Luke 2:41-51
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
If Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was about, having seen Gabriel - who stands in the presence of God - and lived hearing the shepherds arrive to tell of the multitude of angels singing about the Peace of God - how could we expect the disciples to understand the ministry of Jesus.
We do not fully understand our own ministries. We all have these questions. Jonah ran from his ministry. Life is the road we walk with Jesus. The disciples could not tell you what their ministry was. Jesus said tell people the Good News about Him.
This is spiritual growth - being urged to speak of His Love.
Mark 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Jesus opened His arms willingly to all of Father God's Children. With open arms.
What brought the world to know Jesus? In sixteen years, the abundance of His Love for you. Personal Love.
Mary may not have understood Jesus' ministry, but she treasured to the marrow of her being - Jesus sought to honor the Love of Father God.
Spiritual Growth?
Ephesians 4:15-16
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Colossians 1:9-10
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Notice with me a component in the walk... the journey....prayer.
Bearing fruit is a sign of growth.
Increasing in the knowledge of God - learning His ways in His Word.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works
Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
It's not surprising to find Jesus' Church pulled in His mother, brother and sisters. What pulled them together - the love of the Lord and the united effort of gathering, each would pray.
Love pulled the Church together and each voice was heard praying to the Father.
The basis of the Church is Jesus Christ - His Love. Worship is each voice being heard before Him.
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