Luke 2:46-49

The book of Luke, chapter 2, reading verses 41 to 49, our focus will be on verses 46 to 49. Now, his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was 12 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 it not or knew not of it. That they supposing him to have been in the company who went a day’s journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. and when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem seeking him. And it came to pass 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 dealt with us? Thus, 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 you sought me? Wish did ye not that I must be about my father’s business. May God blessed to us the reading of his sacred in whole. Holy word this morning. A faithful church-going woman was quite charmed by the Puritan preacher Thomas Manton. And she often went to hear him preach. One day after the service, she said to him, Oh, sir, you made an excellent sermon today. I wish I had your heart. To which Manton replied, do you, good woman? You had better not wish for it, for if you had it, you would wish you had your own. The best of men see themselves in the worst of light. They know the corruption of their own hearts. No human being, therefore, is a perfect example for you. The wonderful thing about Jesus Christ, is that he provides a perfect example throughout his entire lifetime. His heart knew no corruption. So it is safe to say, I wish I had his heart, even as a young child, as we will see, his actions and words are worth emulating. Such is the case with regard to our text. you should be desired to be just like him, even though he’s only 12 years of age at this point. Let me begin by saying this. You should have a love for God’s house. They found him in the temple. We see Christ’s love here for God’s house. He not only attended the Passover feast, but he was delighted with worship. And so when he remains behind in Jerusalem, where would he be? He would be at the temple. He would be where the worship of God takes place. So when his parents and relatives and friends returned to Nazareth and he is missing and his parents are looking for him, of course, that’s where they’re going to find him. you know, many boys of 12 years of age, and in his circumstance, would probably get into mischief on the streets of Jerusalem. By Christ is found at the temple. He loves the worship of God, according to the principles of God’s words. So we see his love for God’s house. Let me talk about your love for God’s house. You know, the temple, of course, was a literal building. But it was symbolic of the true spiritual temple, the church of Jesus Christ, in which we read in Ephesians 2, in whom all the building fitly framed together, growth unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built it together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. The church is called the house of God, the pillar and ground of the truth in 1 Timothy 315. The church is where the word of God is taught, where the ordinances of God are administered, where Christ is to be found in a special way. Do you have the heart of the psalmist that reflects, I think, Christ’s heart? Psalm 27 and verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I might dwell in the Lord, house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and inquired his holy temple. The one thing, the chief thing of all, he says, is I wish I could dwell continually in your house. He desired to be there not just on the Sabbath days, but all the time. Why did he may behold the beauty of the Lord? Not with his physical eyes, but that he would contemplate the wonderful attributes of the God that he serves, and hear them proclaimed in the temple. For he has a glorious God, worthy of his time and occupation, and inquire in his temple, because it’s the place to discover not only God’s will, but to seek his face in answer to your petitions. Psalm 268 also reflects Christ’s heart. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house in the place where thine honor dwelleth. Wouldn’t it be disgraceful? If God’s children didn’t love his house? True Christians delight in the assembly of God’s people where God’s praise is son where His word is expounded. Why should any believer absent himself then from the place where God is honored? There was an older minister that once related that he had in his congregation a worthy aged woman. He said for many years, this woman was completely death. And yet she was always the first one in the church building. The very first one that would come. And he inquired of her one time, writing it out for her the reason for her constant attention and her attendance there when she couldn’t hear anything that was being said or song. Here’s what she said. Though I cannot hear you, I come to God’s house because I love it and would be found in his ways, and he gives me many a sweet thought upon the text when it’s pointed out to me. Another reason is because there I am in the best company in the more immediate presence of God and among his saints, the honorable of the earth. I’m not satisfied with serving God in private. It’s my duty and privilege to honor him regularly in public. What a rebuke that is to the people who have ears to hear and don’t sit in the church to hear it. She comes even though she can’t hear because she sees it as important. There are many of the men. Many who groan within themselves. Oh, it’s the Lord’s Day. I think we ought to be like the psalmist who was glad to go. And we ought to encourage one another. Let us go to the house of God. You say that to others with the idea of encouraging that. May the Lord give you the heart of Jesus Christ in regard to God’s house here. And children, let me say this. Learn to delight in coming to church and following the example of the child Jesus. They love to be in the assembly of God’s people. So you should have a love for God’s house. Secondly, you should have an interest in divine instruction. Now we read here in our text in verse 46, the second part of it, 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. Now, you should desire to learn from others. He was sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, were told. Now, the doctors of the law commonly taught people in the temple area. They would give instruction regarding religious matters. These Jewish teachers were accustomed to sit on raised circular benches with their pupils or students sitting in front of them on the floor. And there would be lectures and there would be debates about various points concerning the law of Moses and the prophets and so forth. Jesus heard and he listened carefully to what they had to say. Now, here you see the great interest that the child Jesus has in learning about the scriptures. Of course, this relates to his human nature. There was an increase in his knowledge as verse 52 will relate to us. He increased in wisdom and so forth. But he provides a good example for you. You should take advantage of the divine instruction that is granted by the elders and teachers of the church. You should hear them gladly and seek to be instructed in what the scriptures teach. Like the religious teachers in Nehemiah’s day, their duty is to do this. To read in the law of God distinctly and give this sense and cause them, the people, to understand the reading. Nehemiah 8.8. That’s what the elders are supposed to do. The church is to give this duty of teaching to those who are qualified men who can teach others. So this is a great privilege. And like Christ, you should seek to benefit from it. Should desire to learn from others. Also, you should have a curiosity about the things of God. You’ll notice we read here, he was asking them questions. Having heard the disputes and the determinations of these religious leaders, Jesus, when he was given the opportunity, had some questions for them. Would you not like to have been in the room or in the temple when he asked these questions? It would be quite interesting to hear what he asked. The method of question and answer was very much accustomed in the time of rabbinical teaching here. I read once that Dr. Stephen Williams was an old zoological professor at Miami and Ohio University years ago. He used to promise an A to any student that would ask one intelligent question in his classroom. People assume that learning is always associated with hearing. Well, sometimes learning is associated with questions as well. Penetrate. Perceptive questions can stimulate thought and learning as well. You can imagine the questions that Jesus Christ asked even as a 12-year-old were not shallow questions. They must have been deep and thought-provoking. You know, we have one of the questions later that Jesus would ask. But you can imagine a question like this being asked from Matthew chapter 22, verses 41 to 46 where Jesus speaking to the Pharisees, they were gathered together. Jesus asked them this, what think ye of Christ, whose son is he? Now that was an easy question for them to answer. Why? He’s the son of David. He’s the Messiah. But then he said this, is a follow-up question. How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, quoting Psalm 110. The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. If David call him Lord, how is he a son? Or his son? And no one was able to answer him a word. Neither does any man from that day forward ask him any more questions. They couldn’t answer his question when he spoke and asked the truth. You can imagine that when asked such a question it was difficult to answer. We can imagine that this is true also at the temple. Clearly the Jewish leaders hearing him were astonished, as we’re told. They were amazed by his questions and his answers that he gained. Who are a 12-year-old. What a true interest he had in the scriptures. We should have a holy curiosity about the Bible and its teaching. No good teacher minds honest questions from those who were hearing him. It means you’re paying attention. It means you want to understand what is being taught. So you should have a curiosity about the things of God. You should desire to contribute to the spiritual knowledge of others. For verse 47 indicates to us in our text of Scripture that they all heard. him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Jesus’ wisdom and understanding appeared as much in the questions as it did in the answers that he gave. It amazed these honored doctors. Like David of old, I think Jesus could say, I have more understanding than all my teachers. For thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancient. because I keep thy precepts. You know, the doctors of the law a lot of times they were concerned about the traditions of the fathers and so forth, but you can imagine Jesus Christ, his focus, was on the Word of God alone. The one thing about Jesus is he didn’t concern himself with what was peripheral. He got to the heart of the matter. What is important is what God’s word says. The key point is this. It’s not how many years you’ve supposedly been studying the Word of God, but how much enlightenment you’ve had by the Holy Spirit that counts. These men may have been studying the Word of God for years, but Jesus Christ had the Spirit of God upon him, and he had enlightenment that they did not have. John 645 says it is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God, every man therefore that have heard and hath learned of the Father comeeth to me. To be taught of the Father is to have the Spirit of God illuminate our minds with regard to Scripture. True understanding of the Scriptures requires this illumination. And this is why you always find Jesus saying, it is written, and he would give us a quotation. And then the meaning of that Old Testament Scripture. He expounds it for us at times. All God’s elect are taught of God. And that is the reason he says they come to Christ. You know, I attended seminary. I had a friend in seminary whose name was Les Woods. Now, the seminary was premillennial and dispensational in its doctrine of the end times. And so one day in theology class, Les asked a question of the theology professor, which completely debaulay the professor’s theology of end times. He said this, you’ve taught us that the Antichrist will be a Jew. And that during the seven-year tribulation period, all Jews will be saved. Does that mean the Antichrist will be saved? The professor was so dumbfounded, he actually dismissed the class, and the next day he announced that he no longer believed that all Jews would be converted. Or no, no, he no longer believed that the Antichrist was going to be a Jew. That’s what it was. Now, that was just one question. But you could see how one question can demolish somebody’s theology. And Jesus Christ could do that with his questions. You can imagine how he would expose the false ideas of the various Jewish doctors of the law. He did it during his ministry. And you can imagine some of the questions. he asked probably put them to the test that wonder they couldn’t answer and they were astonished by what he said. Here’s a poor carpenter’s son, a young kid at 12 years of age and we can’t even answer his questions. And so you can actually teach others by perceptive questions and useful answers. So you should attempt to contribute to the learning of others whenever possible if you’ve been taught of God and all his children, have been, there ought to be something that God has taught you that can be beneficial to someone else. One of the other people of God. Regardless of your status of the church, that is irrelevant to this matter of whether you can be helpful. You can ask the right questions and be helpful. So, you should have an interest in divine instruction. The second thing we see in our text is this. You should be about your Heavenly Father’s business. Notice verses 48 and 49. 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 he sought me? Wished ye not that I must be about my father’s business. Mary and Joseph, having found Jesus, are watching with interest, as this session is going on with the teaching and Jesus asking and answering questions, they’re paying attention to all that’s going on here. And they too are amazed at what they hear. When the group broke up, it appears that Mary took Jesus aside and chided him a bit about leaving his parents, you know, not being with them on the traveling home to Nazareth. It seemed like he was disrespecting his parents. but this really wasn’t the case. He informs them of what really was a situation here in his answer. His parents, no doubt, should have been more careful about making sure that he was with them on the way back, but you can imagine this has probably happened many years in a row. They’ve gone down and he’s come back with them and so forth. This is the first time this ever happened. One can understand the grief of his parents. One can understand Mary being upset. I can understand. that. They didn’t clearly comprehend, however, that Jesus was carrying out his mission. Then he had to be about his heavenly father’s business. You see, Jesus’ divine nature and perfection made him an extraordinary child. No evil could befall him without his own will. Or without the father’s will. The parents didn’t make use of the light that they possessed about Jesus of his divine origin and the wisdom that he would have. So they were startled and his reply, why have you sought me with so much anxiety? Didn’t you realize where I would be found? Didn’t you realize what I must be doing? I have to be about my father’s business. Boy, when you think about it, He’s putting them in a situation when they have to realize that while they are the parents in a way, the step-pair, the one in Mary’s case, the actual mother, but Joseph’s case, he’s just the father in name. But in this situation, he’s making them realize their place here, that he he actually is the son of God, and he’s carrying on his heavenly father’s business. That’s what consumed it. Zeal for God’s house consumed it. By calling the temple his father’s house, he’s laying claim to the fact that he’s the son of God, that he’s a Messiah, that he is the Christ, the only begotten. His response here was sort of a mild rebuke, and must have taken back Joseph and Mary, but they had to realize that he has a higher calling, and he’s going to fulfill that calling. Let me talk about being about your father’s business. Christ’s words to Mary were a reminder that he had a Heavenly Father, and His Heavenly Father’s business demanded his primary attention. Jesus said in the New Testament, we are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. It is to demand our primary attention as well. Let Christ’s words sink down into your heart this morning, because he provides a wonderful example for all his people. Listen to Jesus’ command to you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Do you see the necessity of being like Christ in this regard? Do you feel compelled? I must do this. I felt compelled to do it. This is the mark at which you should aim in your daily life. You’re here for a purpose. Your ultimate primary purpose is to glorify your heavenly father. And they will, of course, serve Christ. Your master. Your life is not your own to live as you please. You’re under obligations. Are you consumed with the things of this world so consumed that you give no thought to advancing the kingdom of God on the earth? Because if you love God with your whole heart, then your Heavenly Father’s business is something that’s going to consume you. It’s going to be part of you. In the Berlin art gallery, there’s an unfinished page. by the artist Menzel. It’s a painting of Frederick the Great, and he’s surrounded by his generals. And there’s a small bare patch in the center of the painting where the face of Frederick the Great is supposed to be. And all they have is the charcoal outline of what he was going to draw. The rest of the painting is finished. He had painted in all the generals and all their faces, and the rest of the reds the rest of the bodies and so forth, even the Frederick’s the Great’s body, so that the primary subject of painting would be done when all the lesser details were done. Then he was going to finish the face of Frederick de Great. But the poor man, Menzel died before he finished the painting. And Frederick the Great, the primary focus of the whole picture, the painting, wasn’t finished. because he waited to last. Are you like mensel and giving priority to everything else? But you’re God? Do you have an intense urgency to serve God in some way or another? Wherever you go, do you think about carrying tracks and booklets and Bibles or whatever you have to have to witness to people? When you’re in the company of others, do you ever think about how can I turn this conversation into a spiritual conversation, talk to them about spiritual things? Do you take pleasure and obeying God’s commands? Are you heavenly-minded in this regard? How much are you like Christ? I must be about my father’s business. Well, let me close by saying this. That church-going woman wanted to have Thomas Manton’s heart until he told her, you wouldn’t want my heart. He dissuaded her of that. If you want to have somebody’s heart, you want to have Christ’s heart, because it’s perfect. It’s perfect and upright. Our text here provides, I think, three areas for you to emulate. Do you have a love for God’s house? Do you have an interest in divine instruction? And do you concern yourself with your father’s heavenly business? Let us close with a word.