WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:14.540 If you have your Bibles, open up to Luke chapter 2. 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:20.500 We're going to be at the end of Luke 2 today, starting in verse 39. 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:25.560 It's been great being here over the last 60 days or so. 00:00:25.740 --> 00:00:27.719 Maybe it hasn't been that long. My wife could correct me. 00:00:28.279 --> 00:00:31.019 The outpouring of love from the church to us. 00:00:31.559 --> 00:00:35.500 In one-time things and in continued interactions, we've been really blessed by that. 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:37.399 And we're grateful and we're thankful for that. 00:00:38.460 --> 00:00:42.899 It's also been great to get on with Ron and Will and sit under their teaching. 00:00:43.460 --> 00:00:46.099 And so we're going to follow up this morning with the past couple of sermons. 00:00:46.099 --> 00:00:49.679 Remember two weeks ago, Will talked about Christmas in September. 00:00:50.420 --> 00:00:54.179 And our kids were all disappointed by the lack of good gifts that they were given. 00:00:54.539 --> 00:00:56.420 But they were happy that Jesus is a lifesaver. 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:06.299 And last week, Ron talked about the disruption of Jesus and how he serves to disrupt in our lives 00:01:06.299 --> 00:01:13.000 and how uncomfortable that can be and how life-changing that should be for all of us. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:17.780 If you look on the back of your bulletin, I entitled this sermon, 00:01:18.579 --> 00:01:19.799 The Space Between. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:21.980 And I did that for a couple of reasons. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:27.140 Number one, because James Parker loves Dave Matthews so much. 00:01:29.179 --> 00:01:33.799 Number two, the story we're going to talk about today is actually Jesus is a 12-year-old. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:38.219 And so 12-year-olds are popularly referred to as tweens. 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:40.500 So I could have capitalized tween there. 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:47.599 More accurately, the reason that we're doing it is because this is the one story in all of the Gospels 00:01:47.599 --> 00:01:55.900 of Jesus not as a baby and not as a grown man fulfilling his earthly ministry. 00:01:57.260 --> 00:02:00.200 And so it raises a bunch of questions for us and should. 00:02:00.359 --> 00:02:02.620 Why did Luke choose to include this? 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:05.359 What is the point of this passage? 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:08.740 We'll try to answer that this morning as well as we can. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:11.840 So it'll flash up on the screen as well. 00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:14.479 Read along with me as we start in verse 39. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:19.620 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.280 they being Mary and Joseph, 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.539 they returned into Galilee to their town of Nazareth. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:30.060 And the child Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:32.500 And the favor of God was upon him. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:35.740 Now, we've skipped forward in time, 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:39.159 now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:42.680 And when he was 12 years old, they went up according to custom. 00:02:43.620 --> 00:02:46.219 When the feast was ended, as they were returning, 00:02:46.360 --> 00:02:48.400 the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:50.900 His parents did not know it. 00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:54.840 But supposing him to be in the group, they went a day's journey. 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.500 But then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:00.000 And when they didn't find him, 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:01.920 they returned to Jerusalem searching for him. 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:04.219 After three days, 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:06.319 they found him in the temple, 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:08.180 sitting among the teachers, 00:03:08.780 --> 00:03:09.580 listening to them, 00:03:09.860 --> 00:03:10.860 and asking them questions. 00:03:12.060 --> 00:03:16.080 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:18.240 And when his parents saw him, 00:03:18.300 --> 00:03:19.159 they were astonished. 00:03:19.939 --> 00:03:21.219 And his mother said to him, 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:23.340 Son, why have you treated us so? 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:27.060 Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:28.800 And he said to them, 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:30.159 Why were you looking for me? 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:33.099 Did you not know that I'd be in my father's house? 00:03:33.420 --> 00:03:35.120 I must be in my father's house. 00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.360 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:43.879 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. 00:03:44.460 --> 00:03:47.240 And his mother treasured up all of these things in her heart. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:54.719 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. 00:03:55.060 --> 00:03:56.100 This is the word of God. 00:03:56.320 --> 00:03:56.719 Let's pray. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.820 God, a text like this is strange and difficult to understand. 00:04:03.760 --> 00:04:06.460 We've been called to study your word and to read your word. 00:04:07.320 --> 00:04:10.860 We've been called to be on mission for you as your people. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:14.760 And we pray that you would make it clear today. 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:18.939 I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:20.040 would be pleasing to you. 00:04:20.960 --> 00:04:22.699 And that your son would be glorified. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:26.040 And that we would all know more of our salvation. 00:04:26.900 --> 00:04:30.460 Our salvation that's so humbling and so incredible 00:04:30.460 --> 00:04:31.879 that we've sung about this morning. 00:04:32.860 --> 00:04:34.180 And we've praised you for. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:36.360 All this in Jesus' name. 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:37.060 Amen. 00:04:37.060 --> 00:04:37.180 Amen. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:41.960 What's your mission? 00:04:42.740 --> 00:04:44.000 What's your mission in life? 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:48.960 If you're anything like me, you answer that in one of two ways. 00:04:49.400 --> 00:04:53.680 It's either my best intentions, the things that I wish I was getting done 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:55.040 and that I wish I could get done. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:59.780 Or it's the things that I think I'm supposed to do. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:03.439 And so I classify mission being that. 00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:07.780 You know, I'm a youth guy, so I'm supposed to go out with youth. 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:10.180 I'm a family guy, so I'm supposed to hang out with family. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:13.040 I'm going to be a pastor, so I should be studying for ordination. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:15.939 You know, for me, it looks like a lot of should-of, should-of, should-ofs. 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:18.120 I'm also 35 years old, so I'm young. 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:20.019 I want to be Tim Keller. 00:05:20.220 --> 00:05:21.600 That's a mission that I'm on. 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:24.040 I want to be Ron Clegg. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:25.480 That would be an even closer mission. 00:05:25.900 --> 00:05:28.180 And then above both of those, I want to be Will Spink. 00:05:30.280 --> 00:05:32.340 Who is always the most godly man in the room. 00:05:32.339 --> 00:05:39.939 And, you know, by way of proclamation, this is not anything I'd even thought about saying. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:44.459 When I was talking to Will about this job, I had a few buddies that had gone to seminary with him. 00:05:45.479 --> 00:05:48.939 And we're so fortunate that God has called him to this church. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:52.199 And that he has been here and been steady for so long. 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:56.899 And I hope that you all appreciate that as much as I have in working for him. 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.019 Back to mission and what we're supposed to be doing. 00:06:01.060 --> 00:06:03.579 I want to suggest something different to us about what mission is. 00:06:03.579 --> 00:06:08.519 So we talk about mission as things we ought to be doing or things that we want to be doing. 00:06:09.159 --> 00:06:15.300 That suggests to you that if you're a follower of Christ, mission is what you're going to do over the next 10 minutes. 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:18.279 What you're going to do over the next 2 hours. 00:06:18.919 --> 00:06:20.279 Over the next 6 hours. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:22.959 Over the next 24 hours. 00:06:23.060 --> 00:06:24.299 Think about this time tomorrow morning. 00:06:24.419 --> 00:06:25.379 You're in your place of work. 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:28.860 It's 11.11 and 27 seconds or whatever the clock says right now. 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:33.600 What was your mission supposed to be during that time? 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:41.580 And today we get a really neat picture in this passage of mission from 3 different perspectives. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:43.740 And I've outlined it in the bulletin there for you. 00:06:44.340 --> 00:06:48.060 And I said the parents, the teachers, and the student. 00:06:49.840 --> 00:06:53.220 There's a clear sense of mission for all of these people. 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:56.759 And then at the end we're going to come back around to this question of us. 00:06:57.480 --> 00:06:58.680 And what is this mission? 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:00.379 For us. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:04.939 So Mary and Joseph are given this task of being Jesus' parents. 00:07:05.060 --> 00:07:05.819 Can you imagine that? 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:11.800 And at this point they don't know much about Jesus other than he is to be named Jesus. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:13.199 Which means God saves. 00:07:13.480 --> 00:07:14.780 Kind of like Joshua in the Old Testament. 00:07:15.939 --> 00:07:17.400 And we know that he's holy. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:18.520 He's to be set apart. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:20.860 But they don't really know who Jesus is. 00:07:22.460 --> 00:07:23.759 So they're to raise him up. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:25.100 Proverbs 22.6. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:26.220 Raise him up in the way of the Lord. 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:26.540 Right? 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.040 And when he's old he won't depart from it. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:29.860 How have they been doing on their job? 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:32.660 This passage tells us something pretty good about that. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.379 We look at Luke 29. 00:07:34.640 --> 00:07:35.000 I'm sorry. 00:07:35.080 --> 00:07:36.340 2.39 and 40. 00:07:37.460 --> 00:07:40.379 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:41.720 They returned into Galilee. 00:07:42.200 --> 00:07:43.640 To the town of Nazareth. 00:07:44.759 --> 00:07:47.240 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of Passover. 00:07:47.320 --> 00:07:48.759 These are good pious people. 00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:51.400 They're doing exactly what they're supposed to do. 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:54.200 They're raising their Jewish child up in the way of the Lord. 00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.099 They're showing him the things that he's supposed to be shown. 00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:59.819 And probably keeping him from things he's not supposed to see. 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.120 We see Luke 2.44. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:02.620 There. 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:04.939 Supposing him to be in the group. 00:08:05.039 --> 00:08:05.939 They went a day's journey. 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:09.579 But then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances. 00:08:10.139 --> 00:08:13.319 I include that in this because they raised a trustworthy kid. 00:08:13.419 --> 00:08:17.579 How many of you would leave your 12-year-old not really sure about where he or she was? 00:08:17.579 --> 00:08:22.859 I think that says something pretty good about Mary and Joseph. 00:08:23.099 --> 00:08:24.819 But you get to this passage. 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.139 And I think it should freak all of us out who are parents. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:29.659 And if you're not a parent, it should still freak you out also. 00:08:29.979 --> 00:08:34.399 Because they are a day away when they realize that Jesus is not with them. 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:37.740 It's kind of funny. 00:08:37.819 --> 00:08:38.379 Kind of not. 00:08:38.480 --> 00:08:40.259 They're walking the way that these things would happen. 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:42.460 So maybe a whole group from Galilee comes down. 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:44.299 Maybe a whole group even from Nazareth comes down. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:45.539 They go to Jerusalem. 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:48.719 They go up to Jerusalem, if we're using proper biblical parlance. 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:51.120 They go up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. 00:08:51.199 --> 00:08:53.639 This is the beginning of the seven days of feasting. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:55.799 And they're traveling in a pack. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:58.120 The pace is set by women and children in the front. 00:08:58.579 --> 00:08:59.879 Men, young men in the back. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:01.819 And then in the middle is kind of everybody else. 00:09:02.939 --> 00:09:06.059 So there is, you know, we're in a good political season. 00:09:06.159 --> 00:09:08.500 It takes a village to raise a child. 00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:09.459 I'm sorry about that. 00:09:09.460 --> 00:09:17.300 And they're expecting some kind of help to be given by the village in keeping track of Jesus. 00:09:17.820 --> 00:09:19.480 And so you can imagine, you've got a 12-year-old boy. 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:21.139 He could be up in the front with Mary and the kids. 00:09:21.180 --> 00:09:22.139 He could be in the back with Jesus. 00:09:22.300 --> 00:09:23.840 I mean, with Joseph and the men. 00:09:24.660 --> 00:09:26.420 And so it can be easy to go, I thought he was with you. 00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:27.800 I thought he was with you. 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.920 And so they're a day away. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:33.639 They're about 20 miles walk away when they realize, wow, he's not with either of us. 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.299 Where is this kid? 00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:41.960 So that will make you feel pretty bad about your parenting if you've ever even misplaced your child in a grocery store cooler. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:47.720 Or if you've misplaced your child in a department store or something like that. 00:09:49.620 --> 00:09:51.819 So when they find him, what's Jesus doing? 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:55.500 He's playing soccer in the streets with the other kids in Jerusalem. 00:09:55.500 --> 00:10:03.879 Or he's found some movie theater and he's gone and he's watching the newest Captain America or whatever is out now. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:04.740 I'm sorry, I'm not very hip. 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:08.000 Anyway, he's there doing what you'd expect a 12-year-old boy to be doing. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:08.919 But that's not what he's doing. 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:09.399 Where's Jesus? 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.159 Jesus is in church. 00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.820 He's in a temple. 00:10:12.820 --> 00:10:14.179 He's hanging out with the teachers. 00:10:14.299 --> 00:10:15.200 Do you know how that worked? 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:23.000 These men who'd studied the law their entire lives would sit up and they would play question and answers with people who would come in. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:25.080 For the sake of refining young minds. 00:10:25.799 --> 00:10:27.700 For the sake of refining their teaching. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.639 And for the edification of the community as a whole. 00:10:30.740 --> 00:10:32.159 That's how that was supposed to work. 00:10:32.919 --> 00:10:33.919 And that's where Jesus is. 00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:36.299 This 12-year-old boy is hanging out in the temple. 00:10:37.379 --> 00:10:41.679 And they get there and you can imagine this whole thing is a little bit confusing to Mary. 00:10:43.679 --> 00:10:46.700 You know, what is she thinking as she sees all of this? 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.600 Because she goes up and says, what are you doing? 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.960 Why are you here? 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.720 And Jesus responds, well, didn't you know? 00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:55.379 I must be in my father's house. 00:10:57.300 --> 00:10:58.340 No, you're 12. 00:10:58.400 --> 00:10:59.300 I didn't know that. 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:01.940 I thought you were supposed to be on your way back to Galilee with us. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:07.100 You can imagine Mary's confusion. 00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:13.660 But this isn't dissimilar from other confusing things that have been said to Mary throughout the story thus far that Luke is trying to communicate. 00:11:13.659 --> 00:11:17.139 So what does she say at the end of verse 51? 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.159 What does she do? 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:23.299 His mother, Mary, treasured up all of these things in her heart. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:29.699 Can you identify with that kind of confusion from the way that things are supposed to go? 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:37.160 Because we displace this as a narrative and we don't think about the reality of it. 00:11:38.379 --> 00:11:39.240 Jesus is real. 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:40.100 Mary was real. 00:11:40.220 --> 00:11:44.560 She was a little girl who was told that she was going to give birth to this holy child. 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:47.140 Only she was still going to be a virgin when it happened. 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:50.660 And by the way, when he's born, keep track of him. 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:51.300 Raise him up. 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:55.060 And you're on your way back to Galilee and he's not there. 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:58.859 That's kind of heavy. 00:11:58.959 --> 00:12:00.879 And then you find him and he's hanging out in the temple. 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:02.619 And you weren't expecting that. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.479 And then you're standing there with your husband. 00:12:04.599 --> 00:12:05.079 Poor Joseph. 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:07.439 Poor Joseph. 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.739 Where is he in all of this? 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:12.979 You can see that in Luke 2, 48 and 49. 00:12:13.099 --> 00:12:14.799 This is our only mention of Joseph, really. 00:12:16.079 --> 00:12:17.459 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.279 And his mother said to him, 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:19.679 Son, why have you treated us so? 00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:23.679 Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:24.719 And he said to them, 00:12:24.979 --> 00:12:26.339 Why are you looking for me? 00:12:26.479 --> 00:12:28.139 Didn't you know I'd be in my father's house? 00:12:30.419 --> 00:12:31.199 Poor Joseph. 00:12:31.959 --> 00:12:36.339 I mean, this guy, he found a great girl that he wanted to marry and he was betrothed to her. 00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:43.819 And then you get this crazy story about how God is going to immaculately conceive a baby inside of her. 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:49.359 And you're supposed to show your face around like this is normal and no big deal. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:57.800 And then you have the child and you're raising this child who's supposed to be set apart and you're not really sure why. 00:12:58.200 --> 00:13:03.340 I mean, can you imagine the daily momentary struggle of being Joseph and trying to be faithful to this call? 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:08.860 You're given this burden that you didn't necessarily ask for. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.820 You'd set up something completely other for yourself to do. 00:13:12.660 --> 00:13:14.500 You have this mission in mind in your heart. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.320 You're going to marry this girl and you were going to, no pun intended there, 00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:25.920 you were going to be with Mary and you were going to have a family and you were going to do carpentry work, stone work, things like that. 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.279 And then God throws this curveball at you. 00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:32.799 And now in front of everybody at Jerusalem, the child basically disowns you. 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:36.599 He said, didn't you know I must be in my father's house? 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.519 Poor Joseph. 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.979 We can identify with this, I think. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:50.019 I want you to hear these questions about misplaced objective and misplaced mission 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.759 and think about them as we go through this. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:56.659 Our next group of people are the teachers. 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:01.819 So how do the teachers respond to a 12-year-old standing amongst them? 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:10.539 First of all, I don't know why child services wasn't called when a 12-year-old was standing in the temple for three days with them asking questions. 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:14.860 After three days, they found him in the temple sitting amongst the teachers, 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:16.480 listening to them and asking them questions, 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:20.439 and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 00:14:20.439 --> 00:14:22.620 What is the mission of the teachers of Israel? 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:29.200 These people were the keepers of the law, the keepers of Scripture. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:34.720 Their whole mission and objective as the teachers of Israel 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:39.000 was to know these things, to impart to the people, 00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:43.319 so that this people, this chosen race, this people of God, 00:14:43.319 --> 00:14:47.679 could be a taste of the kingdom, as Will spoke of a few minutes ago. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:51.599 A taste of the kingdom to the world around them. 00:14:53.559 --> 00:15:00.120 They were supposed to show justice and mercy in all of the things that had been passed down from Old Testament times. 00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:03.259 That's why the people, that's why the law was set up in the first place. 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:05.259 Not so the people could earn their righteousness, 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:09.879 but so the people who interacted with the people of God would see God and go, 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.000 wow, what is this? 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.740 We've never seen anything like this before. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:16.320 And now these are the same teachers. 00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:17.899 It doesn't say they liked Jesus. 00:15:18.039 --> 00:15:19.879 It doesn't say that, man, this kid's a prodigy. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.840 We've got to get him on board. 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:24.700 It said that they were amazed at his understanding and at his answers. 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:29.480 And we can't lose in our minds the reality of the end of the story here, 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:34.080 that these are the same people in just a few years, 18 years or so, 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:37.560 are going to be tracking this guy down, wanting him dead. 00:15:38.520 --> 00:15:40.660 And ultimately succeeding at that. 00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:43.900 And Jesus is just a little boy. 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:48.780 We know from other scripture texts that he doesn't know everything. 00:15:48.920 --> 00:15:52.700 He's growing in wisdom and he's growing in understanding. 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:57.580 And he's asking these questions probably brought on from information 00:15:57.580 --> 00:16:00.080 that his pious parents have been exposing him to, 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:04.660 that is probably exposing a lot in these teachers of how they've manipulated the law 00:16:04.660 --> 00:16:07.120 and how they're manipulating the people 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.620 and how they're doing things that are contrary to what their mission 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:13.800 and their calling as the teachers of God's law is supposed to be. 00:16:16.300 --> 00:16:19.259 And they probably had that churning inside of them 00:16:19.259 --> 00:16:21.320 as this kid is picking apart so clearly, 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:23.060 as kids so often can, 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.900 truth from not truth. 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.400 Raise your hand if you've had some ugly truth exposed to you by a child 00:16:29.400 --> 00:16:32.560 really simply when you had created a really great complicated cover-up story. 00:16:34.140 --> 00:16:35.780 And I mean, they're really good sometimes. 00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:37.700 And then a nine-year-old will come up to you 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:39.600 and say something that just cuts you to the quick 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.100 and you go, 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:43.100 that was absolutely right, son. 00:16:43.160 --> 00:16:44.400 Thank you for bringing that to my attention. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:51.259 So that's what these teachers were supposed to be on. 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:52.480 They're supposed to be on this mission. 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:56.179 We had parents who were thinking things were going to go a certain way 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:58.840 and now they've lost their 12-year-old and their lives get shaken up. 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.179 Then you have teachers who've been given a very clear mission 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:06.480 who are probably out off doing something else with that task. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.759 Then we get to Jesus. 00:17:10.759 --> 00:17:12.620 Luke does us a big favor here. 00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:15.120 And this is a teaching moment, less than a sermonizing moment. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.079 Luke does us a big favor here by helping us 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:21.940 and giving us a cue as to how to read this story 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.960 because this is this one little tidbit 00:17:23.960 --> 00:17:27.940 that's in the middle of Jesus' birth narrative 00:17:27.940 --> 00:17:29.680 and then Jesus' earthly ministry. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:34.759 And he sets it off for us in a couple of ways here. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:38.460 He gives us a good bookend, Luke 2, 39 and 40, 00:17:39.120 --> 00:17:40.700 when they performed everything according to the law. 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:44.140 And then he follows it up with 2, 51 through 52. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:47.900 He went down up to Nazareth, 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.680 everything according to the law grew in wisdom and stature. 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:53.120 So that should give us a clue as to what we're looking for here 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:56.360 as to the answer of why did he include this passage. 00:17:56.360 --> 00:17:58.920 Something about Jesus' growth in wisdom 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:00.259 and in stature. 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.980 So here's Jesus, 00:18:03.620 --> 00:18:04.960 somehow doesn't get on with his parents, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.860 and he goes home, 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.920 or they go home and he's still sitting there in the temple. 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:11.180 And he's just a 12-year-old kid playing video games 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.880 and didn't hear the instruction to get in the car. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:15.100 I don't know, I tried to envision what's going on 00:18:15.100 --> 00:18:16.300 because you read this in the Greek. 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.380 And his response to his parents 00:18:18.380 --> 00:18:20.240 there in verse 49 or 50, 00:18:20.900 --> 00:18:21.620 49 or 50, 00:18:22.600 --> 00:18:23.720 when he says, 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:25.779 didn't you know that I must be in my father's house? 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.700 Go ahead and bring that next slide up. 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:32.660 Didn't you know I was supposed to be in my father's house? 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:33.220 This isn't, 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:34.779 didn't you know? 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.259 This is a 12-year-old boy talking to his mom and dad. 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:39.460 Freaked out because they're freaked out. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:41.360 And he's like, 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.279 hey, this is where I'm supposed to be. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:46.519 I'm supposed to be in my father's house. 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.920 And we see for the first time, 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.819 Jesus being recognized as something other than this set apart one, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.599 this holy one, 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:57.180 or God saves. 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.619 He refers to himself 00:18:58.619 --> 00:19:00.960 as the son of God. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:01.680 He said, 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:03.579 it must be in my father's house. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.859 And this is where I think Mary treasured up 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:07.119 all of these things in her heart 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:08.539 because Mary had to be going, 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.319 wait a second, 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.379 what is going on here? 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.419 This little human 12-year-old kid 00:19:14.419 --> 00:19:17.659 is just sitting here in the temple 00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:20.599 because he feels like he's supposed to be there. 00:19:22.539 --> 00:19:24.720 And I think that's the important thing for us to, 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:26.079 we're done with the teaching part. 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.319 I think it's time to engage our hearts 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:30.579 in what this passage is trying to show us now. 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:34.119 Jesus, this little 12-year-old boy, 00:19:34.199 --> 00:19:35.139 this little human boy, 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:39.179 is engaging the mission that God has given him. 00:19:41.379 --> 00:19:45.579 And I think that that's the tough part for you and I to do 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:48.720 because we are smart and we're older 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:53.240 and we've engaged with a career and an education, 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:55.279 people around us, 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:57.960 Huntsville Society, American Society, 00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:00.079 and we have all of these expectations 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.559 and these things that we think 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.900 that we're supposed to be doing. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:06.019 And we're given this model of humanity 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:09.279 by a 12-year-old boy simply being there 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:11.299 because that's what he was supposed to be doing. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.279 And this is the same boy 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:17.720 who is on a mission that we read in Acts 2 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:20.539 has been set out that he's going to be murdered 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:23.039 and he's going to be crucified. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:28.200 Can you imagine understanding prophecy 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.980 and understanding Old Testament texts 00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.940 as he studied it 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:33.259 and he's kind of beginning to relate 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:35.279 that this is going to be true of him. 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:39.399 The story of the history of God's redemption 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:41.519 began way back in Genesis 3 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:44.359 when God said he's going to crush the head of the serpent. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.559 God's coming after his people 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.359 and he sets up his people 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.700 and he rescues them out of Egypt 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:52.019 and he said, you're my people. 00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.059 I've rescued you. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:56.000 Now live like this so other people can be blessed. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.759 I want you to bless other people. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.400 And we screw that up 00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:03.299 and we say, well, we need kings. 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.860 So give us a king 00:21:04.860 --> 00:21:08.299 who is supposed to be the paradigm of virtue 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:10.840 and represent all of God's people 00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.720 to be this blessing 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:13.559 and this taste of the kingdom and the world. 00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:15.019 And how do the kings do? 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.519 What's our best kings? 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.779 Solomon and David? 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:21.240 These are guys that we revere well 00:21:21.240 --> 00:21:23.599 but I think we can all run down a litany of sins 00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:25.599 that we are pretty uncomfortable with 00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:27.099 that they ran through in their lives. 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:30.399 And you come to a 12-year-old boy 00:21:30.399 --> 00:21:34.980 who's now going to be that head of God's people. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:38.039 And the head of God's people 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:40.339 that takes our misgivings 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:42.299 and our blatant sins 00:21:42.299 --> 00:21:44.680 and our misappropriation of intelligence 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:47.180 and of mission and of opportunity. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:52.440 And he's going to reconcile it all for God. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:54.580 Because this is the mission 00:21:54.580 --> 00:21:56.060 that ultimately Jesus is on. 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:59.080 We had it in our confession earlier. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.039 We see it in Colossians 1, 19 and 20. 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.460 Jesus is on a mission 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:08.480 to reconcile all things to God. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:11.740 That's Jesus' mission. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:15.200 And I hope this seems overly simplistic right now. 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.480 Because I'm getting to you and me. 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:21.500 Because it should seem pretty simple 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.940 for this 12-year-old boy 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:24.779 who's on a mission from God 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.099 to save his people 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.960 and to reconcile all things. 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.759 Because our mission has to be Jesus' mission. 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.220 How is it not? 00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:39.480 Our mission day in and day out 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:42.759 is so hard and terrible. 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.720 And I think that that's why 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.579 we look in other directions. 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.860 Because for a lot of us 00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:52.120 we're going to go home from church this morning 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:55.519 and we're going to have to live with a spouse 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:58.559 that we don't even want to look at. 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:03.440 we're going to have to contemplate life 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:06.799 with parents 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:09.599 who can't take care of themselves. 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:13.399 And the moment-by-moment reality 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:16.240 of having to care for them 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.480 is a burden 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:19.480 and it's hard 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:20.539 and it's unfair. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:23.680 we're going to go home 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.480 thinking about 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.779 a job that we have to go to tomorrow 00:23:26.779 --> 00:23:27.759 that we don't like 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.740 with people that we don't appreciate 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.200 and that don't appreciate us. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.500 We're going to drive in a car 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.420 that we can't afford 00:23:37.420 --> 00:23:39.940 or a car that we're not sure 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.240 is going to get us to where we need to go. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:46.279 We're going to run into people 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:48.940 whose hearts break our hearts. 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.899 We're going to run into people 00:23:51.899 --> 00:23:53.879 whose purpose is to break our hearts. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:58.639 And so our mission moment-by-moment 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.740 is that. 00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.500 That's our mission. 00:24:04.359 --> 00:24:06.139 To be a taste of the kingdom 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:08.000 in that. 00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:12.819 And we do it really, really badly 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.599 a lot of the time. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:17.420 And I hope you feel the way 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.700 that I'm feeling right now 00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:20.799 as I talk about it 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.160 because 00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:24.880 this little 12-year-old boy 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:29.100 enters into our humanity with us. 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:32.279 And that's what he's doing 00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.880 is growing 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:35.380 and simply trying to do 00:24:35.380 --> 00:24:36.860 the will of his father 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:40.059 that's ultimately going to culminate 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:40.799 in his murder. 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:45.359 And we think about, 00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.240 well, nobody knows 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.399 what I'm going through. 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.759 And in a lot of ways, 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:49.339 that's true. 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:51.279 And I want to affirm that in you. 00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.079 If you're going through 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.399 real hardships in life, 00:24:53.659 --> 00:24:55.180 you might be the only person 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.919 right now 00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:56.980 who can understand 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:58.059 what you're going through. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.440 But I think that's also where 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.319 this humanity of Jesus, 00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.539 he was tempted in every way. 00:25:07.639 --> 00:25:08.859 Bring up that C.S. Lewis quote. 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:11.259 This is great. 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.619 I was reading 00:25:11.619 --> 00:25:12.859 Mere Christianity the other day 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.279 and I thought, 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:14.500 man, this is such a great quote. 00:25:16.599 --> 00:25:17.859 C.S. Lewis quote. 00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.879 We never find out 00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:24.699 the strength of the evil impulse 00:25:24.699 --> 00:25:25.419 inside us 00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:26.799 until we try to fight it. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:28.639 And Christ, 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.919 because he never yielded 00:25:29.919 --> 00:25:30.479 to temptation, 00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.500 is also the only man 00:25:32.500 --> 00:25:33.899 to know what the full, 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.699 to the full, 00:25:34.879 --> 00:25:36.099 what temptation means. 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:39.059 He's the only complete realist. 00:25:40.619 --> 00:25:41.339 That's the guy 00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.319 who's on our side. 00:25:44.219 --> 00:25:44.879 That's the guy 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.619 who entered into humanity 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.619 fully God, 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.039 yet saying that 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.839 being like God 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.539 is something that humans 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.179 can't grasp. 00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.799 And he emptied himself 00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:55.079 of that and he came down 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.719 and lived with us. 00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.539 He lived in moments 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.279 like this. 00:26:00.219 --> 00:26:01.299 Why did Luke put 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.419 this passage in here? 00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:05.700 This is our God 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:07.440 living as a human 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:08.180 and growing 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:09.740 and living perfectly 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.980 in places that we think 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.279 nobody else can identify 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.940 with us in. 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.480 He's in the temple 00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:17.240 baffling, 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.500 baffling people 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.220 who've been doing this 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.820 for years. 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.400 As Will said 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.120 a few weeks ago, 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.660 God is breaking 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.820 through the silence 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:28.720 with this perfect 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.220 representation of us. 00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:31.860 and when we're 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:33.059 in those holes, 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:36.039 we're equipped 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:37.420 and covered 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.539 and you have 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:39.460 to do nothing. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.279 You have to do 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.160 nothing to earn it. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.740 I was sitting up here 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.140 earlier 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:47.079 and I don't remember 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.819 what hit me. 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.819 It just baffled me though 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:50.039 as we were talking 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.480 about it. 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:51.360 We do nothing 00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:52.519 to earn this salvation. 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:53.019 This is something 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:53.740 freely given. 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.259 It's grace. 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.500 Grace is unmerited favor. 00:26:56.360 --> 00:26:56.779 Why? 00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:58.399 Why are we given 00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:58.940 this grace? 00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.579 Why are we given 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:00.279 this opportunity? 00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.980 Romans 10 says 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.859 that if you 00:27:04.859 --> 00:27:06.000 claim Jesus 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.319 for who he says he is 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.259 and believe that God 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.299 rose him from the dead, 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:09.920 what? 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:12.160 You're in him 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:14.319 and that's not something 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.019 that you can bring 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.980 about in yourself. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.519 And we're at the bottom 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.259 of this pit, 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:21.619 the slew of despond, 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.660 the pit of despair 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:26.360 and Jesus is standing 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.240 there picking us up 00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:27.460 going, 00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:28.100 I've been there. 00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:30.540 I died for that 00:27:30.540 --> 00:27:32.240 and you know what? 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.200 You're found in me 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:35.019 and your purpose 00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.940 and your mission 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:37.160 is found in me 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:39.200 and your hope 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:40.640 and your salvation 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.880 are found in me 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.380 and your ability 00:27:43.380 --> 00:27:43.960 to walk through 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.360 the next 10 hours 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:46.380 or the next 10 minutes 00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.640 is found in me 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:50.060 and my spirit lives 00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.840 in you 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.099 and dwells amongst 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.339 the people of God 00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:54.759 and you all 00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:56.199 are found in me 00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:58.439 and through you 00:27:58.439 --> 00:28:01.059 the world will taste 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.740 the kingdom. 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:05.899 This is your mission. 00:28:07.019 --> 00:28:08.579 This is my mission 00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:11.019 and we don't want 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.919 to embrace it 00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:13.939 and God says 00:28:13.939 --> 00:28:15.399 I give you Jesus 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:17.619 for that too. 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:21.259 how big is the cross 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:21.879 to you? 00:28:24.199 --> 00:28:25.459 I'm closing my eyes 00:28:25.459 --> 00:28:26.899 thinking of personal ways 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.000 for me right now 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:30.579 of how Jesus 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.619 has entered in 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.299 and my lack of faith 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.519 I think of salvation 00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:36.119 as this thing 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.839 that's out there 00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:38.559 I don't think of it 00:28:38.559 --> 00:28:39.039 as this thing 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.759 that's been given 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.659 and that's active 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.459 and that God 00:28:41.459 --> 00:28:42.139 is on a mission 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:42.659 to do 00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:43.219 to reconcile 00:28:43.219 --> 00:28:44.199 all things 00:28:44.199 --> 00:28:44.939 to himself 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.519 through the little act 00:28:46.519 --> 00:28:48.059 of momentary faithfulness 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:49.360 that God puts in front 00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:50.340 of me in five minutes 00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:52.180 that he puts in front 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:52.799 of me in a couple 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.420 of hours. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.580 That's how much 00:28:55.580 --> 00:28:56.860 God loves the world 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.799 that he saves 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.440 a people 00:28:58.440 --> 00:28:59.740 to himself 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:01.360 to do his mission 00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:03.440 to be working 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.840 with Christ 00:29:04.840 --> 00:29:05.640 as agents 00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.620 in the world 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:08.200 to redeem 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:09.360 all things 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:09.980 to the Father. 00:29:09.980 --> 00:29:14.120 so I hope 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.599 you see 00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.660 your little moments 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:18.140 of opportunity 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:20.019 that don't coincide 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:20.819 with the big mission 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.539 that you've set off 00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:22.140 in your mind 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.980 or the things 00:29:22.980 --> 00:29:23.440 that you think 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.220 other people think 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.660 you're supposed 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.160 to be doing 00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.700 for yourself. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.319 I hope you see 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:26.860 the importance 00:29:26.860 --> 00:29:27.339 of that. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.000 Life is that thing 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.620 that happens 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.579 when you're not 00:29:31.579 --> 00:29:32.220 paying attention 00:29:32.220 --> 00:29:32.519 right? 00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.140 I deal with 00:29:35.140 --> 00:29:35.740 senior high 00:29:35.740 --> 00:29:36.220 and junior high 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.920 kids all the time 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.380 their life 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.240 has already started. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.539 John Mayer 00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:40.200 had that song 00:29:40.200 --> 00:29:41.440 that's for James 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:41.859 as well. 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.799 There's no such thing 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.539 as the real world. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.740 It's already started. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:46.859 The decisions 00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.759 you make right now 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.460 impact the people 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.039 around you 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.599 and the rest 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.200 of your life. 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:51.299 That's already started. 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.400 This momentary faithfulness 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:55.240 whether you're nine 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.740 or whether you're 99 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:59.960 it's a part of God's plan 00:29:59.960 --> 00:30:01.200 for his world. 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.000 The mission 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.920 we're all called 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.660 to be on. 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.160 The mission 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:05.720 that Luke 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.220 gives us 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.460 a little picture here 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.920 of Jesus' 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:10.100 acknowledgement of 00:30:10.100 --> 00:30:11.720 that at 12 years old 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.380 he doesn't know. 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.340 He doesn't necessarily 00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:15.460 know what's coming next 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:17.460 but he knows 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:18.700 that he is a child 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.299 of the Father 00:30:19.299 --> 00:30:21.600 and he is the one 00:30:21.600 --> 00:30:22.420 who's going to save 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:22.940 his people 00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:24.340 as we know 00:30:24.340 --> 00:30:25.059 moving forward. 00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:27.340 And thank God 00:30:27.340 --> 00:30:28.299 for his momentary 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.039 faithfulness 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:31.400 and I pray 00:30:31.400 --> 00:30:32.059 that that's something 00:30:32.059 --> 00:30:33.259 we will all be 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:34.920 empowered to experience 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:36.500 and to give Huntsville 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:37.000 and the world 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:37.779 a taste of 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.980 as we move 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.539 throughout the rest 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.019 of today 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:41.240 and throughout 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.160 the rest of this week. 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.400 It's supposed to have 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.519 a pithy and funny ending 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.240 but I don't. 00:30:48.840 --> 00:30:49.580 I'm disappointing 00:30:49.580 --> 00:30:50.460 some people with that. 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.980 So let's just pray. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.019 Let's pray. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:58.100 God why do you choose 00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.860 us? 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:02.460 We don't deserve it. 00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:06.340 When we search our hearts 00:31:06.340 --> 00:31:07.320 we know of ways 00:31:07.320 --> 00:31:08.779 that we have 00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:10.539 done wrong 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.580 directly to you 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:12.440 to your face. 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:15.080 We've despised 00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.000 those around us 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.539 who are made 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.279 in your image. 00:31:19.360 --> 00:31:20.080 We've thought 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:21.740 of ourselves 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.180 as better 00:31:22.180 --> 00:31:23.320 than we actually are. 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:27.279 We take lightly 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:27.800 the mission 00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.680 that you've given us 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.660 in this world 00:31:29.660 --> 00:31:31.340 to be people of light. 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:35.099 but you gave us 00:31:35.099 --> 00:31:35.419 Jesus. 00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:38.179 Thank God 00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:39.159 you gave us 00:31:39.159 --> 00:31:39.859 you. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.559 You gave us 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.220 your son. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.740 He lived like us. 00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.339 He lived perfectly. 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.279 He lived righteously. 00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:46.559 Why do we deserve that? 00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.819 We don't 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.759 and we're so grateful. 00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.480 As we go 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:53.019 throughout 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.879 the rest of our time 00:31:54.879 --> 00:31:56.699 on this earth 00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.740 whether it be 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.279 five minutes 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:58.839 or whether it be 00:31:58.839 --> 00:31:59.379 five years 00:31:59.379 --> 00:31:59.879 or whether it be 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:00.339 55 years 00:32:00.339 --> 00:32:02.119 keep in front of us 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:02.759 the reality 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.720 of our salvation 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.439 the humility 00:32:04.439 --> 00:32:05.659 and how humble 00:32:05.659 --> 00:32:06.480 we should be 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:08.139 when we embrace that 00:32:08.139 --> 00:32:09.720 and the calling 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.500 that you've given us 00:32:10.500 --> 00:32:12.099 to love the world 00:32:12.099 --> 00:32:13.119 for your sake. 00:32:15.199 --> 00:32:16.079 I pray that we would 00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.559 be conscious 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:18.079 of the souls around us 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:20.179 and that we would be 00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:21.379 a community on mission 00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:23.059 for you. 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.139 We pray all this 00:32:25.139 --> 00:32:26.039 for the sake of 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.559 and in the name 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:27.220 of King Jesus. 00:32:28.339 --> 00:32:28.599 Amen. 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:34.159 For more information 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:35.439 visit us online 00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:36.759 at southwood.org 00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:36.779 For more information 00:32:36.779 --> 00:32:37.559 visit us online 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:39.079 at southwood.org 00:32:39.079 --> 00:32:40.500 For more information 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:42.480 visit us online 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:44.720 um 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:51.039 you