January 15, 2006

A Christmas Story

Twelve Years Old

Luke 2:41-52

Opening Words: Like Michelangelo created David from a block of marble, Advent was a time to chisel away all the excess in your life. For hiding inside of you is the person that God intended. Perhaps, you had to chisel away your prejudices, stereotypes and frustrations. You may have had to chisel away your negativity or set your sights higher. Christmas is over and perhaps you still have some work to do! Keep going because when you are finished you will discover yourself, the way God intended from the very beginning.

Today, you will hear the last of my nine part sermon series I have called A Christmas Story. All these messages have been based on the scripture lessons revolving around the birth of Christ. We began with the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth. We end with the only story of Jesus’ youth. Someone once said Jesus’ childhood is like a beautiful garden hidden behind a tall wall or fence. Of the four gospel writers, only Luke has chosen to enter the garden and pluck a single flower. Let me call this message Twelve Years Old. This is my question for you today. Do you remember being twelve years old?

Introduction

According to the scriptures, it was time for the Passover, that holy festival when the Jews remembered how God had liberated them from Egypt. The law required all Jewish men go to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. However, that legislation was not necessary. People wanted to go to Jerusalem. It served as a great reunion. Entire communities would go. Enter communities would travel together. The reason was security. There is safety in numbers. The women and the younger children would travel in the front. The men and older boys would travel in the rear. That is how Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem.

According to the scriptures, Jesus was twelve years old. Do you remember being twelve years old? You are no longer a child. However, you are not yet an adult. Twelve years old is a strange age. Does Jesus travel in front of the caravan with Mary and the other women or does Jesus travel in the rear of the caravan with Joseph and the other men? Mary thinks Jesus is with Joseph and Joseph thinks Jesus is with Mary. It is not until the end of a long day that the truth is known. Jesus is lost. To say the least it was a bad day for Mary and Joseph but it was a good day for us. For it is in this family crisis that we learn three divine truths about being twelve years olds. Do you remember being twelve years old?

Body

This morning we are going to look at those three divine truths. They are three things that every twelve year old lacks. Each one begins with the letter F. Each one is illustrated for us in the story of Jesus at the temple at twelve years old. If you can remember being twelve years old say, “Amen!”

Divine Truth Number One: Every twelve-year-old needs a foundation. According to the scriptures, it took Mary and Joseph three days to find the boy Jesus. They found him in the temple. Verse 46 says they found him in the temple courts with the teachers of the law. He was listening and asking questions. Jesus was not lecturing. Jesus was listening. Jesus had a few questions. Jesus had a few spiritual hunger pains. Augustine once said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” When you are twelve years old you discover your own mortality. Would anyone here like to go to heaven? Do you remember being twelve years old?

In the nineteenth century there was a Scottish preacher Horatius Bonar. He asked 253 Christian friends at what ages they were converted. Here's what he discovered:

Under 20 years of age - 138
Between 20 and 30 - 85
Between 30 and 40 - 22
Between 40 and 50 - 4
Between 50 and 60 - 3
Between 60 and 70 - 1
Over 70 - 0

In other words, fifty-five percent of everyone being converted is under twenty years old. Ninety-seven percent of everyone accepting Christ is under forty. This study was done in the nineteenth century but those same figures hold true today. When you are twelve years old you begin to wrestle with your own mortality.

The world has changed. Twelve-year-olds have so much to do. They have many options. I love to see children doing wholesome activities. I love to see them playing pee-wee football. I love to see them in the band. I love to see them at the YMCA. I love to see them playing baseball and basketball. Those are great things but where I really want to see them is in heaven! Twelve year olds have a spiritual hunger. Wholesome activities are not enough. They need a spiritual foundation. Twelve year olds need Jesus! If you remember being twelve years old and needing a foundation say, “Amen!” Do you remember being twelve years old?

Divine Truth Number Two: Every twelve-year-old needs a family. According to the scripture, verse 44, when Mary and Joseph discovered that the boy Jesus was missing they started to look for him among their family and friends. This is not surprising because they understood what we often forget. It takes a whole community to raise a child! Within the tradition of the United Methodist Church we believe it takes a whole community to raise a child.

A few minutes ago we witnessed one of the great events in the life of the church, infant baptism. It is easy to get caught up in the emotions of the moment. Andrew is such a precious little boy with a beautiful big sister in Lily. The parents are proud. However, the thing that makes baptisms so wonderful is that we have all agreed to raise Andrew within the life of the church. Bob and Hillary you have promised to raise your children within the life of the church. The church has promised to create an atmosphere so Andrew can learn about Jesus, so someday he can accept Jesus for himself. It is not easy being Christian parents in our world. That is what you said in that little paragraph. It is not easy creating a Christian environment. We are not working with unlimited amounts of time or money. However, with God’s help we will succeed because Andrew needs us and we need Andrew. Through the eyes of God, we are not just church members. We are family. Your family may not see eye to eye on everything, but in the end you are family. We are family. We protect and support one another. Twelve year olds need family. If you remember being twelve years old and needing family, say, “Amen!” Do you remember being twelve years old?

Divine Truth Number Three: Every twelve-year-old needs a father. According to the scriptures, when Mary and Joseph finally discovered Jesus sitting in the temple courts being instructed by the teacher, they were a little upset. Mary reprimands the boy and Jesus responds by saying his first recorded words. Verse 49 Jesus says, “Why were you searching for me? Did you know I had to be in my father’s house?” The word Luke uses for “father” is not the one used to described your relative. The word Luke uses can also be translated Daddy. The twelve-year-old Jesus took God out of the cold formal structure of the temple and placed him at our point of need. I have never met a person who wasn’t interested in God when life was hard.

When I was twelve years old my Uncle Carlisle died. He was my father’s little brother. He was my father’s only brother. He was forty-four years old. He had a massive heart attack. I remember going to the funeral. I sat between my mother and my father. It was at that funeral that I saw something I had never seen before. My father cried uncontrollably. I never saw my father cry again but I will never forget his grief. Life is hard! From time to time we all need a some help. It was my mother who held my hand until the service was over. It is wonderful to believe in God on Christmas and Easter. Everything is so impressive. But there are times when all you need is God to hold your hand when life is hard. When you are twelve years old you discover that life can be hard and there are times you need a little help. If you remember being twelve years old and needing a daddy, say, “Amen!” Do you remember being twelve years old?

Conclusion

In 1969, I was twelve years old. Richard Nixon was president. Joe Namath and the New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Colts in the Super Bowl. America was at war in Vietnam. I was twelve years old! I wasn’t a child! I wasn’t a man! I was twelve years old and I needed a few things. First, I needed a foundation. I wouldn’t accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior for another five years! Second, I needed a family. I needed a group of people to surround me with love. Third, I needed a heavenly father to help me when life was hard. Do you remember being twelve years old? Perhaps, you needed those things too? Maybe, you still do? And all of God’s people say, “Amen!