As we stand in this first Sunday of 2022, I’m aware of what’s at stake. New possibilities are at stake. New dreams, new visions, new opportunities, along with a new you, and a new drive are all busting at the seams believing and trusting that THIS IS MY YEAR. This is my year to do. This is my year to become. This is my year that I step into my rightful God given place. I want to speak to that part of you this morning. I want to feed that inner part of your mind, body, and soul that’s ready to step into this God given moment. I don’t have so much as a sermon title, as I do a declaration to every dream, a declaration to every idea, a declaration to every possibility, and that declaration is this….
I’M ON MY WAY
That’s the undertone to the passage of scripture we’re getting ready to read in just a moment…
I’M ON MY WAY
The Bible says in Luke 2:41-42
“Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.”
Luke 2:41-42
“After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.”
Luke 2:43-44
I know many of you have either read, or heard about this story before, but wrap your mind around this with me just for a moment. Joseph and Mary just lost Jesus.
Joseph and Mary just lost the only begotten Son of God.
Joseph and Mary just lost God’s plan to save all of mankind.
HELLOOO!!! He’s kind of a big deal Joseph. He’s kind of a big deal Mary!!! How in the world do you lose JESUS? I understand losing your keys. I understand losing the remote control. I understand losing the garage door opener, BUT HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU LOSE JESUS???
I believe that they lost sight of Jesus the same way that we can. I believe that they lost sight of Jesus the same way that we often do when we’re not careful.
I believe the scriptures tell us EXACTLY how they lost Jesus. Let’s look at it again. Luke 2:41-42 reads,
"EVERY YEAR Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the CUSTOM.”
Luke 2:41-42
The Bible said EVERY YEAR. The Bible says that this was their CUSTOM. In other words, This was their TRADITION. In other words, this was their SCHEDULE. This was their WORK WEEK. This was their DAILY ROUTINE. This was their 9-5. The New Living Translation says verse 42 like this…
“When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival AS USUAL.”
Luke 2:42
This was their business AS USUAL, and somewhere along the way of this every year custom, THEY LOST HIM. THEY LOST JESUS. I say to you today to kick off this brand new year of possibilities…
📝 DON’T LOSE JESUS ALONG THE WAY.
I say to you today, that even in your routine, He’ll show you something new. Even in your same route to work, He’ll reveal something to you that you’ve never seen. You can sit outside by the same waterfall, and hear something that you’ve never heard before every single day.
Even in the customs there’s always something new. Even in the traditions there’s always something yet to be seen, there’s always something yet to be heard. Every morning that you wake up is not just another day in paradise. Every morning that you wake up it’s not the same mess but a different day. No! Psalm 118:24 says it best!
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24
This is the day of new possibilities. This is the day of new dreams. This is the day of new mercies. Every morning God gives a fresh painting in the sky. No sunrise is the same. No sunset is the same. Psalm 113:3 says,
From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised. Psalm 113:3
Behold, I WILL DO A NEW THING, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
One translation puts it like this…
For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! DO YOU NOT SEE IT?… Isaiah 43:19
DO YOU NOT SEE IT???
In other words, you have to be on the lookout for it. YOU HAVE TO EXPECT IT. You might take the same way to work, but look for the new thing. You might do the same thing day in and day out, but while you’re doing it, look for the new thing. I know it’s every year. I know it’s every month. I know it’s every day, but look for the new thing, and here’s why…
📝 God isn’t into ENCORES. God is into NEW THINGS.
“Then He who sat on the throne said, “BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.””
Revelation 21:5
When it comes to God, He changeth not! The same God that’s going to make
all things new then, is the same God that makes all things new NOW. Here’s what you have to do…
📝 Look for the NEW in the OLD.
That’s what Jesus did. Even though it was their custom. Even though it was their tradition. Even though they went every year, for Jesus, this year was different. Jesus must’ve thought to Himself, this year I’m going to look for a new thing in the old thing.
Jesus purposed in HIS HEART for this year to be different.
While everyone else was caught up in the customs, traditions, and the routines, Jesus went LOOKING for something NEW in the OLD.
“After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, THE BOY JESUS STAYED BEHIND IN JERUSALEM, but they were unaware of it.”
Luke 2:43
Jesus had never done this before to our knowledge. The way that his mother responded further more leads us to believe that he had never done this before. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Why did He stay?
What was he doing?
While everyone else was caught up in the customs, traditions, and the routines, Jesus stayed behind LOOKING for something NEW in the OLD.
This trip, this custom, this tradition was so business as usual to them that when Jesus stayed behind, the Bible says in Luke 2:43,
…the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, BUT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF IT.”
Luke 2:43
How many times in my life have I gotten caught up in my customs, routines, and rituals, all the while being COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT I’M NOT WHERE I NEED TO BE WITH JESUS.
The Bible says in verse 44,
“Thinking he was in their company, THEY TRAVELED ON FOR A DAY…
Luke 2:44
HOW MANY DAYS HAVE YOU TRAVELED, OUT OF TOUCH, OUT OF SYNC WITH JESUS?
“Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.”
Luke 2:44
“When they did not find him, THEY WENT BACK TO JERUSALEM TO LOOK FOR HIM.”
Luke 2:45
When things didn’t go as they had planned, they went back to the last place that they saw Him. They went back to Jerusalem. For you, maybe you need to…
📝 GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST WORKS.
Go back to the first things that worked in your walk with Him. Go back to the things where you first made that connection with Jesus. Go back to that place where you first experienced His love. Go back to the place where you first felt His presence.
Maybe you used to journal a lot. Maybe you used to literally get in your closet at home and pray. Maybe you used to prayer walk around the neighborhood, or go fishing and it was just you and Jesus, but somehow in the customs of life, in the day in, day out routines, you’ve lost that part of your life, and that’s where you left Jesus. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. GO BACK TO YOUR FIRST WORKS, that first worked for you. Revelation 2:2-3 says it like this…
““I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.”
Revelation 2:2-3
“Nevertheless I have this against you, that YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE.”
Revelation 2:4
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and DO THE FIRST WORKS, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
Revelation 2:5
“After three days THEY FOUND HIM in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.”
Luke 2:46-47
📝 FIND YOUR PLACE.
THEY FOUND HIM in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Find your place among people that can teach you.
Find your place among people that you can listen to.
Find your place among people that you can ask questions.
Find your place where you can share what God is sharing with you.
“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
Luke 2:48-50
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
Mary was living the dream and didn’t even know it.
When we find our children in their rooms.
When we find our children in their quiet time.
We want to find our children in the house of God—TALKING TO JESUS.
SONG: Talking to Jesus - Elevation Worship & Maverick City Music
The story picks up in Luke 2:49-50 with Jesus saying,
““Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
Luke 2:49-50
“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, BUT HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART.”
Luke 2:51
BUT HIS MOTHER KEPT ALL THESE THINGS IN HER HEART.”
WHAT THINGS?
What things, did Mary keep in her heart. I wonder did Mary pick up on the degree of separation that this 12 year old boy named Jesus just spoke of. He said it all so subtle, but it was a declaration to all who could hear it… I’M ON MY WAY.
Let’s look at it again. Luke 2:48-49 says,
“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?””
Luke 2:48-49
Mary said your father with a lower case "f” and I have been looking for you. Jesus replied, "But why were you looking for me, I was with my Father, uppercase "F”.
With this Mary paused. With this Mary kept all of these things in her heart.
It’s almost as if the boy Jesus said, "I appreciate all that you and Joseph have done for me up to this point, but why were you looking for me mama? Didn’t you know that I must be about MY FATHER’S business. It’s ok mama.
I KNOW WHO I AM.
I KNOW WHO’S I AM.
I KNOW WHY I AM.
I KNOW WHERE I AM.
I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO.
And with this understanding…I’M ON MY WAY.
The moment you begin to walk in WHO you are, WHO’S you are, WHY you are, WHERE you are, and WHAT you have do is the moment that you can say by the grace of God—I’M ON MY WAY.
I’m on my way to every dream. I’m on my way to every possibility. I’m on my way to every new opportunity. I’m on my way to my destiny. And for Jesus, He was on His way to the cross.
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, HE SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM. Luke 9:51
As Mary looked in the mirror that night as she removed the necklace from her neck, I can just hear that mama now, "We’re losing Him Joe, we’re losing Him.
Did you hear what He said to me in that temple? He didn’t acknowledge you as His father. He acknowledged God as His Father. And I know what’s destined to be but it’s all happening so fast.
Just yesterday I held Him in my arms in that manger Joe, with his tiny little hands you remember?’ "I remember Mary.”
But now he’s growing up on us Joe…and I just wish we had more time. We’re losing Him Joe. We’re losing Him.
I can see Joseph slowly approaching the room to comfort his wife as he wrapped his arms around her…"He was never just ours to begin with Mary. He always belonged to God. He was always meant to be a gift to this world. He’s the precious lamb of God Mary. He was born to die for the sins of the world.
But Mary, no matter how big Jesus gets, or whatever He goes on to do, He’ll always be our little lamb.
Luke 2:52 says
And as Jesus grew older He gained in both wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52
I pray that this is the year that something inside of you will click.
I pray that this is the year that something will awaken in you and that you will rise to the occasion and say….
I KNOW WHO I AM.
I KNOW WHO’S I AM.
I KNOW WHY I AM.
I KNOW WHERE I AM.
I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO, AND I’M ON MY WAY.
📝 The very moment that they thought they LOST Jesus, was the very moment that Jesus was FINDING Himself.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOSE THIS YEAR TO FIND YOURSELF?
Maybe this is why Jesus says in Matthew 10:39,
Whoever FINDS their life will LOSE IT, and whoever LOSES their life for my sake will FIND IT. Matthew 10:39
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LOSE THIS YEAR TO FIND YOURSELF?
WHAT’S BEEN STOPPING YOU FROM BEING ON YOUR WAY?
God wants to do Ephesians 3:20 through you this year. There’s going to be some exciting days ahead of you this year, and theres also going to be some routine days, some mundane days ahead of you as well full of customs and traditions, here’s the challenge through it all….
DON’T LOSE YOUR WONDER.
You’re on your way to the greatest moments of your life. Don’t give up. Don’t faint now. Whatever you do. DON’T LOSE YOUR WONDER.