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Text Sermons : R.A. Torrey : The Childhood of Jesus Luke 2:40–52

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(Compare Matthew 2:23)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS

1. Growing, v. 40
How many verses are there in the four Gospels in regard to the boyhood of Jesus? Is this in any way a suggestion of their authenticity? How much of the Gospel history is taken up with the death of Jesus? Why is that? Why is it that Luke is the one evangelist who dwells upon His infancy and boyhood? What is the first thing that is told us about His boyhood? (v. 40). Wherein lies the importance of the fact that He “grew”? What were the marked features of His boyhood? With what was He filled? With what was He crowned? What is meant by the grace of God being upon Him? (See Acts 4:33). How may we know that the grace of God is upon a man? (Acts 4:33–35). How early may one have the grace of God upon him?
2. Inquiring, vv. 41–50
What glimpse does verse 41 give into the habits of Jesus’ parents? To put it into modern phraseology, what sort of people were they? What seemingly reasonable excuse might they have made for staying away from church? Would they have had Jesus in their home if they had not been church-going people? What is suggested by this as being one of the surest ways of getting Jesus into our homes?
At what age is it first recorded that Jesus went to the feast? Why at 12 years of age? Did Jesus enjoy being in the temple? How did He show He enjoyed it? Why did He enjoy it? Where did they find Jesus? Did they expect to find Him there? Ought they to have expected to find Him there? (v. 49, R. V.). Will a true child of God be often found in the house of God? Was Jesus often found in the temple during His life? (Mark 14:49).
In what attitude was He in the temple? Why was He there? What was He doing: For what purpose was He asking questions? In what way was He a good example for modern attendants upon Bible classes? What sort of questions did He ask? Did He answer any questions? What was the effect of His presence in the temple upon those there? At what were they astonished? Where did He get “His understanding”? (Ps. 119:99; Luke 24:27; John 3:34).
Who were amazed besides the bystanders? Had Mary understood Jesus? What is the tone of Mary’s question? Is it conceivable that Mary with the revelation she had had about Jesus should be so astonished and complaining? Ought Mary and Joseph to have had any anxious fear about Jesus? While Mary and Joseph were surprised at Jesus being in the temple, at what was Jesus surprised? What was Jesus’ reply? Was there any note of regret or apology in the reply? What is the Revised Version of the reply? Of whom had Mary spoken as His father? Of whom does Jesus speak as His Father? In what way was the first recorded utterance and the last recorded utterance of Christ alike? (See 23:46). Did they understand Jesus even yet? How long was it before men understood Jesus?
3. Obeying, vv. 51, 52
Having made this assertion and given this clear proof of His deity, what did Jesus do next? How were those days in Nazareth spent? Was He any less about His Father’s business when in Nazareth than when in the temple asking questions? Ought He to have been at Jerusalem asking questions and attending Bible lectures when home duties called Him to Nazareth? How many years longer did Jesus remain in the humble obscurity of Nazareth? Did He chafe at all at that commonplace life? When any of us, conscious of power for larger work, are tempted to chafe at our commonplace fields, what thought from this lesson ought to enable us to overcome the temptation? What did Mary do? What was Jesus doing those eighteen years? (v. 52). If we are in some humble sphere, what can we do there if we cannot do anything else? How could the Son of God increase in wisdom? (Phil. 2:6, 7; Mark 13:32). What means of growth in wisdom did Jesus use? (Matt. 22:29). How could Jesus grow in favor (or grace) with God? Did He grow in any one’s favor beside God’s? Did growing in God’s favor have anything to do with growing in man’s favor? (See 1 Sam. 2:26; Ro. 14:18). Is it always so? Whose favor was it He sought? If even Jesus could grow in wisdom and grace, what is the lesson for us?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS

1. Jesus
Truly human—He grew, 40, 46, 52; truly divine in His wisdom, 40, 47–49; in His consciousness, 49; in His obedience, 51.
2. A Model Boyhood
Constant growth—physical, intellectual, spiritual, 40, 52; filled with wisdom, crowned with grace, 40; loving the house of God, 43, 46, 49; pondering the Word of God, 47; conscious of the divine Fatherhood, 49; obedient to the human fatherhood, faithful in present work, 51; fitting for larger work, 52.
3. A Three-Fold Amazement
Of the people, 47; of His parents, 48; of Jesus, 49.






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