The Boy Jesus

by | Dec 30, 2018

First Sunday after Christmas

  1. A Good Example?
  2. The Only Savior!
SERMON TEXT:  Luke 2:41-52

Every year his parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. When he was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Festival. When the days had ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it. Since they thought he was in their group, they went a day’s journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? See, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”
He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be taking care of my Father’s business?” They did not understand what he was telling them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth. He was always obedient to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Bible Readings

FIRST LESSON:  1 Samuel 2:18-20,26

But Samuel ministered before the LORD while he was still a young boy, dressed in a special vest made of linen. His mother would make a little robe for him and bring it to him whenever she came up with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the LORD give you offspring from this woman in place of the son she asked for, whom she loaned to the LORD.” Then they would go back to their home. The young man Samuel continued to grow, and he increased in favor with both the LORD and with men.

SECOND LESSON:  Hebrews 2:10-18

Certainly it was fitting for God (the one for whom and through whom everything exists), in leading many sons to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to his goal through sufferings. For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. For that reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says: I will declare your name to my brothers. Within the congregation I will sing your praise. And again: I will trust in him. And again: Here I am and the children God has given me. Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood, he also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil) and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For surely he was not concerned with helping angels but with helping Abraham’s offspring. For this reason, he had to become like his brothers in every way, in order that he would be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, so that he could pay for the sins of the people. Indeed, because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

VERSE OF THE DAY:  Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

GOSPEL: Luke 2:41-52

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