Sunday 29th December

Reading the scriptures to us helping me to Quick clean, Quick and Ship closing. A Bible verse from Luke Chapter 2, + 1461 vs 41 to 52 fluid to a. Let's pray and ask God to be with us as we open Eastwood together. Heavenly Father, we thank you, Robert and father God we give you, thanks the many ways and we should have been with us in the past year. We thank you Father that to you sent your son Jesus to live amongst us to take on face to grow up and then offer to die on the cross for our salvation. Father is driving you would we ask your spirit of God is in our understanding, help us five to see the meaning of your words. And also to see how they may encourage us in a walk with. You gotta ask in Jesus name mean, We thought we know very little about Jesus life before his public Ministry, we get little Snippets. We have watched recorded Frost in Luke's gospel. We get a few Snippets in Matthew's gospel. And then we get that overarching view in John's gospel, the word became flesh.

In Matthews account, we read about herod's attempt to kill the young child. Jesus, the fling of Joseph Mary and Jesus to Egypt and they returned after Harry's death. But I sold a part from what we read in Luke's gospel. So very much relied on what Luke has to tell us a Lukaku together. The eyewitness accounts to give us a reliable account and what he could find out about the early life of the boy chases,

after the birth of Jesus, in Luke Chapter 2, verses 1 to 20 in Bethlehem and replacing in a Manger we didn't hold his parents devotion as Jewish parents. They did what was required by the Jewish law. And so, in Luke Chapter 2 verses 21 and following we raided a very stinks at his parents did. A child, a boy. Child was to be baptized after the, on the 8th day. And and so we see that invest 21 on the 8th day when it was time to circumcise child. He was named chases, the name, the angel had given him before he was conceived. And then off to 40 days after the birth of Jesus because the blood involved in the but Mary needed to be purified. And so the purification we read, it was 22. When the time came for purification rites required by the law of Moses. Joseph, and Mary took him to Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord. I saw there were two things that happened during this time, the purification of Mary after birth a child. And then the offering of the firstborn in Luke chapter 2, verse 23, for as it is written, law of the Lord. Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord. And then a sacrifice, be offered a job or to Young pigeons. I just got his back to the death of the first-borns in the time of exodus in the, the angel of death that came over Egypt and show each firstborn needed to be redeemed. I know and I saw this is part of the requirement of the Jewish religion, the requirement of the Torah and we say that Joseph and Mary a very careful at performing these, right at the time they are required. It's made very clear that Jesus is being brought up. As I thought about you, and I love these events, tell us about Jesus. Bring that leads to professional opportunities. And so on this occasion in Luke 2:22, and fawley having brought the baby Jesus. Now, a mere six weeks old to Jerusalem that there is the encounter with Simeon and with Anna. And the prophetic declaration about the nature of this child is very special child and the role that he'll take up when he grows up to be a man, here, is see the very child of God looked, makes it very clear that Jesus eats Well, having been told, this was told at the end of that Passage would met Joseph Mary done, everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to the Iron Town of Nazareth in the child, grew up to become strong and it was filled with wisdom and grace of God was on him about the events, but it appear after they return to Nazareth ice for the presentation of the boy. Jesus was during this time that Herod had the magic MB come and it's this time that he threatened Jason in a dream Mary and Joseph at all to take Jesus to Egypt. And so he went down for a while. Died. That's why it's called a Mathews crossbow and then they return to Nazareth and so that particular story fit in between 48th and 1st. One of Luke's gospel. And so we already know this is not an ordinary child. Receive the same thing about Redemption and salvation is in the words of Simeon and a Nana and also the words to the angel Gabriel now having returned. And are we having returned to Nazareth? It was their custom were told to go to Jerusalem for the Festival of Passover. So they made that Journey every year after their return, and of course, that journey to Jerusalem is very important in Jace's public Ministry when he begins, and we know that you're in his public Ministry, he returns to Jerusalem on three occasions in the fourth occasion is betrayed and he was crucified outside the city. So even is a boy, JC Springbrook to Jerusalem on a regular basis. Now it's all on this was now twelve years old. I sent it again to each in, in the life of a Jewish boy and we told that I've gone up to the festival as has been their custom again. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus offers a very devout a Jewish boy. I ain't they said they go up. Enjoy the Passover Festival, never told B 43 that after the festival. Turning on the boy, Jesus stay behind and Tristram, but they parents were not aware of this. The language that is used in the great indication section. Definite choice of Jesus is not that Jesus got lost in, his parents are gone and that he made the choice, that has the festival kind of in. The boy, chases was going to stay behind in Jerusalem. He's very much aware that he had his father's business to do. Sometimes when we we think about Jesus as a child we still do think that yeah Jayce with a baby and we we understand you he took on human nature and sometimes we think that is what he was until somehow he's known as about who he was as the Son of God put back in at the time of public Ministry. The chase was just always aware of who he is. That he is the father son, that he is God's son. He would have been aware that even as a baby in the manger though obviously didn't the language to communicate. That But we certainly see here at the age of 12, Chase is very clear in his understanding of who he is. What are you up to do? Self and became human. He didn't jettisoned is Divinity completely off until 1, and I forgot about it. He took on some limitations years as a human child. But he was still fully the son of God. I see was fully human child. So, Joseph and Mary. I so we CJ's stays behind. And we're a trade on, then to hear he's interested. We getting into something's wrong here that the parents aren't aware of it. And then verse 44, think he was with a company. They travel for a die. you might be seeing how did Joseph and Mary possibly travel to hold eye across the desert without realizing that their son wasn't with them but it goes I went traveling a lot often traveling in larger groups with Cipher because of the the bandits or off and on the road but also offer extended family who travel to Jerusalem, for these festivals here, in particular, the festival, the Passover, family and friends, and they felt comfortable that he was just worried about you. One of his cousins or even have a child, or maybe he just on a different camo walking behind, but they were confident that Jace would have pain with them on this journey. Yeah, it's been a lot waiting. If you go on holidays and maybe a couple of families, go to give up, sometimes you may be a child nice sitting in a different car. And and so you might be calling you at your son's, not with you but you're confident that he's in this other car. And so it was with Mary and we're now having traveled, the one guy that would have been, I set up camp for the night and it was at that point, I realized that Jesus wasn't with them. And so we read that to that, when I realize that he wasn't with them, they travel back to Jerusalem to look for him. No doubt for Mary, and Joseph and Sidney from the woods. We don't bite with worried about this son, it was all very well for him to be proud of the cabin, but to be in this life, city was so many people like this is, this is quite dangerous and so we get the Saints and we stay rushed back to Jerusalem to try and find him.

And we told that the three days I searched it may be the used that 3 days is a bit of hinted about life. 1 2, 3 days in the term 3 days 3, is there a significant number for God? Ain't about what's in the future, but it took him three days to find him, and I find it there in the temple, courts, sitting among the teachers listings them and asking them questions.

A giant. He's not as good as well. Beyond what would be true of a twelve-year-old boy? But we reinvest 47 everyone who heard him wasn't nice that his understanding. These answers. Was the very Son of God. He was the one who knew these things and yes you still listen to The Taste of the Lord. Be awesome. Cuz you trying to control the jewel them at in terms of Old Testament scripture, maybe it's time to think about what has the Messiah come. What would that look like? We don't know the exact context of off the conversation.

The people were amazed. I know some people look at this store, is it? Well, Jesus really shouldn't have gone off of that telling his parents.

Some people side with his wrong with Jesus. But there are times in Jesus life where he needs to go about his father, he's Heavenly father's business. And that might actually bring him into conflict with his family.

When Mary and Joseph find Jesus, Jesus Khalifa. What they should have known, he was going to be in his father's house. They shouldn't have been surprised. He needed to be there, is he employed answer? I certainly like to run in the gospel to read about hurricanes. In at the wedding or kind of we get Jace response to Mario Marriott the other friend of the wind. Can you do something about it and Jason to his woman? What has this to do with me? And it sounds very much like a rebuking a very harsh Buddy, Guy and agencies about what is the farthest time in? This is the time for the first, so I didn't eventually he'd ease. But for the moment, he wasn't got to be moved by his mother. The occasion and Luke Chapter, I ate with Jesus, is with his disciples and his mother's and brother's, they're outside the house. And they seem to be worried about about Jesus are the things he's climbing things, he teaching, and they come to take him home and Jesus sisters to stop, as you are my mother and my products.

I have responsibilities you I need to take on the role that my heavenly father has given me.

And so there are times when Jesus has to do his father's business.

Will having Found Jesus invisible. He I we see the parents so him and I were astonished and Mary said to him son. Why he treats us like this your father and I have been anxiously searching for you. Mary and Joseph awfully obviously, were very concerned for this son. But Chase response again as well. Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my father's house? Jesus as a twelve-year-old boy is very aware of who he is as the Incarnate Son of God.

and so, He has an understanding of the power and responsibility. But having done what he needed to. Lucas is a 51. And he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother, treasured up, all these things in her heart, The Jesus lived as a pigeon sound of Mary and Joseph. Really, when the two became a conflict, did he get deferred? What do you need to do his father's house? But I see when about living this life. Lenny had to be a carpenter, learning his father's trade growing up. We say that Mary Treasures what she is. Hood as she did at the time of the angel, Gabriel coming to her, you will have a child or lighter on when at the time of the birth of Jesus and the angels, a guy. And when she heard the report of of the shepherd, she stole this up. And eventually, although it took pretty well brought to the time of Jesus, did she make sure she understood her? Some really was she showed a new install didn't know. but Jesus went about being bi being, so I continue to live out as the word became flesh.

And we say that Jesus, I love you. Son of a continue to grow in wisdom and stature. And in favor with God and man. So here is my Regent son, the father would say.

What a way to take away from a story like this.

We certainly clear that Jesus was growing up and see if he didn't sound of Joseph and Mary. He's also aware of who he was as the son of God.

Jesus led a devout Jewish life led by his mother and father. As he prepared for his public Ministry, at the age of 30.

We're told no more about Jesus. Life is pointed to the coming of John the Baptist and then cheese beginning his public Ministry.

But it's all part of the picture. We have who Jesus is the one who are called upon to believe and trust in. Just trying to get an understanding of why he came. He came as God, Son beside you of the world. Americold put a trust and faith in this one. It's not as I chases was just a child. Then he be kind of Son of God, lighter on. He was always the son of God. It's a responsive one of worship and of trust. Believe in Jesus. Play Time Apostle. But when he returned one more time, There, he gave his life as a ransom for many.

I we trust in this one. Son of God. One who came for us.