Have You Lost Jesus?

Luke 2:41-52

News Flash—

As the Feast of Passover closes, we have just received word that there is a problem on the road to Nazareth. Let’s go to our correspondent, Benjamin.

Thank you, Malachi. We are here on the road to Nazareth where a large group of people are traveling home together after Passover. We have been told that there is a child missing and are trying to get more information. We have been told that the family of Mary & Joseph realized, that after traveling for a whole day, their 12 year old son, Jesus, was missing. Details are still coming in, but the parents have decided to return to Jerusalem to look for the boy. They will also be visiting a marriage counselor to see whose fault it was in losing the boy. After questioning everyone in the caravan, it was discovered that no one had seen the boy since they left Jerusalem. Friends of the family tell us that the boy had never been in trouble of any kind and that he was basically the model-child. It seems that He is interested in starting His own business. So, there is great concern for the boy. When we know more, we will get that information to you.

This is Benjamin, reporting live from the road to Nazareth—for Ch. 1 JHVH News—Back to you, Malachi, in the studio.

Introduction—clear on the issue—no debate—whether or not a person can be lost after salvation.

I believe—eternal security—once saved always saved—better yet—once a person experiences N. T. salvation by repentance & faith—he cannot be lost again.

Referring—not to relationship—but a vibrant, alive, “new creation fellowship”.

I. They lost Jesus

II. They looked for Him in the wrong place

III. They found Him where they left Him

I. They lost Jesus – vs. 43-44a

A. Faithful Parents–vs. 41–“went every year”–Jesus-12

to Passover (Annual attendance at 3 feasts-commanded-Ex. 23)

–specifically to celebrate the blood on the doorposts

(Ex. 12)–Death angel–passing over–sparing Jews

Then–celebrated Feast of Unleavened Bread–

Then–First Fruits was the 3rd day after Passover

Jesus–crucified on Passover-shed blood spares all who trust

–in the grave-Unleavened Bread

–Rose on-First Fruits-3rd day after Passover

I Cor. 15:23-“Christ, the first fruits”

Why was “this” trip to Passover recorded? 1) They lost him 2) At

age 12, Jewish boys considered to becoming men

B. The lost boy

–They lost Jesus

–M.-J. lost Jesus

–The people who loved Him the most lost Him

(Dan’s message on M.–how she became sinless, divine, etc.–

dealt a severe blow here–a very human mistake-she lost Jesus)

–In their effort to please God by attending the Feast, they lost

Jesus

–They assumed His presence-hundreds in caravan–M.–J.– traveled

all day separately-thinking the other had the boy

–Lost child-T. J.-3 or 4 yrs. old-riding toy

C. The stumbling followers (Us)

–Sometimes we lose Jesus-not falling into gross sin, like murder or adultery, but stumbling in our fellowship

–We can do our religious thing–caught up in business of life–

assume His presence–unaware He’s not there

–Sometimes we drift–lay our Bible aside-prayer life slipping- not sharing Jesus–no witness of change-no praise for grace & forgiveness–stale spiritual life

–Sometimes the fellowship suffers because we don’t need Him–we have everything we need–my prayer life much more intense when I am in 3rd world remote areas

–LM–lost Jesus–bout with depression–’87-’88—everything fell

in on me–I didn’t know where He was–“Where are you?”–did not believe He could be in the middle of the refiner’s fire–

and controlling the heat

II. They looked for Him in the wrong place—vs. 44b-45

A. They looked-

–Questioned each other-after a day’s journey with hundreds

of people–“I thought you had him”–“No, I thought you had

him”–“Well, you’re the man–he’s 12 yrs. old”–“I was loading

the donkey–I thought he was with his mother”

–“So, what do we do?”–“Well, we look among our relatives

& acquaintances”–surely He’s here among us somewhere–

they did not want to believe that he wasn’t there

–Then, they decided to go back to Jerusalem–vs. 45

“returning to Jer.”

–They left the big group & went the opposite direction

–Some said, “Hope you find Him”

–They looked where they had stayed, where other children

were, then on Temple property

(They had lived in Bethlehem for 2 yrs.–knew people there–

probably contacted them)

B. We look–

–Among our friends and acquaintances–even LG

–“Things aren’t like they used to be, but He’s here somewhere-

we assume His presence

–One of 1st steps to finding Him is admitting that He’s not there

–Sometimes we look for Him in more activity–feed the poor,

help the homeless, etc.–These are good things but not where we find Jesus–Unsaved people do benevolent acts and get a

good feeling–but they don’t find Jesus.

–What needs to happen is that these things grow out of our

vibrant, living fellowship with Jesus and His Word.

–I don’t go to Africa to find Jesus–I go out of obedience to Christ and His Word

–Sometimes I feed homeless and poor on the street–not to find Jesus, but in obedience & to find an open door to witness

–First century Ch.–shared everything because they had found Jesus–but 1st order of business–sharing Christ–Acts 1:8

–Sometimes good is enemy of best

–Jesus said, “The poor you have with you always–but you do not always have me”–Mk. 14:7

–Jesus said, “Follow me & I will make you fishers of men.”

Mt. 4:18-20–If we seek Him & follow Him & know Him, we

will be fishers of men.

III. They found Him where they left Him–vs. 46-50

–2 other incidents of where Jesus was sought & found

1) Shepherds–had to go and find Him-no GPS

–gave Him a reception

2) Wise Men–had to go and find Him-

–gave Him gifts

3) When Mary & J. found Him they gave Him indigestion (not really)

-Vs. 46–“in the temple…”

Teachers–“amazed”

M.-J.–“astonished”–vs. 48

“aggravated”–“Why have you treated us this way?”

“anxious”–“Your father & I have been anxiously looking for you”

-Typical reaction of a human mother!

Vs. 49–Jesus said, “Why is it that you were looking for me?”

“Did you not know that I had to be about my Father’s business?”

Mary said–“Your father & I …”–Jesus said, “my Father’s business?”

Vs. 50–“They did not understand the statement which He made to them.”

Discussed with Dan-10 yrs. of family stuff daily life, work,

meals–(At first–we know 4 brothers & 2 sisters at least)-(no mentor of other children on Passover trip–maybe no other

children until after Jesus being 12)

**–For 10 yrs.–they saw humanness-in this moment-a glimpse of holiness.

–One commentary–“Mary should not have reacted the way she did because she and Joseph were given 7 testimonies about who Jesus was.”

Seven Testimonies of Who Jesus Was

7 Testimonies–Who Jesus was

1) Mt. 1:20–The Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream–“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

2) Lk. 1:31–Gabriel–to Mary–“you shall … bear a son, you shall call His name Jesus”

32–“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David …”

33–“He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, & His kingdom will have no end.”

3) Lk. 1: 42-43–Elizabeth-filled with HS-to Mary–“Blessed are you among women & blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me?”

4) Lk. 2:11–Angel–to shepherds—“for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”

vs. 19–Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.

5) Lk. 2:26–Simeon–Mary & Joseph–“would not see death before He had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

29–“Your servant can depart in peace”

30–“… my eyes have seen your salvation…”

32–“A light of revelation to the Gentiles & the glory of your people Israel.”

6) Lk. 2:38–Anna, prophetess–to Mary & Joseph–“continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”

7) Mt. 2:2–Magi–Wise Men–“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”

11–“After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother & they fell to the ground & worshipped Him.

**Important–for us!

–Took time and effort to find Jesus

–M.-J. were not going to be satisfied until they found Jesus

–They were determined to find Jesus

–They had to Backtrack (Dan’s website–articles, materials, books, CD’s)

To Backtrack–go back to what you know

Derric–last teaching-marriage counseling–“go back to when it was good”

–Paul gives Timothy a recipe for backtracking in II Tim. 3. He said–

1) Vs. 1-9–Things are going to get bad

2) Vs. 10-11–“you followed (learned) my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecution, sufferings …”

3) Vs. 12–By the way–“all who live godly lives … shall suffer persecution”

4) Vs. 13–false teachers will get worse

5) Vs. 14-17–“continue in the things you have learned from me”–(II Tim. 2:2–“The things which you have learned from me …)

“From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom & lead you to salvation”

6) By the way–Vs. 16–“That scripture–God breathed”

–& profitable–(beneficial)–so that the man of God may be fully equipped for ministry

7) Chap 4:2–“preach the word”–if you don’t-“they will not endure sound doctrine & turn to myths”

–In Acts 20-“preach the whole purpose of God”

–Not prosperity gospel-or healing-or just salvation, etc.

** We must go back continually to what we know is true!

Example–SBC churches in 2013 reported lowest baptism total since 1948

–I am an evangelist-no revivals, no “on purpose evangelistic events”–“SOULWINNING”!!!

–Arthur Blessit–“You maybe so spiritual, you have doves on both shoulders.

Rev. 2:4–Ch. at Ephasus–“you have left your first love” He is saying “You have lost Jesus-Go back to your 1st Love!”

“When you fall in love with Jesus, you fall in love with His Word

–THEN you have passion for the lost and the needs of the world.”

Jesus–Jn. 8:31–“If you abide in My Word, you are really my

disciples.”

John MacArthur–“…the Ephesian’s passion and ferver for Christ had become cold, mechanical, orthodoxy. Their disciplined service was no substitute for the love for Christ they had forsaken.”

–Phil. 3:10–Paul said–“that I man know Him—and the power of His Res.–the fellowship of His suffering.”

(Paul–met Jesus on Damacus Rd.–spent 3 years in desert– had special revelation-wrote more of N. T. than anyone–but

said–“I need to know Him”)

I. They lost Jesus

II. They looked for Him in the wrong place

III. They found Him where they left Him

–When they found Jesus—it had been 3 days

–Years later, they lost Him again for 3 days—

this time they knew where He was—in a borrowed tomb

–When they found Him in the temple—“I must be about my Father’s business”

–When they found Him after 3 days in the tomb—before the Ascension—“Now let’s get down to business!”

Mt. 28: 19-20

–Forsake the rut & routine!

–Acts 1:8

Have you lost Jesus? Only you can answer that. The 1st step to finding Jesus—is to admit you’ve lost Him!