The First Sunday after Epiphany - 1-10-10

The Church Season of Epiphany,
1st Sunday after Epiphany,
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (January 10, 2010)

"In My Father’s House"

Readings:
1 Kings 8:6-13
Romans 12:1-5
Luke 2:41-52

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today is as recorded in the Gospel Lesson from the 2nd chapter of Luke, especially the following verses...

Luke 2:41-52 (ESV)

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

So Far the Text

Less than 20 days ago we heard the Shepherds speak, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”(Luke 2:15-16) Now we fast forward twelve years, the Holy family undertakes another journey to attend the Passover Feast. And upon the conclusion of the feast, the entire clan began to undertake the walk from Jerusalem back to Nazareth, a distance of about 65 miles. And at the end of that first days walk, Jesus’ parents looked around and could not find Him. Joseph and Mary then did what any set of parents would do, they ask all their “friends and acquaintances”(v. 44) if anyone had seen their Son. But upon what must have been a very upsetting search, Jesus was no where to be found.

So what to do? Well, re-trace the steps, where did we last see Him? Back to Jerusalem, of course. Scripture does not tell us how long it took for Mary and Joseph to return to Jerusalem, but even if it took half the time, unencumbered by family and friends, then it still would have been a half of a day of chaotic thoughts and discussions. Then after three days of searching, Jesus is found in the Temple. After three days, they found Jesus. Can you imgaine the thoughts running through their heads? What would be running through your minds? Would Joseph and Mary yell and scream at their Son for His disobedience and scarying them half to death? Would they cry and hug Him for finding Him safe and sound? Can you imagine the shear emotion of the moment? Astonished. Mary and Joseph were astonished that Jesus was sitting in the Temple asking the teacher’s questions.

What would be your reaction? What would you say? Would you calmly say, ‘Wow, Jesus, I’m quite astonished that you were in the Temple this whole time!’ No, I’m sure that there would be a whole lot more to say. And quite frankly Mary says it, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”(v.48) And so the twelve year old Jesus speaks, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”(v. 49) That answer could have evoked many different reactions I suppose based on the intonation of the answer. But at the end of the day, the lost was found. Jesus was safe with His earthly parents, the family was a family again and they all headed home for Nazareth.

This is the one and only one recorded incident from Jesus’ boyhood and quite frankly it shows Jesus walking the path of obedience. It is an account bracketed by obedience in the beginning and also in the ending of the account of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. In the very beginning verses of this scripture we hear of Jesus’ obedience to the Law. For it is God who established the Passover and it was He who prescribed its celebration. (Ex 12:1–6; 23:15; Dt 16:1–8) The conclusion of this scriptural account reveals Jesus’ obedience to His parents, which is the obedience to the Fourth Commandment. And the fourth commandment is, “Honor thy Father and thy Mother.” This is a commandment which Jesus later defended fiercely against the those who would set aside the Law for the sake of tradition. Jesus had said, “why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.”(Mt. 15:3-6)

It is also in this setting of Jerusalem Temple, sitting with teachers, sought by His parents, we hear Jesus speak His very first words. And in these words recorded by St. Luke, Jesus’ expressly calls God His Father. In these words Jesus expresses His knowledge of His mission and office. That is to say, His life is to be uniquely a human life wholly lived to God. He is incarnate. He is a real living human being, to live a life which is in all its entirety and in every aspect an act of worship. Jesus came into this world to live a life as it ought to be lived yet never was or since has been lived by any human being. Jesus came to live the Law perfectly. So then, it must also be obvious that Jesus must be in His Father’s house, because His obedience in that place and every time and place meant salvation for us all. Here in the Temple, Jesus continues a life of obedience “unto death, even death on a cross” (Ph 2:8).

Many trees have fallen to make the paper on which in has been written regarding, how to find Jesus. How to bring Him to you. How to live out your life so that you may find Him. How to achieve perfection, how to define what is the purpose of your life. But quite frankly, the truth of the matter is, that we do not seek to find Jesus. And probably the best reason is, is that we’re too busy, doing too many other things. We’ve got too many people to see and too many errands to run. And on top of that, one of the products of our sinful nature is that in our ignorance and blindness we are much more inclined to serve men rather than God. And that’s just the opposite of what scripture tells us, “We must obey God rather than men.”(Acts 5:29) And anyhow, can’t you find Jesus anywhere? Can’t you find Him in the woods, or in a boat, or in that special place somewhere, can’t you?

You know the truth be told, it isn’t really that we don’t have the time to search the scriptures, or to hear the Word of God. We do have the time. Because we make the time when things go wrong in our lives, when our families fall apart, when our health fails, when our finances falter, or when the path ahead in our lives seems to be bleak. It’s only at that time, right then and there, that we join Mary and Joseph in that frantic search to find Jesus. That’s the time when we say, ‘Where did Jesus go? Where is Jesus when I need Him? Why isn’t He here for me now? Should I ask for prayers, should I be saying some prayers. Where is Jesus!’

And Jesus responds to you, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”(v. 49) In fact it is Jesus who seeks and finds you who are the lost. It is not Jesus who has moved farther away from you, nor has He ever left you. Everything which you can think of in this life that will comfort you, “everything with which man comforts himself, however great it may be, is altogether uncertain, and so the heart inquires constantly: Who knows whether it is right?”(Martin Luther) When all that is in this life fails to comfort us, whether it be health, finances, family, or whatever the world and the devil may throw at you, Jesus Christ is still there for you.

Jesus is not lost, nor has He lost track of you, He is always here to comfort you. For in your baptism you were marked with His Name, and in the water combined with God’s Word, you are saved. In the Holy Sacrament Jesus is not lost, He is here in this place, and He is here, for you for the forgiveness of sins. On the cross Jesus obeyed His Father’s command, and in His resurrection Jesus lives again to tell you, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”(Mt. 28:20) Be comforted, for Jesus on the third day rose from the dead, and ascended in to heaven. Jesus is in His Father’s house. Jesus Christ has been perfectly obedient to His Father’s will and His love for you will never be lost. Do not be afraid of the lost things of this world, but be comforted in all things that Jesus Christ will eternally welcome you into His Father’s house.Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
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