Those loved and chosen children of God

12/27/09 Sermon by Rev. Rong-Hu Lu translated by Mu-En Yang

Those loved and chosen children of God

Luke 2:41-52; Colossians 3: 9-17

Greetings brothers and sisters:

Biblical scholars say that according to Jewish laws, each adult male who lives near Jerusalem within 15 miles must attend the festival of Passover. In fact, attending the Passover in Jerusalem at least one time is the goal of Jewish who live in the foreign country.

When Jesus became 12 years old, He by the laws became an adult and a son of the laws. He had to attend Passover in Jerusalem.

We may think this young man from rural country first time in his life walked into such a big city, he might be excited by all the new things and be astonished by the Temple.

Passover was also the time when the Jews held their Sanhedrin. They publicly discuss religious or theological problem at the temple court. Not only rabbis and the disciples of the Pharisees but everyone could listen to their discussion and even cast a question.

Jesus was the most enthusiastic one among those who attended. He asked and answered questions and made everybody amazed. He was so focused that he forgot time and was not aware that His parents were gone.

After the Passover, people started to travel back home. Women left first since they traveled slower; man left later since they traveled faster. Men and women met together at dusk when it’s time to camp.

Jesus’ father, Joseph, thought Jesus was with His mother considering He was only 12. However, Mary, Jesus’ mother, thought Jesus was with His father considering He was an adult.

When Joseph and Mary met, they found that Jesus was no with either of them. They hurried back to the Temple and found Jesus. When they found Jesus, Mary blamed Him: “How could you treat us like that? Your father and I were looking for you anxiously.”

Jesus answered:”How is that you thought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

With the same word “father”, Mary meant Joseph, but Jesus meant His heavenly Father, the LORD who created the world.

We don’t know when Jesus knew that He is the son of the LORD. I suppose that He did not know while He was an infant; if so, He might be a monster.

I suppose that He gradually discover the fact He had a special relationship with the LORD while He grew up.

It was the moment He became adult, the experience of the festival and the discussion with rabbis, made Jesus realize that He had a unique relationship with the LORD which is He is the Son of the LORD.

The conversation between Jesus and Mary was very special and was cited by many pastors in their sermons. However, Thomas Barclay emphasized that the following of the story is more important. For the following part, Bible tells us that “Jesus went back to Nazareth and was obedient to His earthly parents; and Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Knowing Himself as Son of the LORD, Jesus did not feel superior to others. He did not look down upon His earthly parents and he was not disobedient to Joseph because Joseph was a carpenter; instead, Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary on everything.

As the first son of Joseph, Jesus helped Joseph on the carpentry and helped raise His younger brothers and sisters. Well, if Jesus was not like that, how could everyone liked Him?

Jesus, the Holy Son, served and respected His earthly parents so His heavenly Father loves Him.

Today’s scripture reading suggested by Lectionary, besides Luke, is Colossians 3:12-17. I failed to connect the two scripture readings until I learned about Barclay’s emphasis.

Colossian 3:12: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, you should be compassionate, kind, lowly, meek, and patient.”

Some keywords in the first half verse are familiar to us. In Exodus, 19:5-6, the LORD spoke to Israelites through Moses: “All the earth is mine, but you are my own possession and you are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

“Possession of God, people of holy and beloved” is the self-recognition of the Jewish. This identity makes Jewish feel superior and look down to other races. They think people other than Jewish are nothing more than the fuel in hell.

Greek thinks people who can’t speak Greek as barbarians and deserved to be slaves; Chinese see people other than Han as animals like pigs and dogs.

Any people who doesn’t know God is self-respected and looks down to others. Apostle Paul taught that people who is chosen and beloved by the LORD does not look down on others; on the country, they are humble no matter they are circumcised or not, civilized or uncivilized, free of be slaved. People who really know themselves as the chosen and beloved ones are humble, meek and patient because the mind of Christ is all they have. Christ is in this kind of person. NIV translated this into “Christ is all and is in all.”

Knowing himself the Son of the Highest, Jesus obeyed His earthly parents willingly and humbly and was found in God and man.

Jesus, after declared himself is the same as God, washed His disciples’ feet and taught them” I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13: 15-17.

Paul concluded: “People who know themselves are chosen and beloved must bear a humble, meek and patient mind. They tolerate and forgive each other." They pursue peace together and live a life teaching each other. They praise the LORD with psalms, hymn, and songs from their heart. No matter what they do, they give thanks to God in Jesus’ name.

How about let us do this from now and forever. Amen