Coming of Age:

Luke 2:49 "...And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?...”

Context:

- Parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

- They went up according to the custom when Jesus was twelve.

- They left without realizing Jesus wasn't with them.

- After three days, they found Him in the temple with the teachers, amazing everyone with His understanding and answers.

How much do we expect out of twelve year olds?

At 12, Jewish boys received intense instruction in anticipation of reaching 13, the age of responsibility when they became a man.

Bar Mitzvah translates to "son who is subject to the law" (Bat is daughter)

Do our seventh graders have a lot of understanding and answers?

There was a time when an eighth grade education was the norm.

When do kids reach the age of accountability? What factors encourage or prevent the development of responsibility?

What did Jesus know at the age of twelve?

- the literal Greek translation for Luke 2:49 is "I must be in the of my Father", which doesn't specify a place or activity.

- Jesus knew His heavenly Father.

- Jesus knew truth.

- Jesus knew His place.

Baptism:

Matthew 3:15 "...But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness...”

Context:

- John the Baptist was preaching repentance and baptizing those who confessed their sins.

- He challenged the Pharisees that trees that don't bear fruit consistent with repentance are cut down and burned.

- He proclaimed that Jesus would be baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire, gathering wheat and burning chaff.

- Then Jesus insisted upon being baptized by John.

Why was it necessary for Jesus to be baptized?

- He hadn't sinned.

- He was fulfilling the Father's will.

- it was fitting to fulfill all righteousness.

What did He mean when He said "to fulfill all righteousness"?

- the law didn't have any reference to baptism.

- John was pointing to the Messiah via repentance and baptism.

- Jesus identified Himself with this process.

Was Jesus circumcised?

Luke 2:21 "...And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb..."

Matthew 5:17 "...Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them..."

What two things happened immediately following His baptism? (Matthew 3:16,17 Mark 1:10,11 Luke 3:22 John 1:32)

- the Holy Spirit descended on Him.

- the Father voiced His love and pleasure.

- a revelation of the Trinity occurred at the beginning of Jesus ministry.

- the fullness of the Trinity was involved in launching the ministry of Jesus on planet earth.

In His ministry, we will find the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Temptation:

Matthew 4:1 "...Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil..."

Why would the Spirit lead into the wilderness to be tempted?

- Did God lead the Israelites into the wilderness where they were tempted?

- How did they do?

- How did Jesus do?

Does the Spirit lead us into temptation?

- Matthew 6:13 "...And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."

- James 1:13-14 "...Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust..."

What is temptation?

- offer to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way.

Temptation 1

Context:

- Jesus had fasted for 40 days and nights.

- The tempter said "IF you are the Son of God", turn these stones into bread.

Matthew 4:4 "...But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ...”

Luke 4:4 "...And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’... ”

Are we most tempted following highs ("...in whom I am well pleased...") or following lows ("...He then became hungry...")?

- Peter was praised for properly identifying Jesus as the Messiah and almost immediately turned right around and set his mind on the things of man instead of the things of God (Matthew 16:13-23)

How does a knowledge of, and focusing on, the Word of God help during temptation?

- the IF be a distraction, turning the focus on us instead of the Word.

Why is EVERY word important?

- a word wrongly applied is exactly the strategy of the devil. It can lead to death.

- every word is needed for life.

Temptation 2

Context:

- the devil tempted Christ to throw himself down from the pinnacle, that angels might bear Him up.

Matthew 4:7 "...Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ...”

Luke 4:12 "...And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test....”

What is the underlying perversion with which the devil was attempting to entice Jesus?

- testing God's ability to save, rather than trusting while obeying.

Can you think of any examples of this in our day?

- snake handlers, claiming the protection which Paul had.

- any promise claimed without surrender to His greater purposes.

Temptation 3

Context:

- the devil offered all the kingdoms of this world.

- the cost? devil worship.

Matthew 4:10 "...Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’...”

Luke 4:8 "...And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’...”

Were the kingdoms of this world Satan's to give?

Luke 4:6 "...and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will..."

Daniel 4:32 Nebuchadnezzar "...shall be driven from among men, ... until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Psalms 8:4-6 "...what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,..."

What are the two things Jesus said were for God only?

- worship: What alternatives have been offered for worship?

- service: What alternatives exist for service?

Is it possible to worship ONLY God? To serve ONLY God? Are people who are committed to this viewed as radical?