Luke 2:41-52
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve 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. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went 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. 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. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 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 ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 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. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man," Luke 2:41-52.
We have been learning about Jesus Christ growing up. Christ increased in vigour in His understanding, His intellect. He was filled with wisdom, and God's grace was upon Him. This grace is in reference to disposition, attitude toward another, favour, goodwill, benevolence. This is not saving grace, for the Saviour did not need to be saved. This is God's grace upon someone who is living for the Lord. This person is submitting themselves to the Lord. "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble," James 4:6. We have learned that Christ was limited in His humanity. He learned. Jesus Christ advanced in wisdom and age. Christ was learning, and was able to come to the knowledge of the truth. He was not like the majority of the religious leaders of His day who were ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. According to the Scriptures, Christ had a drive to know the truth. Remember, this is in His human nature. In His Divine nature He is all knowing.
In verses 41-52 we learn more about Joseph and Mary. We have learned that they were righteous in the eyes of God. In these verses we see their actions line up with their hearts. The desire of their hearts was to please the Lord. Look at verses 41-43. Every year they went to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover (Exodus 23:14-17). Though Mary and the children were not required to go, Joseph brought them anyway. This showed their devotion to the Lord, and their love for their children. Turn to Deuteronomy 6:1-9. If you do not teach your children, someone else will. Joseph and Mary did not just teach their children, but apparently brought them to Jerusalem each year to experience the feast and to see firsthand what the Passover represented. They would see the multitudes of people. They would see the priests daily ministering in the Temple. They would hear the sheep, and they would see the blood of the sheep. The kids would ask questions; what is the point, the purpose; why all this preparation? Why do we do this every year? Why do all these lambs have to die? Turn to Exodus 12:1-28.
The blood of the lamb protected them from the wrath of God. This was a type and a picture of the One who was to come. The parents were to teach their children these truths, and, by God's grace, they would see how devastating sin is. An innocent lamb would have to die because of my sins. Every year this feast was a reminder of how devastating sin is. This Passover feast was a reminder of the One who was to come. Turn to Hebrews 9:11-22. Picture all the events taking place at the Passover feast; the death of the innocent lambs, the blood being poured out, the sacrifices being made; all this pointing to the One to come, and most people missed the meaning! The majority of the people were there just going through the motions. They were looking for the coming King who would give them the desires of their hearts and enable them to rule over their enemies. They were looking for the One who would make them prosperous. As a result of the blindness of their own hearts, they missed the meaning of the Passover, and they missed the true Passover Lamb when He came. They actually hated their Passover Lamb. How much did they hate Him? "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain," Acts 2:23.
This shows us how dangerous it is to just go through the motions of religion, and not know why we do what we do. We gather together to worship our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We do not gather to worship anything or anyone else. We do not gather to see what we can get; but instead we gather to give worship to Him Who laid down His life for all who have and will believe upon Him for deliverance from sin, and the wrath of God. "Christ, the sin-bearing and sin-atoning Saviour, Who has satisfied law and justice, and made peace by the blood of His cross; and therefore it is called the word of reconciliation, the gospel of peace and the word preaching peace by Jesus Christ, Who is Lord of all." John Gill.
The people did not see nor understand that they were separated from God because of their sins. They did not understand they were enemies with God. This caused them to think they were in good standing with God; therefore, they were not looking for a Saviour. They did not believe they needed reconciliation with God. "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation," II Corinthians 5:18. "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight," Colossians 1:20-22. Turn to Romans 5:8-11.
Jesus Christ is our Substitute. He is the only One who can reconcile us to God. Have you believed in Him to save you? "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be ye saved. In Luke 2, Christ continued to grow up. Lord willing, we will look more at this next time. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
