What an Amazing Child!

1st Sunday after Christmas, 12/26/21 Luke 2:41-52 What an Amazing Child! I. Fully aware of his Father-Son relationship II. Fully obedient in his parent-Son relationship Every child does things that amaze his or her parents, but child prodigies are capable of doing things that are unimaginable. For instance, I read of one such boy who was still in diapers and speaking gibberish, but was able to play the violin. Another boy at two years of age was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism and doctors told his parents he might never be able to read or talk. But, at 3 years old, he was able to recite the alphabet forward and backward. Amazing! This morning we have the blessed opportunity to ponder the only account we have from the childhood of Jesus. We wish we had an entire book of accounts of his daily life with his parents as he was growing up, but the Holy Spirit didn’t cause any of those to be written down. Except this one. I don’t know if anyone used the label “prodigy” when describing Jesus. But he did amaze people. Listen again to the way he amazed the teachers in the Temple on this day in his 12-year-old life. “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” One commentator envisions this event beginning rather simply. Perhaps, at first, it was just one teacher of the law and Jesus, discussing what we call the Old Testament and its meaning. One by one, other Jewish teachers of the law entered the room and sat down, joining the discussion. They asked Jesus questions and they were amazed at his answers. He possessed an uncommon mastery of the word of God. Knowing Jesus as we do, that doesn’t surprise us. But our familiarity with Jesus and this account shouldn’t diminish our amazement of who Jesus is and what he had come to do. This morning, let’s remind ourselves of how amazing Jesus was already at a young age. What an amazing Child! May the Holy Spirit fill us with saving wonder as we focus our hearts and minds on this portion of his word. Part I. It’s always a sad situation, but countless children living today are being raised by adults other than their parents. It’s rare that a child loses both parents to an untimely death and then needs to be raised by someone else. It’s far too common that children need to be removed from the homes of their parents due to neglect or abuse and are placed with relatives or in the foster care system. While such children are better off in such situations, it’s still difficult for them. What’s their relationship with these new adults caring for them? What’s their relationship with their biological parent or parents? It must be confusing at best and overwhelming at worst. Jesus had two such relationships, two sets of “parents” if you will. And he perfectly navigated them both. And that’s the major truth of this text before us this morning. The one “parent” relationship was with his heavenly Father, and it was a relationship that had existed in eternity. Think about it. There never was a time when God the Father and God the Son didn’t have a relationship. And that eternal relationship was always perfect. When Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and, subsequently, nine months later came into the world as infant wrapped in strips of cloth and placed in a manger, his eternal relationship with his Father didn’t end. In fact, it didn’t change, not one bit. It remained the perfect relationship it had always been. But that relationship was hidden to almost everyone who laid eyes on Jesus. He looked like any other Jewish male infant. But now, as Jesus grew older, that relationship began to emerge. We don’t know how quickly that relationship emerged in the God-man Jesus, but it’s apparent that Jesus had a thorough grasp of what that relationship meant as he made the trip to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover with his parents as described by Luke here at the end of chapter 2 of his gospel. That’s why Jesus remained at the Temple while his parents began the return trip to Nazareth. Jesus wasn’t trying to be difficult or exert his independence from his parents now that he had reached the age of Jewish majority. He knew instinctively that this is where his heavenly Father wanted him to be over the next three days. And when his frantic parents finally found him there in the Temple, Mary’s anger and frustration with Jesus are revealed in the way she speaks to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” To which Jesu replies, “Why were you searching for me?” Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Literally, Jesus stated, “Didn’t you know I had to be in the things of my Father.” He had to be doing his Father’s business. A good portion of that business involved the word of God which is what Jesus had been discussing with these teachers for three days. Already at age 12 Jesus was aware of that work and his relationship with his Father. That relationship would be prominent during his earthly ministry. In front of friend and foe alike, Jesus referred to the work of his Father that he had come to do. He spoke about being equal with the Father, and his enemies wanted to stone him to death for it. That relationship took priority over all others, even over his family members. Recall the event early in his ministry when his family members approached him because they thought he was losing his mind. He refused to let his relationship with them interfere with his relationship with his Father. Already as a child, that relationship was directing what Jesus said and did. What an amazing Child! He’s fully aware of his Father-Son relationship. So, Jesus was an amazing Child, fully aware of his relationship with his heavenly Father. But you might be asking, “Why is that a good thing for me to know and believe? Is it just some dusty dogma that the Church has proclaimed throughout its history?” Not at all. In fact, your forgiveness and eternal life depend on it. Imagine if Jesus weren’t aware of his eternal relationship with his Father. Or worse, imagine if he didn’t have one. By the way, some religions teach that very thing about Jesus. And because of it, they have no savior from sin and no eternal life. From the get-go, we have the assurance that Jesus knew who he was and why he had come to this earth. Being the world’s Savior wasn’t a responsibility Jesus assumed for himself; it was the work his Father gave him to do and which he accepted with every fiber of his being. His relationship with his Father and the work he had come to do were his constant priority. And that’s the way we need it to be, because our daily lives give endless evidence that our relationship with our Father and our Savior is not our priority. Instead, we’ll think and do as we please. And our daily sinful condition emphasizes all the more how amazing this Child was and is. He’s your God. He’s your Savior. What an amazing Child! Part II. Attaining fame and fortune as a child is rare, but it happens. I’m sure you know of children who have become acting and musical stars. As amazing as that is, it places unusual tension on the parent-child relationship. Imagine if your child were earning 100 times more than you do. Jesus was fully aware of his relationship with his heavenly Father, and yet it didn’t spoil his relationship with his parents at all; in fact, it enhanced it. That’s apparent from his course of action after Joseph and Mary found him in the Temple. Listen to what he did, “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” First, he went with them and was obedient to them. You don’t hear him reply, “But I’m doing my Father’s work and I’m the Son of God.” Jesus knew that it was his Father’s will to go with them back to Nazareth. And, as always, it was his Father’s will for Jesus to honor and obey his parents. So, that’s what he did, perfectly. He also grew in wisdom and stature. In other words, he grew up like any other Jewish boy. And we’re glad to know that. It reinforces our confidence in the truth that the Son of God came to this world in human flesh and blood. He did that in order to be our Savior who would sacrifice himself for us on Calvary’s cross. Finally, he grew in favor with God and men. His Father was pleased with everything he thought, said, and did. And the people around him appreciated what a fine young man he was. Perhaps it occurred to some that there was no one like him. He was never disrespectful. He always honored his parents. He was amazing! What a Child! He was fully obedient in his parent-son relationship. Some people will begin packing Christmas away today. I urge you not to do that. I don’t mind if you decide to take down your Christmas tree today, but don’t put Christmas away. Spend some time today in amazement over your Savior, Jesus Christ. He’s God’s gift to you. For every time we’ve failed in our relationships with our God and with others, Jesus never did. We see him doing that work here as a 12-year-old. He did that, so that about 20 years later, he could offer that perfect life for you on the cross. That was all for you! And his resurrection guarantees that it’s yours. What an amazing Child! Cherish him! Live for him! Amen.