Scripture Luke 2:41-52
Romans 12:1
Worship is recognizing that there is
something greater than you and paying honor or giving thanks and praise to that
one who is greater.
What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? When Jesus began
his public ministry, he was teaching and baptizing people and many were coming
to him. Some of John’s disciples were afraid that Jesus would become more
popular than John. John 3:27-30 To this
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You
yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of
him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the
bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the
bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
Worship by
definition means we agree the one to whom we give honor and praise is greater
than us. This is why some people find it odd that we are a worshipping people.
The world tries convincing us that we are God - that each of us is superior to
all others. The bible makes it clear that God alone, greater than all created
things, deserves our worship.
Imagine a
12-year-old child trying to figure out who God is…who they are. That is the age
when the mind begins to reason and seek personal identity separate from family
and activities. Who am I and who is God. One particular 12-year-old boy 2000
years ago saw a great opportunity to answer both those questions in the only
place that made sense to ask questions about his own identity and about the
identity of God - the Temple in Jerusalem.
Luke 2:41-52
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem
for the Feast of the Passover. (EXPLAIN PASSOVER - how was it a time of worship?)
42 When Jesus was twelve years old, his family went up to the Feast,
according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while his
parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they
were unaware of it. How
is it possible that parents could actually forget a child and leave him behind? VIDEO KEVIN)
44 Thinking Jesus was in their company(the entire town of Nazareth), Joseph and Mary traveled on for a day.
Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they
did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days
(what was Jesus
doing during these 3 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. 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."
49
"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.
51
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his
mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and men.
Luke 2:49 "Why
were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't
you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
Jesus’ family had
gone to Jerusalem at Passover to worship. The family was done but Jesus was
just getting started and continued to worship daily at the Temple seeking and
discussing the things of God. Jesus was not concerned about being lost or being
left behind, he was concerned about knowing who God is and sharing who God is.
In worship we are seeking God and in worship we are sharing who God is.
Here is what I
learned shortly after becoming a Christian - there are no professional
worshippers - we are all amatuers and have to keep practicing it till one day
we will get it right in glory. It doesn’t mater if you are old or young in the
faith - if you are intelligent or not very smart - if you are good looking or
feel you are quite average - if you are outgoing or an introvert.
Look at what Paul said to Timothy when he felt he wasn’t old
enough: 1 Timothy 4:12-13 Don't let
anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching
and to teaching. (In other words - until I come, devote yourself to worship
- just like Jesus did)
But what about Jesus as an adult?
3 times we find Jesus singing in worship
Mark 14:22-26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread,
gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take
it; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks
and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This
is my blood of theb covenant, which is poured out for many,"
he said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again
of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of
God." 26 When
they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
The next two passages speak about Christ and singing.
Hebrews 2:10-12
In bringing many sons to glory, it was
fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the
author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men
holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not
ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, "I
will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I
will sing your praises." (Ps 22:22).
Romans 15:8-9
For I tell you that Christ has become a
servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to
the patriarchs so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is
written: "Therefore I will praise you among the
Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."
JESUS WENT TO THE SYNAGOGUE
Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath
day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The
scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the
place where it is written:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because
he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat
down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began
by saying to them, "Today this scripture is
fulfilled in your hearing."
WHO DID JESUS
WORSHIP? THE SAME GOD WE WORSHIP THROUGH JESUS!
During the tenure of the great
orator Henry Ward Beecher, a visiting minister (Beecher's brother) once
substituted for the popular pastor. A large audience had already assembled to
hear Beecher, and when the substitute pastor stepped into the pulpit, several
disappointed listeners began to move toward the exits. That's when the minister
stood and said loudly, "All who have come here today to worship Henry Ward
Beecher may now withdraw from the church. All who have come to worship God keep
your seats!"
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