He Grew In. . . (Luke 2:41-52)
I had a hard time in school, but I wasn’t dumb! About 3rd grade, I bought an autograph book out of a Scholastic book order, and I had Mom and Dad both give me their autographs. When I got a bad grade that required Mom’s signature, I would lock myself in my room, place my paper over Mom’s signature, and trace it. Mom never signed a paper in elementary school and I never got caught!
There are others time I felt fairly dumb. I never understood much of math and science, and I nearly flunked chemistry and algebra in high school.
We all have niches where we know more than other people. My brother Aaron can fix nearly anything . . . I don’t know the first thing about mechanics. My brother Kyle teaches high school math and science. There are things you know that I’ll never know and I might know a few things you’ll never know.
That’s fine when it’s math, science, languages, medicine, and the like.
But, many people are just plain dumb when it comes to God. There are many who teach and believe things which are completely erroneous. But, aren’t we often dumb when it comes to God? We know what God says, but we just don’t want to believe it. Maybe we want to do something but not sure of God’s Word. Maybe there’s an implication we need to think about. Maybe there’s a text we need to contemplate.
We have everything we need to know to please God: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3).
What will we do when we’re dumb concerning God? Jesus sets a wonderful example for us in this text. This morning’s point: True Wisdom Comes from Scripture. Like Eve, you and I often seek wisdom from false sources. Yet, Jesus sought true wisdom from the right source.
Scripture (Luke 2:41-52)
Wisdom and knowledge are the themes of this passage, and as you study it, those themes become quite obvious.
Verse 43:
Jesus’ parents do not know that he has remained in Jerusalem. Every bit of anxiety/grief/searching is because of their ignorance.
Verses 46-47:
Jesus’ parents find him in the Temple. Jesus is listening to the teachers and asking them questions. They are amazed at his understanding and his answers. Sometimes children can give you the “right” Bible answers. But, their minds aren’t usually ready for understanding – Jesus not only knows the right answers, but he has wisdom/understanding.
Verses 48-49:
When Mary and Joseph find Jesus, Mary rebukes him. But, she does so because she doesn’t know he’s to be about his Father’s business.
Verse 50:
Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus had said to them.
Verse 52:
Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man. The only way he could increase in favor with God and man was through a knowledge of Scripture. The two greatest commands are to love God and to love our fellow man: “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:40).
Application
If we wish to have grow in wisdom and in favor with God and man, we must remember that True Wisdom Comes from Scripture. That is a central teaching of Scripture. Psalm 119:97-104. “From childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15).
If we wish to have true wisdom, we must know Scripture. We absolutely must spend time with the Word of God.
Let me urge you to spend some time daily in Scripture.
This week spend time reading the Epistles of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Won’t take long to read through those Epistles this week and it will build you up in the most holy faith.
Don’t neglect the public teaching of Scripture.
In our text, Jesus was sitting with the teachers of the Law. If Jesus needed to hear the teachers of the Law, how much more do we! “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov 17:17).
How much do you know the Scriptures?
Where would society be if we understood that True Wisdom Comes from Scripture? Would Harold Camping have ever been given any attention at all? Would we deal with as many denominational errors? Would NASA be spending billions to discover the origins of the universe? How would your life be different if you understood that True Wisdom Comes from Scripture?
I mentioned that the motif of this text is wisdom and knowledge. Another important point runs throughout the text: Obedience follows knowledge. Joseph goes up every year to the Feast of the Passover; that’s Scripture (e.g., Deut 16:16). Joseph obeys what he knows from Scripture. Jesus spends time in Jerusalem so that he can be about his Father’s business. He then goes down to Nazareth and is submissive to his parents. That’s Scripture (e.g., Ex 20:12). Proper knowledge of Scripture always leads to obedience: James 1:22-25.
Do you need to obey out of your knowledge of Scripture?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr..