiritual growth, in routine faithfulness, and in commitment to God’s purpose for your life.

More in The Gospel of Luke

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