Well, you may want to have your Bibles open to Luke Chapter 2. And when I was preaching before, you may remember how I announced a new series on Luke, and that had to be stopped fairly quickly. But in the providence of God, a number of the visiting ministers preached on various sections of Luke 1 and Luke 2, and so it seemed quite natural simply to carry on with my original plan. and to take up our study here at the end of Luke chapter two, verse 41 through 52. These words that were read will also be our text for this afternoon. And beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, how many times we see something or we experience something and our response is to say, how amazing. That's just amazing. Like if we look at Niagara Falls, for example, or if we purchase a new smartphone, Or if we watch a hockey team score the winning goal with seconds to spare, then in every case we can't help but marvel, be so impressed and say something like, that's amazing. But you know for Christian believers, isn't it so that we think and we say about Jesus Christ, He truly is amazing. If we think of His coming into this world and all that He accomplished when He was here, and how He is the victorious Savior of sinners. And through His death and resurrection has opened the way to heaven for His people. And now He's the reigning Savior on high, the King of kings, who is someday on His way back. In every instance, He's amazing. And all together, He's amazing. And in view of our text for this afternoon, we have to say about Jesus that He was amazing already when He was but 12 years old. That means that long before he began to minister, when he was still a boy. The text calls him in verse 43, a boy, a boy or a child. And in this moment, he's 12 in Jerusalem, in the temple. And what do we have to say about this when we see him here, when we hear him here? Truly, he's amazing. We don't have to say it, the people there were saying it. Verse 47, all who heard him were astonished. at His understanding and answers. They were astonished. That is, the Jewish leaders, rulers, especially scribes and Pharisees, teachers of the law, that's who was there, and Jesus with them, and they were astonished at Jesus. They said, in effect, He's amazing. Notice verse 48 about Joseph and Mary, Jesus' parents, when they saw Him, after three days of missing Him and searching for Him anxiously, Zealously, when they saw him there in the temple sitting with the teachers, when they saw him, they were amazed. Now they had more feelings, Mary especially, they had more feelings and we can't help but hear that. But they also said, they also thought, they also had this sense, he's amazing. Nor is that all, but when we read the rest of the text, in terms of how Jesus responds to Mary and Joseph, and then even beyond that, oh again we have to say about this Jesus, here at 12 years old, only at 12 years old, already at 12 years old, he's something else. He's incredible. He's so impressive. He's amazing. And Luke sets him here before us like this. And just before we get into it, let me say to every 12-year-old today, because I'm sure there are 12-year-olds in church, I won't ask you to raise your hand, but I'm sure there are some. Or maybe you're approaching 12, or maybe you just left 12 behind, but you know the age range. And there was a time when Jesus was 12. And the thing to remember when he was 12 is that he was amazing. Now, maybe some 12-year-olds think they are amazing. I don't know if that's anyone here, but sometimes kids can have a lot of confidence. And that may be okay to a point, but let's see Jesus this afternoon, how he, in a class all by himself, really is utterly, wonderfully amazing already at 12. And let's listen and learn, because this text is meant to draw Yes, not just 12-year-olds, but all of us, to Jesus. To help us believe in Him and be saved by Him and become like Him. So Jesus, so amazing, already at 12, that's our theme. And three things to notice from the text. First of all, how engaged He was. How engaged He was. Now the big story, of course, is that after the feast, Joseph and Mary lost Jesus. They think He's with them as they start their journey home. It's likely a big crowd on their way back to Nazareth and wherever else. And Joseph and Mary assumed that Jesus was somewhere in the pack with relatives and friends. And so they went a whole day without seeing Him. But at the end of the day, they can't find Him. And you know the story. Back they go, another whole day, back to Jerusalem. And then a day spent searching for Jesus. And at some point they find Him and they have an interaction. And we'll get to that, but for now let's concentrate on Jesus Himself and where He is all this time and what He is doing and how engaged He is. Because where was He? Children and young people, where was He? He was in the temple, but He was not just walking around the temple. He was not just hanging out with friends at the temple. No, he was, the text says, he was sitting in the midst of the teachers, verse 46. He was sitting in the midst of the teachers. So this was Passover time and many Jews were in the city, including many learned Jews. Rabbis and scribes and teachers of the law. The Jews lived all over Israel, of course, and no doubt there were teachers in every place, but at Passover time, everyone came together, and especially also the teachers. We can well imagine them meeting together in the temple and talking and discussing and learning. Maybe it's a little bit like when our synods meet, and elders and pastors come together for several days of meetings. Just imagine if in one of those meetings there was a 12-year-old boy present, and he was not just observing the meeting. That can happen, of course. Anyone can observe a synod. A few years ago, some of you young people came to a synod that was held at the HRC in Jordan. I think one or two heritage classes, high school classes, came out and observed. I still remember some of you coming in. into the building and sitting in some of the pews and taking in the proceedings. Hopefully that was interesting for you. But with Jesus, it wasn't like that. He wasn't in the pew in the back taking in the proceedings in quietness. He was up at the front. He was with the adults. He was, verse 46 says, listening to them and asking them questions as he sat in the midst of them. They sat around in benches. He sat on the floor, one of the students. One of the scholars. Here was Jesus at 12 years old, fully engaged with the teachers of the day. Now what were they talking about? We're not told the details, but we can be sure it had to do with the Word of God and the work of God. All that He had done in the past and all that He had revealed in the Scripture. In the law, in the prophets, in the writings. That had to be the subject of discussion. Because remember, these were the teachers of Israel. And God's Word and work was their specialty. And they were now together to keep themselves sharp and focused and growing and all the rest of that, at least ideally. But at this moment, all their attention was turned to this boy, this 12-year-old boy sitting among them. And he wasn't arrogant and he wasn't insolent. He was simply engaged. He listened to them. A 12-year-old boy with all of his attention focused on these teachers and tracking with them. And when they put questions to him, he was understanding their questions and he knew how to answer their questions. And altogether, He reflected tremendous insight and awareness and development and discernment. And of course, this is what astonished them and made them say as it were, this boy, this child, He's unique, He's amazing. Because He was. Now for Jesus too, it must have been quite an experience to be there, don't you think? And to be part of that conversation. in these few days, probably three days at least, that he spent sitting with these teachers. All his earthly life so far he had been taught by Joseph and Mary. They brought him the Word of God, the history of Israel, the promises to Abraham. No doubt Mary and Joseph told Jesus all these things and many more besides, including how Jesus himself came to be. You know, not like you and me through the relationship of a father and a mother. but because of the work of the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary. It was extraordinary, it was miraculous. And no doubt he had learned the circumstances involving his birth, the journey to Bethlehem, and then fleeing to Egypt. All of it, no doubt Jesus knew he was surely very well taught. Again, back in verse 40, he grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. That happened with Jesus. He grew, he increased in understanding. But now in the midst of these teachers, what an opportunity for him to grow even more and to hear from these learned men and to participate in their conversation. And especially with the light and blessing of the Holy Spirit for Jesus to begin making all sorts of connections between the Word of God in Scripture and the Word of God Himself incarnate. Don't you think that must have been happening? And was it perhaps here and now that he first began to see how his life was about serving as the fulfillment of, among other things, the Passover? That very feast that he had celebrated with others over the previous few days. Maybe it was in this moment here in the temple with these teachers that he began to see how he was to be that Passover lamb, slain for the people. All the blood of the lambs that had been shed in the past few days, no doubt he had seen that. He had seen the sacrifices. He participated in the celebrations. And was he now beginning to understand that blood is pointing to my blood? Was it now that that began to sink in that God would be working out the redemption of sinners from sin and death through Jesus Christ laying down His life and shedding His blood? We wonder, don't we, when did that begin to crystallize? Was it maybe here starting to at least in his 12-year-old mind as he sat in the temple in the midst of the teachers and asked them questions and answered theirs? We don't know, of course, the details, but surely it was a very formative time and he was engaged. He was thinking about these things. He was working them out in his mind and heart already at 12. And again we say how amazing, just in terms of his engaging these things. And should we not also be challenged by Jesus? Because on the one hand, while this moment is unique to Him, none of us are like Him. None of us are called to what He was called. He alone is the Savior. He alone sheds His blood, that is true. But is it not also so that He is teaching us here how to live? Including when we are 12. You know, that's not too early to be engaged in spiritual things. That's not too young to be thinking carefully, earnestly, seriously about the all important matters of life and death, and how to be right with God, and how to live before Him. Because how much we don't know, and how much we all need to learn, and how good and right therefore to receive teaching. and to listen when we are taught, and to ask questions, and to try to understand. And how important to start as early as possible. Doesn't the Old Testament tell us, remember your Creator in the days of your youth. And surely by 12 years old, to begin to care about these things and to become serious about the Lord. Hopefully it happens in our life earlier than 12. But if you're 12 and it hasn't happened yet, isn't it time? Or if you are older even and it hasn't happened yet, you're simply sailing through life living unmindful of God, isn't it time to seek Him? One of our problems as people is that by nature we can be so engaged in anything and everything but the things of God. Give us a new game and we're all into it. Or a cool Lego set and no problem with that. We're getting lost in a mystery book or absorbed in a movie or caught up in sports or out with our friends. We get our license and away we go. We grow older and now we're building a house or into renovations or planning our next vacation and, you know, we can talk about all those things all day long and more. And none of that needs to be wrong. It's not wrong. But if at the same time we have little interest in the Word of God, no time to read it, no heart for it, no engagement with it, by nature in our sin, that's all of us, isn't it? All of us. And long past 12 years old, sometimes 16 year olds, 20 year olds, 30 year olds, even older, 40, 50, or 60, we can be so unengaged in things that matter most. Meanwhile, so engaged in things that matter little. And if so, and when so, is that not our sin? It is. And so let us be convicted by Jesus and humbled by His example and in light of Him here at 12, already at 12 in the temple, amazing as He is, learn, let us learn what matters most. Learn to seek the Lord if we still need to start. Today is the day. Now is the time. And for us who have long sought Him, let us keep on with that every day to be engaged in spiritual things, ultimate things, eternal things. First of all, and most of all, do we now learn that from Jesus so amazing already at 12 in terms of how engaged He was? But secondly, how committed he was. How committed. Because at a certain point, Mary and Joseph catch up with Jesus. They enter the temple and, you know, they've been looking for him. We don't know every place they went. Maybe the temple was the first place. We don't know. But we get insight into their feelings. Especially Mary's feelings. Because in verse 48, we read that when they saw him, they were amazed. Notice that word again. It's a very intense word. One commentator translates like this, they were shocked, they were knocked out. We might say they could hardly believe it. You're here, Jesus? You're safe? You're just talking with people, with teachers? Really? It's almost as if they thought or feared He was lost, hurt, kidnapped, or killed. But no, none of that. He's simply in the temple. He's simply talking with the teachers. And his mother said to him, son, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought you anxiously. We've been all wrought up and distressed as we have searched for you high and low. Well, probably every mother can identify with these words with your children, at least at some point. Fathers too, and all of us in different relationships, but especially mothers when a child has gone missing and is lost. Anyone ever experienced that? I remember years ago as a kid, our family was living in London for a few weeks while my dad was preaching for a church. And one day while he was studying, one day mom took us to Storybook Gardens, a little theme park in London with all kinds of playground equipment and a petting zoo and some other things. It was a hot summer day and the place was milling with kids. Everywhere, kids. And my mother came with four young kids. But then suddenly there were only three. Because the youngest, my sister at the time, four years old, no one could find her. We had lost her. That was nearly 40 years ago, but I still remember something of the anxiety of that moment. As my mother parked me and my brothers at a particular spot in the playground and told us to wait while she went looking. And then came a report over the park's PA system that a small girl had been found all alone wandering in the park. And she was safely in the front office waiting to be picked up. Well, we were all glad, of course, that she was found and all was well. But maybe you have a story like that too in your family. But even if not, we can all understand to some degree Mary's words, Mary's feelings. This had been a big trip from the start and to take Jesus along for the first time was a big deal. It'd not be strange if throughout the time Mary, Mother Mary was a little anxious and then on the way home unable to find Jesus, oh no. How can that be? We have no doubt that Mary was upset. And so too what a torrent of emotions must have flowed through her heart when suddenly and finally she spotted Jesus in the temple. Son, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought you anxiously. One author says that in Mary's outbursts we have a medley of surprise, reproach, and anguish. Surprise, reproach, and anguish, because Mary did not understand. And now it's Jesus who teaches her, 12-year-old Jesus. Ever so gently, so mildly, respectfully, but he will teach her. That's verse 49, and it's a window into the mind and heart of Jesus. Listen to his words. Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business? Notice several things here in Jesus' words. One is that he does not tell her, he asks her. That's instructive, isn't it? He doesn't so directly accuse his mother. He's careful, he's respectful. He simply asks questions. Why did you seek me? Why were you looking all over the place for me? Why were you so anxious about my well-being? Why did you ever wonder as to where I might be? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? That too is a question. How respectfully, seriously, pointedly, but respectfully He engages His mother. Now just a textual note for a moment. Some of you I know read the ESV and you may notice that in that translation Jesus says, did you not know that I must be in my Father's house? So our translation says, about my Father's business, the ESV and others like it say, in my Father's house. And the difference simply has to do with different Greek manuscripts, and it's hard to know which phrase is right, and you can look at the commentaries to learn more about that. But either way, let's realize the difference is not that great. It's certainly not contradictory. Where else does the father's business happen but in the father's house? And what else goes on in the father's house but the father's business? These two translations are easily harmonized. It's really one and the same thing for Jesus. But that's more of an aside. Here's the main point. Mary said to Jesus, your Father and I, your Father and I have sought you anxiously. Your Father and I. And Jesus says, no Mary, you're not right about that. Because God the Father is Jesus' true Father. His ultimate Father. And Jesus knows that. By 12 years old, he has come to understand that. And so his first allegiance, his ultimate devotion must be to his Father in heaven. My Father, says Jesus. Whether his business or his house, Jesus answers to him. He's accountable to him. Well, we all are accountable to our Father. It's a respectful admonition to Mary. It's a loving instruction for her. Together with Joseph, she does not own Jesus. He belongs to God. God is his father, my father, he says. Did you not know, Mary? She ought to have known. Back when Gabriel came to explain these things to Mary at the conception of Jesus, he told her, your son will be called, you remember, the son of God. God is his father. In an eternal, natural way. Mary should have known. There was no reason for her to be anxious. They needn't have searched so anxiously. They should have gone straight to the temple, sure to find Jesus there. It could have been so easy. Of course He'd be there with the teachers. Where else did you not know? But for all that, there is something else in Jesus' words that is even more important. Really the most important word in the text is the word must in verse 49. Did you not know that I must be about my father's business? He must be. What a word for a 12-year-old boy. It's unusual. It's amazing really because it highlights his commitment. Maybe, just to illustrate, maybe it's a bit like hearing a 12-year-old coming home from school today, tomorrow. And just imagine, it's a cold, crisp day and the sun is shining and the home-built ice rink is all set up and ready to go. And the skates are sharpened and beckoning. But no, says the 12-year-old, I have a big test tomorrow. I must go to my room and study at my desk for the rest of the day. I must. It is necessary. If that was one of you kids, we'd say that's amazing. But surely you can take a little break and enjoy a little skate. But it's good that you're committed to your education. But it'd be unusual to hear that kind of thing, that kind of commitment coming from a 12-year-old child. But here now is 12-year-old Jesus. And he's helping Mary become unsurprised at his being in the temple because, don't you know, mom, I must be about my father's business. I must be. And what Jesus here is doing is giving us insight into His commitment. He is so committed to His Father's will and way, His Father in heaven. No matter what it may cost Him, and just now He is beginning to learn something of that for Himself. But it doesn't matter. There will be no hesitation in Jesus' heart, no uncertainty in His soul, no wavering, no reluctance. His mind is entirely made up. In a sense, it has always been made up. From eternity past, there was never a question, but now as He is in the flesh, in this moment, even at 12 years old, He gives expression to it. I must be in my Father's house. I must be about my Father's business. That resolve and that commitment. will mark Him and will carry Him through the rest of His life all the way to the cross. Why did He go there? Why would He submit to that? What would ever possess Him to suffer and die the way that He did and to give His life for unworthy, ungodly, unthankful sinners like us? It was because of His commitment. I must. And you see, that's good news for us. That's the greatest of news for us. People like us who can't keep our commitments. and resolves. You know, over and over the Lord God calls us rightly to love Him and love our neighbor. We must. We don't decide that. He says that. He requires it. It's our duty. And how often we don't. To our shame. It's our sin. We don't. You've learned that by now, haven't you? About yourself. It's clear if we have eyes to see, there is so little must in our life, so little righteous resolve, so little Christian commitment. Instead, we rebel, we transgress, we're like sheep who go astray. Everyone turns to his own way. And our lives, if we're honest, are littered with failure and sin. And yet for such people, Jesus came. And already at 12, he's beginning to be clear and his commitment is unwavering. I must, he says. And as he understands that to mean he must suffer and die, it will cost him everything, he never backs down from that. And it's in Him and it's coming out of Him already at 12 years old. And we say, that's amazing. He's amazing. And what reason to turn to Him and trust in Him and to be sure and certain regarding Him and to be comforted that when we surrender to Him, He will not forsake us. He will save us and deliver us. He will guide us and keep us. Already at 12, He is telling us. He's amazing. And then notice yet how He shows it. Here we go to our last point. Jesus, so amazing already at 12. How engaged He is, how committed He is, and how obedient He is. Because on the one hand, after Jesus says what He says in verse 49, listen to verse 50. But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. They did not understand. Mary and Joseph didn't get it. What Jesus said in response to Mary's anxious cry, what Jesus said about my father's house and all this went right over their heads. Now to Mary's credit, she didn't forget, end of verse 51, she kept all these things in her heart, she pondered, she meditated. She reflected, she tried hard to understand. And over time, as the years went by, the Lord blessed her with understanding, especially when the Holy Spirit came in fullness. Then we may believe that Mary saw with far greater clarity. But for now, in our text, they didn't understand. And yet, what do we read about Jesus? Verse 51, then He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. That means He was an obedient Son. No, that was nothing new. All His life, so far, He had been an obedient Son. Never once did Mary and Joseph have to correct Him or chasten Him. Jesus never needed time out or the wooden spoon or to write lines. He never had to be grounded. He never needed any of that because up till now he had never disobeyed. Instead, he had always obeyed. Jesus, can you help with the dishes? Yes, mom. He didn't complain. He didn't excuse himself. He didn't run to his room. He did whatever Mary asked. She taught him that and he obeyed her. And whenever Joseph asked for help or gave him a chore, whatever it was, who knows, but every time Jesus, he did whatever he was asked to do. He honored his father and mother. He showed them love and respect at every point. He was obedient in everything all the way. And right away and with a happy heart. That was his entire life. Even now in the temple, you know, he had not stayed behind. He had not lingered in Jerusalem in disobedience. They never called him to come along. He was just there and they hadn't made sure they called him and found him and taken him with them. No, he was always obedient. And just for that, we should be so impressed with him and what a reason they came to say about him, he's amazing. But what about now when he's 12? And when they very clearly don't understand him. They didn't understand his statement. Maybe, you know, maybe now Jesus has a reason to be a little assertive, a little independent, a little stubborn and obstinate. After all, why should he, the sinless son of God, why should he have to submit to weak, ignorant parents like Joseph and Mary? Not that they were so terrible, but they were clearly not up to Jesus' standards. They weren't like Him. They didn't get Him. Isn't now the time for Jesus to cut Himself a little loose? After all, don't forget, He's 12 now. How many times have 12-year-olds throughout the history of the world, and in the church too, how many 12-year-olds have said, I don't have to obey now, do I? Maybe you're 12 and you see now some of the weaknesses of your parents. When you were little, you thought they were the greatest. How many boys, little boys brag about their dad, but when you're 12, you know a little better, you're a little wiser. Dad's not perfect, neither is mom. I should have a little more say around here. I should be allowed to do what I like. Listen, if anyone had a right to think that way, it might be Jesus. But he doesn't think that way. He doesn't live that way. It never crosses his mind. That would be sin. And he is radically opposed to sin. And so the text says, he went down with them and came to Nazareth. By the way, notice that, Nazareth. Small town, backwater, nothing happening, Nazareth. Were there any teachers there? Was there any glorious temple there? What kind of life could there be for Jesus in Nazareth? But he was content to be there and to live there for years. And most importantly of all, he was subject to his parents. His sinful, weak, imperfect parents who didn't get him. How obedient he was, already at 12. Also at 12, still at 12. And do we realize why? It was because of His commitment on account of His constant engagement with the things that matter most. And as He was realizing His calling and surrendering to it to be the Savior of His people of sinners, He understood that that meant for Him that He had to live the life that we ought to live. And He had to live it in a perfect way. And so He did. As the incarnate Son of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit, He lived His whole life on earth in a perfect way. And now what that means is that He can give you that life, that whole life, that complete fabric of a life, can count for yours. That's true for every Christian. Jesus' obedience, His perfect obedience from womb to tomb, Through all of his boyhood, his childhood, his young adulthood into manhood, his whole life was one of perfect offering to the Lord. He never sinned so that he could save us from our sin. And his whole life and death and resurrection get credited to us who believe in him. That's the heart of the gospel and that's what makes it so good to hear because what it means for us. who sin and fall short, also at 12. That's true, isn't it? Don't we all have to admit that? You know, there's a category of sin in the Bible that's called sins of youth. Sins of youth, the sins we commit in our youth. And we're all guilty. When we're young, we do things and we say things and we think things that we shouldn't. And we fail to obey where we ought. And maybe when we're young, we don't think so much about it. In fact, when we're young, we can be kind of careless and reckless and thoughtless and foolish. Sometimes our parents might want to shake us and say, weren't you thinking? Because when we're young, we don't do that so well. But it's wrong. We can't excuse it. We can't say, oh, we're just kids. We're just young people. We're just having our fun. I've heard old people talk about sins of their youth. In their old age, what they did when they were young comes back to their minds and burdens them. I think of my youth. I'm grieved over things that I'm guilty of in my youth. There isn't an adult here who can say, I have no sins of youth. David writes about that in Psalm 25. He can't forget the sins of his youth, even when there is forgiveness and the joy of it. How much better it is not to sin our youth away, but to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. But the good news, and that's really the ultimate point of this text and this sermon, The good news is that even for sinners like us who too often sin also in our youth, never mind throughout all of our life, when we believe in Jesus Christ and belong to Him, then His perfect life and His death and all of it becomes the covering that counts for us. And so He is our salvation. That means that everything is forgiven. And it's perfect obedience. It's seen to be our obedience. That's how God looks at it. And we are fully and freely and forever acceptable to God. That's amazing. And Jesus is amazing. And already at 12, that's so. And of course, not only at 12, because you read in verse 52 that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. So this just got better and better as he entered his teen years. or the vision of it became so much clearer and so much more beautiful. His perfection shone with a brilliance. He was the ideal human being, the perfect child, the perfect youth, the perfect man, the perfect Son of God, the perfect Savior. Yes, the perfect Savior through whom God saves to the uttermost whatever we have done. However long we've sinned, whatever mess we have made, even if it be to the end of our life, pray God that it's not. But even so, when we come to God through Jesus, it's all forgiven. It's all washed away. And God says, you're mine and I'll love you forever. It's all through Jesus who's amazing. already at 12. And this little passage here at the end of Luke 2 is setting Him before us to impress us, to amaze us. Are you amazed? What will be the proof that you're amazed? Truly, effectually amazed, you will say, I want this Savior. I turn to this Savior. I trust Him. Lord, help me love you and serve you. Let all of us respond that way. Also every 12-year-old, already at 12, if not before, now, and for sure after. And all of us, all the days of our life, trusting, loving, and serving our amazing Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray.