Scripture Reading: Luke 2:41-50
Looking for Jesus
Intro.
1. Those who earnestly seek God find Him, because He gives evidences of His presence and power, Acts 17:24-28.
2. Seek God in truth, loyal heart, and willing mind, 1 Chron. 28:9.
3. People still look for Jesus (cf. this time of year).
a. Yet: “You will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you cannot come” (Jno. 7:34-36).
b. Why don’t they find Him? (Wrong heart, wrong source of information, wrong purposes)
4. Why are you looking for Jesus? Have you found Him? (Are you sure you have found Him? Why are you sure?) Where are you looking? Where will you find Him?
I. THE WISE MEN LOOKED FOR JESUS, Matt. 2:1-11.
A. To Worship the Newborn King, 2:1-2.
1. A worthy purpose for seeking Jesus, cf. Psa. 2:10-12.
2. Our aim is to seek Him, find Him, and worship Him, Jno. 4:24.
B. They Found Jesus Where Men Would Least Expect to Find a King, Matt. 2:4-6.
1. The King is found in the Scriptures, 2:5-6 (Mic. 5:2); cf. Zech. 9:9.
2. In Scripture, the light God sent (truth) still guides us to the king, cf. Jno. 1:4-5, 8-9, 14, 16-17.
3. When they found the King, they worshiped Him, Matt. 2:9-11.
II. HIS PARENTS LOOKED FOR JESUS, Lk. 2:41-50.
A. They Looked Among their Family and Friends, 2:43-45.
1. Reasonable (describe journey to/from Jerusalem for Passover).
2. Jesus may indeed be in the lives of our family and friends, 2 Tim. 1:5. (cf. Lois and Eunice’s influence on Timothy, 2 Tim. 3:14-15)
3. But, family and friends are not the final say (source/standard) by which we find Jesus.
a. Note: Even His parents didn’t know where Jesus was!
b. Parents are not an infallible source of truth. But, parents should direct children to the source that is – the word of God.)
c. Parents can be wrong, but God’s word never is, Prov. 2:1-6.
4. Christ’s gospel leads us to Him, even when parents refuse truth, Matt. 10:34-37.
B. In Familiar Places, 2:45.
1. Jerusalem. cf. Monuments, shrines, and cathedrals built and maintained by men, Acts 7:48; 17:23, 29.
2. In our comfortable traditions, Gal. 1:13-16.
3. In the commands and doctrines of men, Col. 2:8, 20-23.
C. Found Jesus Doing His Father’s Business, 2:49; Jno. 8:29, 54-55.
-Like Jesus, we must do the Father’s will, Jno. 9:4; Matt. 7:21.
III. EVEN THOSE WITH SELFISH INTERESTS LOOK FOR JESUS, Jno. 6:22-26.
A. Cannot Find Jesus when we Operate on Selfish Purposes and/or False Teachings, cf. Jno. 6:14-15; Matt. 7:21-23.
1. We must follow His agenda, not our own, 6:15, 26.
2. When we seek Jesus with bias (religious, moral, etc.) we will not find Him! Jas. 4:1-10 (8)
3. “Lord, Lord” is not sufficient, Lk. 6:46.
4. Diligently seek Him in faith, Heb. 11:6. ekzeteo: “to search out, investigate, crave, demand” (Strong’s, I:26); “to exert effort to find out or learn something, seek out, search for” (BDAG, 302)
-People of faith seek/find God by hearing and doing His will (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham…), Heb. 11 (Rom. 10:17).
Conclusion
1. Seek Jesus, and you will find Him, Matt. 7:7-8 (Jer. 29:11-14).
2. You will find Jesus in His holy word of truth (preached so lost souls find Jesus and His salvation), Acts 17:30-31; Col. 1:28; Jno. 1:14.
3. Look in the right place for the right reasons, and you will find Jesus. He is in His gospel (truth); Messiah’s grace is available, Jno. 1:35-41.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted November 27, 2019