Take your Bibles with me and turn to Luke 2. Luke 2.
I kind of came of age in the 90s. I was finishing up 1st grade in 1990 and starting my senior year in 2000. So I'm kind of a 90s kid.
You know, there were a lot of fads in the 90s.
Remember pogs? The little disks you would collect. I was BIG into pogs. Me and my friends would collect those things and trade them at school.
Remember the Beanie Baby craze? We forget for a minute that people were so into Beanie Babies that they were treating them like genuine investment opportunities. Like "I have a diversified portfolio - stocks, bonds and beanie babies."
One more...remember the Y2K scare? I had family members who were really into Y2K. My grandfather had a palette of canned food in the basement. My great aunt, she stocked up and bought a palette of red hair die. Because, you know, if the world ends, no one can see your stray grays.
But there is one more fad that came out in the 90s that I think most of us who were around then remember: Remember W.W.J.D?
One minute, we are minding our own business, then all of a sudden everyone is wearing these bracelets that say "WWJD?"
My Christian school, being a Christian school in the 90s, immediately banned them. I mean - how rebellious of us to want to wear WWJD bracelets?
Anybody remember what WWJD stands for? "What would Jesus do?" That fad has kind of stuck around.
I think that is a legitimate question to ask as Christians. We are absolutely told to imitate Christ.
[!bible] 1 Peter 2:21 - KJV 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
[!bible] 1 John 2:6 - KJV 6. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
[!bible] Philippians 2:5 - KJV 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
[!bible] 1 Corinthians 11:1 - KJV
- Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
We are told to follow Christ. He is the word become flesh, He is the living example for us of how we should live.
Our very name "Christians" indicates this. Christians means "little Christs." It was originally an insult saying people were imitating Christ.
So what would Jesus do? That's a good question to ask. A better question to ask though is "What did Jesus do?"
Because that's less subjective. The Bible tells us what Jesus did. We have four gospels about it. So if we are going to ask "what would Jesus do" we first have to know "what did Jesus do."
But we have a problem: Because what is recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John is mostly Jesus' ministry. Jesus lived on this earth for 33 years - and Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all focus on the last 3 and really, the majority of each of the books is focused on the last few weeks of Jesus life on this earth.
So what did Jesus do? I can tell you what He did the last three years of His life. He went around healing people and teaching people and then died on the cross for our sins.
That's wonderful. But none of us are going to go around healing people and teaching large crowds. None of us could die on a cross for other people's sins - because we have our own to worry about.
So what did Jesus do? What if I told you that in all four gospels, the only information that we have about 30 years of Jesus life is recorded in our short text today?
If you are asking "what did Jesus do?" 91% of Jesus life on this earth is covered in Luke 2:39-52.
When we turn to Luke 3 - Jesus is 30 years old. He is beginning His ministry. He is off to the races. So if we want to know what would Jesus do as a child, as a teenager, as a young adult, in normal life? This is all we get.
Let's read out text:
[!bible] Luke 2:39-52 - KJV 39. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. 40. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 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 to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50. And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
A couple of weeks ago we were at camp. It was the evening after the service. There were lots of teenagers milling about. Playing ping-pong and carpetball and volleyball. Eating food from the canteen. At some point, one of the teenage girls had taken Addie.
But when it came time for us to go back to our cabin, Addie was nowhere to be found. I spent about fifteen minutes desperately running from group to group - trying to find Addie. Asking anyone I knew "have you seen Addie?" I was trying to keep it together, but I was terrified.
I wasn't afraid of anyone taking her. We were at church camp. But all over that camp are these little ponds. It's almost like a golf course. And in my mind I just had this vivid vision of my little Addie lying face first in one of those ponds.
I can sympathize with Mary and Joseph here. Jesus is now 12 years old. At 13, He would have His Bar Mitzpah and be made an official member of His synagogue. He would basically be treated at that point as an adult.
Typically, the year or two before this point, the dad would take his son to celebrate the Passover so He could begin to understand a little more about the jewish religion.
During the Passover, almost every jew would come to Jerusalem to celebrate. The city would be absolutely packed. People everywhere. Thousands and thousands of people.
It would be like going to Disney World at peak season. Or going to a Buccees before 11pm. Just a throng of people everywhere.
Mary and Joseph weren't by themselves. They travelled with a whole caravan of people from Nazareth. These would have been cousins and uncles and long time neighbors and people from their synagogue. So it's natural they would relax a bit about where Jesus was.
But at some point after the Passover, they cannot find Jesus. He's nowhere to be seen. This starts a frantic search for Jesus that lasts (and I cannot imagine this) for three days. They spend three days franticly looking for the young Christ. And when they find Him, He's in the most unlikely of places, He's in the Temple.
He's sitting there, listening to what today would be a seminary class. He's listening to the most learned doctrinal scholars in the world, and He's asking them questions and just amazing them with His knowledge and understanding of the scriptures.
Now, Mary and Joseph are not amused. They have been franticly looking for Jesus for three days. They chided Jesus "How did you do this to us?" But Jesus isn't bothered by it. He asks
"How is it that you sought me? Don't you know I have to be about my father's business?"
This story is the one snapshot we get of the whole childhood of Jesus. Then tacked onto it are verses 51-52 - which serve as a kind of summary of 30 years of Jesus life:
[!bible] Luke 2:51-52 - KJV 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
So, back to our initial question: What would Jesus do? What did Jesus do?
Let me give you five answers to that question from our text, (all of them start with the letter S):
The first thing we see Jesus doing, that we can take as an example is Jesus:
Jesus said to Mary and Joseph "I must be about my Father's Business."
So what would Jesus do? He would do His Father's business. He would do His Father's work.
Christian, I think it's very important for you to understand that God has a work for you. It's His work. It's His Business. But it is His Business for you. And there is nothing better for you to do in this world than to be about your Father's business.
If you are saved, then the Bible teaches that you have been given a spiritual gift. God has given you some gift for the ministry. It could be teaching, it could be administration, it could be giving, it could be serving, it could be compassion - but God has given you at least one gift. There is nothing better for you to do than to find and use that gift for God's glory.
What does God want you to do? What does God want you to be doing? What is God's will for you?
Do you know it? Are you doing it?
What are you living for? Is it your business or the father's business? Is it your comfort - or to hear "well done thou good and faithful servant?"
If you want to be like Jesus and do what Jesus did - you have to figure out what God made you for and do it.
What would Jesus do? His father's business.
What is the Father's business for you? Find it and do it.
But there is a second answer to "what would Jesus do?" we can see in these verses. Not only was He about His father's business, but He was in the Temple, studying the word.
So what did Jesus do?
Jesus, who knew all things, was still found in the Temple, learning and studying the Bible. They found Jesus sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
So if you want to emulate Jesus. If you want to do what Jesus did. Then you too need to study the Bible. You need to get deep into the Bible. You need to ask the Bible questions.
[!bible] Psalms 119:105 - KJV 105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
[!bible] Psalms 19:7-11 - KJV 7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
[!bible] Psalms 1:1-2 - KJV
- Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
- But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Do you know the Bible? Do you love the Bible? Do you study the Bible?
If you want to be like Jesus - you need to study God's word and get a deeper understanding of it.
This morning in Sunday School, we talked about the Tabernacle. We talked about the Priests clothing and the furniture in the Tabernacle.
And I bet, that if I asked most of you ten questions about that - most of you wouldn't get many right. But the Bible assumes you know about that, it's referenced dozens of times in the New Testament.
We live in a time of pervasive ignorance of the scriptures - even among church going people.
Do you know the Bible?
What did Jesus do? He studied the Father's word. He sought the Father's work.
Number 3, He...
Where did Mary and Joseph find Jesus? He was in the Temple. He was in God's house. That's where Jesus wanted to be. He wanted to be among God's people. He wanted to be where God was being worshipped.
And I submit to you that if you want to emulate Jesus, then you need to stay in God's house. Stay in church.
Yes, I know the Temple isn't the church. But I also know that Paul said to the Corinthian church that they were God's temple. And I know that God has commanded us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
What did Jesus do? He stayed in His Father's house - and you should to.
We need to say like David:
[!bible] Psalms 84:1-2 - KJV
- How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
- My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
[!bible] Psalms 84:10 - KJV 10. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
God's plan for this age is the New Testament church and faithfulness to that is absolutely a part of emulating Christ.
So if you want to be like Jesus - stay in church. Oh, you may say "but there are hypocrites there." Well, next to Jesus, we are all hypocrites. Do you think that Christ - who was perfection - had reason to say "They are all hypocrites there." But Jesus was still found in the Temple, and later at home, in the synagogue.
What did Jesus do?
Look at the fourth thing we see in this story:
What did Jesus do? He...
Look at verse 51 again:
[!bible] Luke 2:51 - KJV 51. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
Do you notice that little phrase there "and was subject unto them?" Think about this: Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus, who was God incarnate submitted Himself to His earthly parents.
Mary wasn't perfect. Joseph wasn't perfect. They were sinners. But Christ made Himself subject unto them. Why? Because at that point that was God's will for Him.
Listen, Jesus submitted to God's plan for Him by submitting to His earthly parents.
We live in such an anti-authoritarian age. We are, by nature, anti-authoritarian people. We are prone to forget that we do not serve an anti-authoritarian God.
Whenever we say "no one is going to tell me what to do" we are acting exactly opposite to Christ - who was the strongest of all men, the greatest of all men, but also the meekest.
A big part of God's will for you is submitting yourself to God-given authority. That might be your husband, your pastor, your parents, your government.
What would Jesus do? Well, we know He made Himself subject to Mary and Joseph. If Jesus can subject Himself to inferior authority - what is your excuse?
There is one more verse I want to look at. Look at verse 52:
[!bible] Luke 2:52 - KJV 52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
I don't understand this verse. I don't understand how Jesus could be all knowing and yet increase in wisdom. But that is what the Bible says. Jesus grew. He grew in wisdom. He grew physically. He grew relationally with others. He grew in His reputation in God's eyes and man's eyes.
So what did Jesus do?
One more thing, He...
Jesus sharpened Himself. He prepared Himself for what God had for Him in the future:
Jesus took the talents God had given Him and invested them, He grew them, so He could use them for God.
Listen, you do not know what God has in store for you. You don't know what your next task will be. Why not take what God has given you and invest it for Him, improve yourself for Him, grow for Him.
Surely this verse is put here for us to give us an example to follow. If Jesus had to grow - none of us have an excuse for not growing.
Listen, if a person were to come to me and say "I don't know what God wants me to do" I would open this passage and say "What did Jesus do?"
That is an example all of us can follow. Christian, what do you need to work on?
Let me wrap this up by saying one more thing:
Jesus went to Jerusalem in this story to be a part of the passover - when Jesus was the passover lamb - He was the lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world.
Jesus must be about His father's business - when Jesus' business was ultimately to die on the cross as our substitute.
Even in Jesus' childhood - He was headed to the cross.
Have you trusted Christ? You can try to be like Jesus all you want - but only He truly pleased the Father, and step one to being a Christian is to stop trusting in your work to save you and instead trust in Christ and His righteousness.
Have you done that?
In a moment we will close with a hymn. If you would like to talk to a counselor about your salvation - please just slip to the back. We won't call you out. We won't embarrass you. But you can know for sure you are a Christian.
Let's pray and then Brother Hedrick please come and lead us in a song.