A Revealing Snapshot of Our Savior: Gospel of Luke #8
This is an exposition of Luke 2:39-52. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 10, 2016.
Intro
As a kid I was blessed to have my grandparents living just a few blocks from my house. I spent a lot of time there. I would get on my bike and ride over and spend hours with my Mema and Papa. Often just watching television, sometimes “working” in the garden or cleaning out under the back porch but I didn’t mind because before the visit was over I’d be pouring peanuts into my bottle of ice cold Pepsi and relaxing before the ride home. One of my favorite activities was getting out the cardboard box filled with old photographs. I would spend hours looking at those pictures as my Mema told me the stories of those pictured. Those old black and white photos would turn into living color in my mind as I imaged what their lives were like. I would laugh as she said, “That was me just before your daddy was born.” I would look at pictures of cousins I’d never met and wonder what their lives were like now. Eventually we’d put the box away and I would leave only to return and travel down that same road again and again. I also loved looking at my dad’s high school yearbooks. I did that again recently and saw some of you! When I look at the pictures of my own children I see, in those pictures, traits that have come to full flower in my now grown children and hints of what is beginning to show in my grandchildren. Snapshots can be very revealing. A snapshot, unlike a portrait, is an unguarded moment. I brief summary of insight into a person’s life. Luke alone gives us a snapshot of our Lord as a child and it is very revealing. Our text this morning is found in Luke Luke 2 beginning with Luke 2:39.
Text: Luke 2:39-52
Luke ends his birth narrative with a summary statement in Luke 2:40: …and the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
He then ends the chapter in Luke 2:52 with: …And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
In between these two summary statements is the lone account of Jesus as a boy.
We read of his birth and events connected with it.
Then this story about him as a 12 year-old.
Then nothing until he is 30 and begins his public ministry.
No doubt after his interviews Luke would have many things he could have told us about the childhood of Jesus but of all the things Jesus said and did during the first 30 years of his life, this is the only one recorded in the Scriptures. So…it must have special significance.
As we work through this text I want us to see that…
Thesis: This snapshot from the childhood of our Lord reveals the wonder of the incarnation, the glory of his relationship with God and a foreshadowing of his self-denial and faithful service.
I want to point out three things.
- The wonder of the incarnation – (2:39-40, 52) – His being made like us in every way is the basis of his compassionate understanding of our weakness.
- The glory of his unique person – (2:41-50) – As the only begotten Son of God he has great influence as our intercessor.
- The audacity of his humility – (2:51) – The obedient Child a picture of his selfless service.