SPECIAL DAY: First Sunday after Christmas

December 28, 1997 - LESSON: Deuteronomy 6:1-13; Luke 2:41-52, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: Home Schooled

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INTRODUCTION:

The Crandells had gone to Woodfield Shopping Center, in Schaumberg. George and Frieda had things they wanted to do. Fourteen year old Jerry didn't want to go with either of them. He was a responsible boy, so Dad gave him some spending money. They decided that they would meet next to the central information counter at 4:45 p.m. This would give them time to get ready for dinner at the Filling Station. Jerry really liked the large burgers and the great fries.

4:45 p.m. came and George and Frieda were waiting at the agreed upon place, but where was Jerry? George! Have you seen Jerry? He should have been here by now. You could hear the anxiety in Frieda's voice. They waited a few more minutes, searching anxiously for a familiar face in the strangers that passed them.

What were the Crandell's to do? Woodfield is a huge place. They approached the information center and asked if the person would be willing to page their son. Soon the announcement was heard, "Would Jerry Crandell please join your parents at the information center." Some time passed and no Jerry. Would the helpful person try again? The second time the announcement went out over the P.A. system.

George and Frieda were beginning to show some signs of panic. No matter how cool and calm they tried to be strange thoughts of danger or disaster filtered into their minds. Thoughts that they didn't even dare to express to one another. What could Jerry have been thinking, where could he be?

Dad had one small inspiration. "Frieda you wait here, I want to go and see if I can find Jerry. As Dad got close to the place he had in mind, he could hear the beeps and dings, the roar of motors, the forced grunts of individuals in mortal combat. Looking in the space, dad saw Jerry busy, playing a video game. He gently tapped Jerry on the shoulder, the strain of the last few minutes clearly seen in his face. With a sigh of relief, he said, "Let's go, its time for dinner." "But Dad," exclaimed Jerry, "Look at my score." I have got more points than anyone else. "Great," replied Dad, "Come along, your mother is very worried. You know you are very late." "Didn't you hear the announcement of the PA system." Who could hear anything over the noise of the games at that Aladdin's Castle.

Jerry was sorry. He had gotten so involved in a game that he forgot all about the time and his promise. They hurried to where mother was waiting. As the story unfolded her anger grew, "What do you mean putting us through an experience like this?" "Why didn't you stop and think how we might be feeling." "I'm sorry mom, I'm sorry, Can we go and get dinner now." It would be a while before things cooled down and returned to normal. At least the food was good.

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  1. There is another story of a lost child.
    1. It provides us with the opportunity to answer a question.
      1. Is Jesus lost or are his parents?
    2. Jesus knows where he is
    3. His parents know where they are.
  2. Is being lost a location or a state of mind?

MAIN BODY:

  1. It is late in the day when Mary and Joseph discover that Jesus is missing.
    1. It could easily happen.
      1. Mary and Joseph were in a large caravan.
      2. People traveled in groups for protection and mutual assistance.
      3. When traveling the women often walked in front of the men.
    2. So Mary thought Jesus was with Joseph
    3. Joseph thought Jesus was with Mary.
    4. That evening as Mary and Joseph stopped and set up camp for the night, they discovered that Jesus was missing.
  2. They had to wait until morning to retrace their way to Jerusalem to look for Jesus.
    1. How do you find a lost child?
      1. They could not appeal to the police, there were no police as we understand the term.
      2. They could not put his picture on posters or milk cartons.
      3. They could only go to all the places they had been.
        1. The inn keeper where they stayed had not seen Jesus.
        2. He was not to be found in the market-place where they had bought necessities.
        3. They did not find him in any of the historic sites that they had visited.
      4. They heard a rumor of a child doing the unexpected.

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    2. Luke reports that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
      1. All who observed the dialogue were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
      2. They were also amazed that the teachers put up with the impertinence of the child.
        1. Students did not ask questions.
        2. Students did not sit with the teachers, the customary position was standing in the presence of the revered teacher.
  3. When his parents saw him they were astonished.
    1. His mother, in her statement to Jesus, reveals not only her state of mind, but also her understanding of being lost.
      1. "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."
      2. For Mary, lostness is a location.
      3. Jesus was lost because he was not with them in the same place.
    2. Jesus in his response to his mother reveals his understanding of being lost.
      1. "Why were you searching for me?"
        1. This is not the response that we would expect from a child of eleven going on twelve.
        2. We would expect relief, joy, and gratitude at being found and reunited.
      2. "Did you not know that I must be about my father's business."
        1. What is his father's business?
        2. What is it that Jesus is about?

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  4. For Jesus lostness is a state of mind.
    1. It is the reason that he came into the world.
      1. He came to "seek and save the lost."
      2. The parables that he told often had to do with being lost.
        1. A lost coin
        2. A lost sheep
        3. A lost child, a prodigal.
        4. A lost nation.
    2. When he became and adult, Jesus went in search of the lost.
      1. To redeem them.
      2. To bring them home again.
      3. To provide them with a place.
  5. Lost is not a location.
    1. We can be physically lost.
      1. We don't know exactly where we are in relation to where we have been or where we might be going.
      2. We can find our way.

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    2. My step-daughter, Karin Miller, gave me a wonderful Father's Day card.
      1. It show a man sitting in an automobile.
      2. The caption reads: "Real men don't need maps."
      3. But of course we do.
    3. We can use a map.
    4. We can ask for directions.
    5. As a last resort, we can retrace our path and start all over again to find our way.
  6. More dangerous than being physically lost is being mentally lost.
    1. We know what happens when people lose their minds.
      1. Sometimes this is due to illness.
      2. Sometimes it is due to physical breakdowns if the arterial system.
      3. Sometimes it is ignorance or misunderstanding.
    2. Regardless it is dangerous to one's mental health and outlook.

CONCLUSION:

  1. Jesus does not want us to be lost.
    1. When he says "I must be in my father's house (about my father's business." he is providing us the means to finding ourselves.
    2. He provides a model for life.
    3. We also must be about our father's business and in our father's house.
  2. Jesus can help us to find our way home.
  3. God help us to let him find us and save us.

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