LOST AND FOUND

Luke 2:41-52

When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it…Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

Of course Jesus wasn’t really lost. Only momentarily missing from his parents!

In three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"

How did it happen that Jesus was temporarily lost to them? Maybe Mary thought He was with Joseph and the men. Perhaps Joseph thought He was with Mary. We’re not sure.

What we know is they weren’t paying attention to Jesus. And so it happens today. We let Jesus get out of our sight.

It isn’t intentional. We just get otherwise occupied. Jesus gets lost!

Not that Jesus is ever really lost. As in this story, He is always in the Father’s House and about the Father’s business. It is we who are lost to Him.

If this can happen to Mary, something like this can happen to us. And if it does, like Mary, we can recognize we aren't paying attention to Jesus and retrace our steps.

ANNA

Luke 2:34-40

She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Here is Anna! She is an 84 year old widowed prophetess. She doesn’t have to come to the temple to meet Jesus when His parents bring Him because she never leaves the temple!

Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Think of Anna. Worshiping night and day for all those years! Devoting her whole life to God! Praying and fasting.

And then one day she looks at the little face of God on earth and recognizes Him.

Wow!

Like Simeon, Anna doesn’t miss the presence of Jesus. Not only that but she lets others around her know about the child!

It seems only Anna and Simeon - out of all the thousands in Jerusalem – knew God when He came calling!

What does their faith, devotion, and spiritual insight say about everyone else in town?

Simeon’s prophesy says it well.

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

THEY MISSED IT

Luke 2:21-33

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people.

Amazing isn’t it. God Himself comes to the temple and most people miss it. Yet, there Jesus was. In plain sight of all the people!

For when Jesus was eight days old, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple. Nobody noticed at first. Except for one man named Simeon.

God had promised him that he would not die until he saw the Christ. Now, moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon comes to the temple at the same time Joseph and Mary arrive with Jesus.

Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God. He announces Jesus will be - a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.

Why this man of all people?

Because he was waiting for the coming Messiah! Waiting and expectant!

Has much changed since that day? Don’t most people fail to see Jesus even though He’s presenting Himself every day in the temple of our hearts!

Who is expectantly waiting for Jesus today?

GOD’S CHOICE

Luke 2:8-20

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

The birth of Jesus! To whom does God send angels with the news? Surprise! The Jerusalem religious establishment doesn’t get the news!

It is shepherds who hear, Hark the Herald Angels Sing!

And this refrain echoes throughout Luke’s story of Jesus. God chooses the poor. This good news is for them.

Did you notice God’s choice? Luke does!

Mary is just girl from an out-of-the-way village. Zechariah and Elizabeth are not important in the eyes of the world. And now shepherds…

In almost every culture and every time, shepherds are not wealthy. Very often the flocks they tend are not even their own.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord!

The shepherds hurry off to discover the child in a manger. We’re not surprised somehow!

They spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

To lowly shepherds God gives the privilege of first telling the news. People were no doubt astonished, not only by the incredible story, but by who was telling it!

Soon Jesus will speak for Himself and will also announce He has come to preach the good news to the poor!

NO HEADLINES!

Luke 2:1-7

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

No headlines in the nearby Jerusalem Herald! Not even a back page story in the weekly Bethlehem Post!

God literally steps into the world and no reporter is covering it. Few even notice!

Headlines: Caesar Orders Census! Registration Commences! Traffic Snarled! Hotels Report No Vacancies!

The birth of Jesus didn’t even make the ten o’clock news!

Only the usual talking heads blathering on about the implications of coming higher taxes on the bottom line. A few on-the-street interviews with angry tax payers! The obligatory rebuttal by officials about public projects and the importance of proper tax revenues!

And there was the 20/20 Special on the hardship created by forcing families to travel great distances to register in their hometowns.

The entertainment channel focused on a few celebrities who arrived to register. Complete with the usual exuberance over their expensive wardrobes and jewelry.

It’s the same today. Jesus has come, but He’s never the headline. He doesn’t make the ten o’clock news!

The world will always miss what God is doing. If we want good news about what is going on today, we must listen to God ourselves by paying attention to the Teacher!

I wonder why God doesn’t seek the headline?

ZECHARIAH’S SONG

Luke 1:67-80

What a happy man! He sees the immediate future. God is moving among His people and everything will soon change. Salvation is coming.

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us… to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

What a happy father! He understands his son’s part in preparing for Jesus’ coming. Forgiveness of sins! Heaven’s mercy and Peace!

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

BIRTHRIGHT

Luke 1:57-66

What then is this child going to be?

When John was born, everyone was wondering what he was going to be when he grew up.

Of course, there were special circumstances surrounding John’s birth. But this is still the question on the mind of every new parent today.

What kind of person will my child become?

The answer to this question always depends greatly on the parents.

Of course, we know how John turned out. What a blessing he became to his nation. How instrumental in preparing the hearts of the people to receive Jesus.

But why did God choose Zechariah and Elizabeth to be John’s parents? What have we learned about them so far from Luke’s narrative?

Luke records – Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

We’re beginning to see why God selected them and why John turned out to be such a powerful person of God.

What else do we know about them?

Zechariah was a priest of God. In fact, he was offering incense as the people were assembled to pray when the angel informed him of John’s coming birth.

They were also a praying couple. The angel announced – your prayer has been heard.

Godly parents! In God’s eyes, every child’s birthright!