Who is Jesus? Luke 2:41-52
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· 3 viewsEpiphany is about discovery. It is a sudden breakthrough of realization about something. During the season of Epiphany, our subject of discover is the identity of Jesus. This baby whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, was no ordinary child. He was human, but He was also God. This season we will look behind Jesus childhood and the beginning of His ministry looking for the gems that reveal that He was more than an ordinary person. He was in fact, God incarnate.
Notes
Transcript
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February 2, Faith Promise Sunday, Jose Acosta, Peru
February 8, Eileen Larkin Memorial Service, 11 a.m. with Potluck following, Bring cards for her nephew Mike.
4 p.m. Prayer Group or begin your own
Opening Scripture
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Prayer
Worship Set
Prayer
Worship Through the Word:
Who Is Jesus?
Who Is Jesus?
If you
adopted a child at a very young age, or gave birth to a child out of wedlock
and the father is estranged, there is a very difficult issue you face. At what age do you confront your child with
the information about their absent parent(s)?
How do you begin the conversation?
I know how difficult this can be.
I was a single mom. My son’s
father parted from me while I was pregnant and so my son grew up never having
met his father. As a baby, he was too
young to do anything about it, but eventually, things just became so routine, that
I forgot about it. Unfortunately, it
came up when a teacher asked the kids at school about the occupation of their
fathers. My son swiftly stated he did
not have a father, to which the other children stated that everyone has a
father! Before the day was out, his
teacher called me and apologized for the situation. However, it wasn’t her fault. It was negligent on my part not to have
addressed it sooner.
I suspect
it was somewhat the same for Joseph and Mary.
The days of Jesus birth with all its spectacular occurrences were 10-12
years in the past. Life had fallen into
a routine for them. Their routine was
just like any other normal Jewish household of their day. However, Jesus would quickly reveal that He
had no misunderstanding of who He was.
Please stand with me as we read today’s text.
Luke 2:41–52
NIV
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the
Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went
up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival
was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their
company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among
their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they
went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they
found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them
and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at
his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they
were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like
this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my
Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying
to them. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient
to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
The Word
of God for the people of God. Thanks be
to God!
Father, please bless this Word which you have
provided and which we now receive. Amen!
I. Jesus Was Never
Confused About His Identity.
I. Jesus Was Never
Confused About His Identity.
The
details of Jesus begin with an explosion of accounts. Zechariah’s angelic messenger revealing Zechariah’s
wife would give birth to a son, the prophesied forerunner to the Messiah. Mary’s angelic visit and Joseph’s
dreams. Jesus’ birth and the visits from
shepherds and wisemen. Then we hear of
Jesus’s circumcision and later presentation at the temple as all faithful Jews
practiced. Then His life account jumps
to today’s account, and we hear nothing more until he walks into the vicinity
of Jerusalem as a man of 30 years.
What was
happening all those years? Well Luke
tells us. Luke 2:52
Luke 2:52
NIV
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and man.
Jesus was
growing up and learning to be an adult like any of us do. It does not shock me that we only hear of
Jesus at age 12. The age of twelve is
one that I believe is very significant both then and now. Why?
Because…
A. Twelve Years is
the Age of Accountability .
Luke 2:41-42
A. Twelve Years is
the Age of Accountability .
Luke 2:41-42
Luke 2:41–42
NIV
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the
Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went
up to the festival, according to the custom.
Every year
Joseph and Mary made this journey without incident. But this year was going to be different. You see, Jesus is now 12 years old. There is a reason why we are told his age,
and it is because of the significance it has for what takes place. You see, in the Jewish culture, this is
the...
1. Jewish year for personal
accountability under the Law .
1. Jewish year for personal
accountability under the Law .
I am sure
you have all heard the term, Bar Mitzvah.
I am not sure you understand exactly what it is about. At the age of 12 (in Jesus’ day), this is the
year when young people became accountable for themselves under the law. They took responsibility for actions. They were considered adults. A Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony and celebration
of this moment, still practiced today.
Jesus would have felt the tug that every teen does, an eagerness to be
more independent. This is perhaps why
Jesus felt free to remain at the temple without his parents. He would have been given more freedom by his
parents at this age, which probably explains why they did not miss him sooner.
However,
some of this same idea transcends the Jewish culture as we find that...
2. Age 12 is
understood symbolically, to be the year of accountability spiritually
in the Christian faith.
2. Age 12 is
understood symbolically, to be the year of accountability spiritually
in the Christian faith.
In both
the Christian and Jewish tradition, a person who dies under a certain age is
not believed to suffer hell but enjoy heaven.
The age is loosely stated as age 12, give or take based on a child’s
maturity level. It is not age that
matters, but their ability to reason enough to understand what sin is and have
enough maturity to understand the consequences of their choices. We have similar practices in our judicial
system. When a teenager commits a crime, the Prosecutor seeks to determine how
much the youth understands about the consequences of their crime. They then decide whether to try them as a
child or as an adult based on how responsible they deem them to be for their
actions. God does not judge based on age either, but on
mature understanding. To understand this
better, we must understand what constitutes sin. We are each born with a sin nature. In other words, the inclination is there, and
it does not take much to stroke it into play.
Ex: You may love candy and understand it is bad
for you. However, if I set a dish of
candy in front of you, do you ignore it, or does it call your name? 😊
We all know the answer to that. It is a
temptation because we love it and we are more inclined to ignore our mind and
eat the thing to satisfy our palette. 😊That
is what our sin nature is like. It takes
work and discipline to overcome our desires.
However,
God does not judge us because we are tempted, we are only judged when we willfully
commit the sin action. Sin is a
rebellious action against God or God’s Law.
Children are born with a sin nature.
They often act out their temptations but with no real understanding of
the consequences. You can tell a 3-year-old
that candy is bad for you, all you want.
They do not comprehend it. They
just know they want it. Their rebellion
is not specifically directed at you. Their
rebellion is an act of frustration because they do not understand why you will
not allow them to have the candy. Likewise,
a child is not directly rebelling against God.
It is just testing the world to learn.
Therefore, a child’s actions are not considered sinful acts, as we would
describe sin, though they are actions of a sinful nature. The age of accountability is the age at which
time a child understands his actions are wrong and willfully chooses to do it
anyway. It is not a learning experience,
but a rebellious action of autonomy.
Once they have this understanding, they are stated to be at the age of
accountability. They become responsible
for their actions. The reason this
usually takes place at around age 12 is because…
3. Age 12 is often
when abstract reasoning begins.
3. Age 12 is often
when abstract reasoning begins.
To
understand this, we must understand concrete from abstract thinking. “Concrete understanding involves perceiving
and interpreting objects and experiences directly through the senses, while
abstract understanding involves thinking about complex concepts and ideas
without being tied to specific examples or experiences.”
If I show
a child a car, they can see that the round tire moves the vehicle. An abstract understanding would be able to
understand the deeper science behind that basic truth, even if the wagon or car
was not sitting in front of them. They
can reason why something round allows an object to move even without seeing it.
When I was
a children’s pastor, my favorite grades to teach were 5th and 6th graders. I watched as they often had “Ah-Ha
moments!” I used to ask open-ended questions,
and you could just see the wheels working in their minds. They would get this look on their face and
you knew they were deep in thought. After
a moment of thought, their faces would brighten and they would make a
declaration, or their faces would screw up and they would give a tentative
answer as they sought to understand.
When something clicked for them, they would get so excited! Life is becoming a new adventure at this
point because abstract reasoning allows them to have greater understanding of
life in general. Abstract reasoning is
what is needed to understand sin. It is
this ability to think abstractly that moves a child into an age of
accountability. This is also why…
4. It is the age when
kids begin to pull away from their
parents seeking independence .
4. It is the age when
kids begin to pull away from their
parents seeking independence .
This is in
part, what moves them to pull away from their parents. As parents, we become used to giving them all
the answers, but now they feel a need to learn for themselves. To explore and think and try new things. This is why they often seek alone time. Their minds are busy abstractly trying to
figure out the world, their family, their friends, and themselves. The pulling away isn’t wrong, however, we
need to help them understand how to do so appropriately. When they begin to pull away, it should que
us that the time is right for some changes.
5. It is an important
age to establish new boundaries and increase responsibilities .
5. It is an important
age to establish new boundaries and increase responsibilities .
We need to
find appropriate ways to give them more freedom, while also increasing
responsibility. This is not always easy
on us as parents. But it is key to their
development.
Jesus was
God incarnate. That means he was human
and exploring all these same experiences.
It is important to understand that…
B. Jesus Was a Typical
Teenager. Luke
2:43-45
B. Jesus Was a Typical
Teenager. Luke
2:43-45
As we continue with this passage, we need to remember
this.
Luke 2:43–45
NIV
43 After the festival was over, while his parents were
returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware
of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a
day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.
Jesus,
understanding that he was now at that age of accountability, assumed he had
more freedom. At least, this is the way
I anticipate it due to my years of experience with this age group. He was not purposely evading them. He was fascinated, as we will see shortly,
with what was occurring in the temple.
Since he was of the age considered an adult, and responsible under the
Law, he felt he had the right to be here learning about the Law. As a human, he did not have omniscient abilities,
allowing him to see the concern this posed for his parents. His actions were not of a rebellious nature. He was just exploring this new stage of
independence like any 18-year-old does today.
However, like most parents, they
were not prepared for full independence just yet. Independence comes in stages between parents
and teens, and teens are usually slow to understand this.
I suspect we
all have stories about our kids at this stage.
In our culture, it is 18, not 12, when we consider them adults. However, we use adult loosely. I know that when my son turned 18, he
suddenly stopped obeying the house rules.
He thought that since he was 18, they no longer applied. I had to let him know that as far as I was
concerned, if he was still in school and under my roof, there were certain
rules that remained in play. So, in Jesus’
mind, He had no clue that anything was wrong.
However,
we can tell by the details that...
1. Jesus was
obviously well behaved.
1. Jesus was
obviously well behaved.
This is
evident in the fact that it took a full day before his parents noticed his
absence. I am sure they had more
children by this time. We know that
Jesus had several brothers and sisters. It would be abnormal to not have more
kids within 12 years. So, they would not
have been concerned with Jesus until the caravan settled down.
Keep in
mind that travel was not always safe in those days. During these times of the Jewish festivals,
there were many people traveling, and they traveled together for safety and
companionship. It would have been a
festival atmosphere with lots of visiting among friends and family as they
traveled. However, come time to end the
journey, there would have been overnight shelters to set up, dinner to prepare,
children to get settled down. As the
oldest, Jesus was probably looked to for help with these nightly camping
chores. Perhaps Mary said, Joseph, can
you send Jesus out to get some firewood when he gets here? However, before long it becomes apparent, he
isn’t showing up. They begin making
inquiries. There were no cell phones to
call him. No telegraph. Not even a megaphone. Perhaps the older brother or sisters were
sent up and down the line asking for him and soon they return to report that no
one has seen him. Here we find that...
2. Jesus’ parents respond
like any parent would.
2. Jesus’ parents respond
like any parent would.
Their
concern would continue to grow as the night fell. I suspect they spent a sleepless night as
they wrestled with the fear that they most certainly felt. Anyone who has been a parent has probably faced
this situation at least once, probably multiple times. I woke from a nap one time, and it took me half
an hour to find Jacob. I have never
known fear like I knew in that moment.
Another time in a store, he thought it was funny to duck in the middle
of some clothes and hide. It was a game for
him, but he quickly learned it was not a fun game!
We can all
identify with the fear that Joseph and Mary felt that night. They swiftly headed back, but they had to
continue to question people along the way to make sure they didn’t pass him by. This would delay what was originally a day’s
journey. When they arrive in Jerusalem,
it is crowded with people, buildings, and alleys. They probably checked with any friends or
family in the area first. Then all the marketplaces
and alleys. Eventually, they make their
way to the temple. It is difficult to
know if it was another place to look or if they were coming there to pray. However, it was there that they found
him. He was doing the last thing most
would expect a 12-year-old to do. You
see,
C. Jesus Had a Desire
to Grow Spiritually . Luke
2:46-47
C. Jesus Had a Desire
to Grow Spiritually . Luke
2:46-47
Luke 2:46–47
NIV
46 After three days they found him in the temple courts,
sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
You must
wonder how that works. He ultimately was
God! However, as we saw in Philippians 2, He emptied Himself of those things that made Him God. He was not omniscient in this form. He did not see or feel the fear of Mary and
Joseph. He had no idea about the trouble
he had caused them. He just felt a
hunger to learn and understand.
Jerusalem was the hub for all the great teachers of the Law and the
scriptures. It was a daily occurrence
that many would huddle, either sitting or standing around the temple discussing
the scriptures and Laws. Jesus was full
of questions and eager to learn.
I have
often wondered what he did each night that he was there. Did he find a corner of the temple to sleep
in? Did it give him a sense of nearness
to His true Father to be there? I have
no idea. I cannot answer that. Perhaps one of the teachers asked him over
for dinner and to spend the night, fascinated by this one so young, yet so
eager. Perhaps they saw him as a future
student. A protege. Many teachers of the law sought after pupils
who they felt could be a feather in their cap.
Whatever
the situation was, we do not know. But we do see that...
1. Jesus was already
focused on spiritual things over worldly
things.
1. Jesus was already
focused on spiritual things over worldly
things.
Most boys
of his age would have been out together in the marketplace, or in some open
square playing together. However, we see
that Jesus was already focused on spiritual things, not the things that most
would be drawn to.
We often
do not see children or youth having such a spiritual desire, but I would state
that this is often inspired by upbringing.
When children are exposed to the church and Biblical teaching, they
often do show an interest. In fact,
children in such environments often give their hearts to the Lord at a very
young age. Even when they later drift
from it, their early disposition towards God seems to call to them as they grow
older. Many return to church after they
are married or after they have kids.
We often
see this drifting away begin around the age of 12. This is because the world is becoming more
interesting. It presents them with so many
adventures. I hate to say it, but I
believe the church is to blame. We do
not challenge them enough at this age.
Too many sell children and teens short on what they can understand or
even be interested in. However, a life
with God is an adventure, but we fail to demonstrate this to youth. We fail to give them opportunities to
discover this adventure because we do not challenge them enough.
When I was
a children’s pastor, my most popular class was an elective. It was Catechism. I only taught it to 5th and 6th graders. I used the same curriculum that my colleagues
did, but they all told me they were not sure how I had such success with the
class. They often taught it as a Sunday
school class and the kids did not show up most of the time. Mine was an elective after normal hours and I
had great attendance. The kids even
talked about the class outside of class to others. I believe the difference is how I began the
class. I used a tool that helped them to
understand that this class and the relationship they began with God would have
a great impact on their life. Once they
understood that, they felt it was worth their time and threw themselves into
it.
I personally,
was fortunate that I had parents who talked about God all the time. Everything we did or said as well as
everything we observed in the world, were spoken of in conjunction with God and
God’s Word. When I went to the Bible
college, I had several professors tell me that it was evident that I had a
solid Christian upbringing. It was
apparent due to my passion for God and the Word of God, as well as my
understanding of the Word. Godly parents
who are passionate about God and His Word, help develop children with the same
passion. Preschool age is a great time
to see children come to the Lord, and I would say that age 11/12 is a great
time to see them develop a passion for God.
This in turn provides a dynamic youth group that has a passion to spread
the gospel. I had more than one youth
pastor tell me as much. They noticed a
difference when children pastors had provided solid biblical foundations with
the youth promoting into their classes.
A common
misunderstanding of this passage of scripture has to do with what Jesus was
doing. We need to understand that...
2. Jesus was learning
not teaching .
2. Jesus was learning
not teaching .
Many
artists often depict this moment with Jesus in the middle of a circle of
teachers. More likely, a teacher was
probably at the center and a group standing around him. Jesus would have pushed through to the front
to see and hear better; however, he was greatly engaged in the subject and
asking questions. When they asked
questions back, his comprehension and understanding would have fascinated and
engaged his teachers.
Now, allow
me to return to the question, how can God as Jesus, grow spiritually? As I said earlier, and according to
Philippians, he emptied himself of those things to live and experience
everything we do. That included growing
in his spiritual knowledge and relationship with God. In verse 52, it says he grew in favor with
God as well as with man. That means, he
took time like any of us would, to spend time with God. To question and seek God and God’s will.
On this day,
I am sure he was learning to understand God’s word, but he was also probably
growing in his understanding of man and man’s understanding of scripture as
well. Like any of us, he had to learn
before he could teach. He had to
understand our understanding to help us see where we were getting it
wrong. He was learning to listen and
learning to communicate with others. All
these things were essential in his upbringing to prepare him for ministry.
Yet we
also notice that...
3. Jesus demonstrated
understanding beyond their expectation.
3. Jesus demonstrated
understanding beyond their expectation.
First, as
stated before, people often sell young people short. They can understand far more than we give
them credit for. They can also do far
more than we often expect of them. I am
sure that other youth of Jesus’ time had the capacity that Jesus had to
understand, Jesus just had more interest in the subject in that moment. Or perhaps he just pushed more. Which brings me to my next point.
D. Jesus Comprehended
His Identity . Luke
2:48-50
D. Jesus Comprehended
His Identity . Luke
2:48-50
Luke 2:48–50
NIV
48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother
said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have
been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for
me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50
But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
This
brings us back to my opening statements about how old a child must be to
comprehend natural parents over adopted parents, or the subject of parents in
general. At what age, did Jesus become
aware of His true Father? Perhaps it was
on this trip, though I think His confidence implies he had understood for some
time. It is apparent, that He knows
exactly who His Father was and even at this time in His life, and He had a
desire to spend time with His heavenly Father.
This desire to be alone with His Father is seen throughout His
life. However, Jesus was always respectful
to his earthly parents as demonstrated next.
1. Jesus had a private
conversation with His earthly parents.
1. Jesus had a private
conversation with His earthly parents.
When Jesus
answers his mother regarding His heavenly Father, I do not believe this was a
loud declaration before the crowd. I see
it occurring like this. Upon finding
Jesus, Joseph and Mary pull or signal him away from the group. They take him over to a side of the room
where Mary scolds Jesus and Jesus responds to the two people whom He knows will
understand. It was always respectful yet…
2. Jesus affirms
His true Father to His parents.
2. Jesus affirms
His true Father to His parents.
Jesus in
turn may be reminding them. Just like an
adoptive parent, Joseph and Mary would get accustomed to their relationship as
his parents and it would be easy to forget that his birth was not of natural
causes. Joseph is not a blood parent,
though Mary is. However, Jesus has a
different role to play. One which he
will remind Mary of on various occasions.
However, again we find Jesus obedient as he leaves with Joseph and
Mary. You see,
3. Jesus understood
He had nothing to prove to those who didn’t understand.
3. Jesus understood
He had nothing to prove to those who didn’t understand.
Joseph and
Mary had some understanding, but not complete understanding. I do not believe Jesus made his declaration
in a scolding or hurtful way. I just
think he did not comprehend that they did not fully understand all that he
understood. However, instead of arguing
with them. He just honored them by
respecting their authority, even though He already comprehended His true
identity. In all these things we find
that...
E.
Jesus Had a Normal Upbringing. Luke
2:51-52
E.
Jesus Had a Normal Upbringing. Luke
2:51-52
Luke 2:51–52
NIV
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to
them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And
Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
1. Jesus respected
authority.
1. Jesus respected
authority.
Hebrews 5:7-9says,
Hebrews 5:7–9
NIV
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up
prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save
him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and,
once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey
him.
Jesus
learned to submit first to His earthly parents and then to God. When we train our children to respect us and
those in authority, we are also preparing them for a good relationship with
God. It is not easy. It is complex, because we need to balance it
with growing their confidence in themselves and who God created them to be. When people trust God and have confidence in
who God created them to be, they have nothing to prove, and it becomes easier
to submit to others. Jesus knew who He
was. He did not need to prove it to anyone,
and He never tried. He spoke the truth
to those who would listen. Out of
compassion, many saw demonstrations of who He was, but He never performed miracles
out of a need to prove himself. He knew
who He was and what he had come to accomplish.
As we saw in that last passage, it was not easy for him. He cried fervent tears and poured out his
heart before His heavenly Father about what was coming. He knew the pain that He would suffer, and He
didn’t relish it any more than you or I would.
He was human just like us. He
felt pain and anticipated pain, just like us.
Yet he held his ground and continued all the way to the cross. I do not want to belabor the point, but it is
important to understand that…
2. Jesus grew in all
the same ways any human does. Luke 2:52;
Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-2
2. Jesus grew in all
the same ways any human does. Luke 2:52;
Hebrews 4:15-16; 1 Peter 4:1-2
1 Peter 4:1–2
NIV
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm
yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is
done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of
their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
I have often heard it said, even if I were to find there is
no God, I would choose to live as if there were because it leads to a good
life! I agree, yet I also have no doubt
about God. I believe He is what makes it
a good life!
Hebrews 4:15–16
NIV
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as
we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of
grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us
in our time of need.
Jesus was
God, but we should never discount that in this moment in world history, Jesus
was a man. He experienced all the same
things we experience as He grew up.
a. Spiritual
Growth
a. Spiritual
Growth
Just like
us, he needed to take time away to be alone with God. He needed to listen to teachers and ask
questions to grow in understanding spiritual concepts. He needed to develop a prayer life and take
time to listen to God. He depended on
the Holy Spirit to direct and guide each action He took, each Word He spoke.
b. Physical
Development
b. Physical
Development
He was
born a baby. He was circumcised and
dedicated to God by his parents. He grew
up and experienced all the same awkward physical moments any young boy would
experience.
c. Social
Skills
c. Social
Skills
He needed
to develop social skills. This included
learning to be obedient and respectful of others. It meant spending time with others in
conversation, so he could learn to communicate well with others. I believe this includes a sense of humor. The ability to laugh and to tease. Remember, this is the man who named two of
his best friends, Sons of Thunder. I
would say he liked to tease.
d. Intellectually ,
in knowledge and wisdom
d. Intellectually ,
in knowledge and wisdom
He also
went to school. He learned to read and
write. He learned about history, the
Law, prophecy, and all other types of things a boy growing up would be taught. He grew in knowledge and then he needed to
learn wise applications.
Just as
those skills were important to his upbringing, they are for us as well. I do not believe we will ever stop learning.
In fact, I believe we will be learning new things in heaven. I suspect all through eternity, we will continue
to learn new things. Best of all, I believe a big part of that learning will
include our knowledge of God. No matter how long we hold a relationship with
someone, there is always something more we can learn about them. That is part of the fun of the journey called
relationships. I believe that God has so
many facets to His person, His nature, and His Character and powers, that a
good part of our eternal life will be discovering more about Him, all the while
growing in our relationship with Him. It
is an experience I am looking forward to and I hope you have the same desire.
Prayer
Worship Set
Benediction
