Pleasing to God and Man

(Luke 2:52)



I. Introduction.
A. Orientation.

Weve seen that eternal life is more than just being saved from hell

Its more than knowing about Jesus,

Its a personal relationship with a real person

Thats actually meant to transform us into that same image

To make us like Him by His Spirit.


The Gospels were written so that we might know what Jesus did and said,

But they were also written that we might know what He was like

So that we might follow His example.

What is He like? What did Jesus do?


First, Jesus loved Father with His entire heart, mind, soul and strength

He was completely devoted to Him

He didnt love Him part time, but full time.


Second, He loved neighbor as Himself

He treated others precisely as he would have them treat Him.


Both of these is simply another way of saying that He kept the Law

He did keep it to earn a perfect record of obedience for us,

But He also kept it to be an example to us.

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B. Preview.

This morning, lets consider that Jesus did this throughout His life from
beginning to end.

Jesus didnt descend out of heaven as a fully grown man and go directly to the
cross.

He was conceived, born, went through childhood, teen, early adulthood, and
adulthood

He went through every phase of life for us

Not only to save us, not only to sympathize with us,

But to be an example to us.


When we look at this passage, what usually stands out as unusual

Is that Jesus increased in wisdom and stature:

How could that be?

Jesus is the Son of God.

As God, Hes infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.


But we need to remember He is the Son of Man

He is also fully human, and so is finite, temporal, and changeable.

And so as He grew from a child to an adult,

He was taught; He learned from His experiences; He grew up.


But there is something else here that we often overlook: He grew in favor with
God and man.

How could He do that?

Wasnt He already infinitely loved by the Father? Of course!

What about man did others really grow in their affection for Him? Yes!
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How? Through His obedience/character.

When you do what loves/honors God, you grow in His favor.

And when you do what loves/honors man, you grow in theirs

At least, as long as what you do and say doesnt convict them.


This morning, lets consider what Jesus was like

What He did in the various phases of life

And consider how we might be more like Him in each.

Well consider two main areas:

1. What He was like as a child.

2. What He was like as an adult.

We separate life into more phases than this,

But to the Jewish mind, there are only these two,

As Paul writes, When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child,
reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things (1
Cor. 13:11).

II. Sermon.
A. So lets begin by considering what Jesus was like as a child: He was perfect.

The standard is always perfection, even though we cant achieve it.


1. What He was like as an infant may be speculative, but not overly so.

He undoubtedly cried when He was hungry, when He needed to be burped or
changed, but He never did so selfishly.

Ordinary babies cry when they get hungry or have other needs,

But they do so in anger or self-centeredness

They want what they want now.
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We know this is the case because this is how we all are after we grow up.

Its because of the sins in our heart.

But Jesus didnt have any.

Even from His infancy, He loved the Father.

Even though He didnt yet know who He was remember, as a man, He grew in
wisdom and knowledge His heart was already inclined towards Him.


2. As He grew, He was the perfect Child.

He obeyed His parents, respected His elders,

Treated His brothers and sisters with love and respect,

As well as other children He interacted with.

He did His chores without complaining, listened to what His parents taught Him,

And He enjoyed going to the synagogue, worshiping God and learning more
about Him,

As evidenced by His trip to Jerusalem and His time at the Temple at the age of
twelve (Luke 2:42-52).

His childhood was as you might guess impeccable

Perfect, according to the Law.


B. We do know a bit more of what Jesus was like as an adult.

1. In Jesus day, there wasnt a teenage subculture.

When He reached 13 years, He had His Bar-Mitzvah

This is a rite of passage when a boy would pass from childhood into
adulthood.

He became a child of the Law responsible to keep it before God on His own

Even though He had kept it perfectly to this point.
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As a young man, He continued to honor God and His parents:

He didnt fall into any of the pitfalls we have today.

He didnt become addicted to pleasure,

He didnt party with His friends,

He didnt become intoxicated, or commit immorality,

He didnt join in clicks or belittle anyone,

He didnt fight, lust, steal, lie or become discontent if someone was more
popular than He was.

But He continued to love God with all His heart and soul,

And His neighbor as Himself.


2. In His early adult years, He was a carpenter (Mark 6:3)

He learned the trade from His earthly father, and did it faithfully.

He dealt fairly, did the best work He could, and cared for His family.

It appears that Joseph might have been dead by the time Jesus began His
ministry,

So He may have been responsible to support His family for a while.

During this time, He continued to love His neighbor,

And to worship and love His Father perfectly.


3. And, of course, we see that during His ministry years,

He loved His Father with an undivided heart

In devoting Himself to all he called Him to do

He taught, preached, performed miracles, discipled, reproved, exhorted

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He continued to love His neighbor as Himself

By ministering to them, teaching them, healing them,

And laying His life down for them.

When He was attacked, He never retaliated,

But always returned good for evil.

He never sought His own pleasure, except as He found pleasure

In serving His Father and His fellow man.

In every way, He was a perfect example of what God wants us to be.


4. If Jesus had lived to His later years, nothing would have changed.

He would have continued to do the same to His dying breath

Loving and serving God with an undivided heart,

And loving and serving His neighbor, as Himself.


C. Now the point in all this is that this is what you are to be like

This is the example you are to follow.

This is what it means to know Jesus and the Father.

So ask yourself, Is this what youre growing into?


1. Now theres not too much we can do when were babies

Were going to be angry and self-centered, when we have needs.

Because we cant do whats right, our parents need to be seeking the Lord for us


To pray and care for us as best they can.


If youre still parenting even if your children are raised and out of the house
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You still need to keep seeking the Lord for them,

Until you see Christ being formed in them.


2. If youre a child here this morning, if you are to know Jesus, you need to follow
His example as a child:

You need to obey your parents,

Respect your elders,

Treat your brothers and sisters with love and respect,

Treat other children the same way,

Do your chores, listen to your parents teaching,

Go to church and listen to Gods Word,

Praying that the Lord would give you the grace to hear and follow Jesus.

Thats what it means to know Jesus.


3. Those of you who are older, past thirteen, but younger than twenty-one,

Even though our society looks at you as children,

The Lord looks at you as young men and young women responsible for your
own actions.

Are you being responsible?

Are you loving God with all your heart and soul?

Are you honoring your parents, following what they taught you?

Are you treating others as you want to be treated?

Are you avoiding the snares the enemy puts all around you?

Ungodly company, immorality, partying, drunkenness?

Are you resisting the temptation to be the best/most popular
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And humbling yourself as Jesus humbled Himself?

Thats what it means to know Him.


4. Those of you who are older,

Are you doing the best you can for your employer?

Do you deal honest and fairly?

Do you do what you do for Gods glory,

And the good of your neighbor?

Are you laying down your life for others?

Are you caring for your family?

The one that raised you?

The one the Lord has given you?

Are you continuing to love the Lord with an undivided heart and soul,

And your neighbor as yourself?

Thats what it means to know Jesus.


5. And what about your latter years, when you retire, when the best of your
strength is gone?

Jesus didnt live to old age, but He did honor His Father to the day of His death.

After He had been beaten,

After He had been crucified,

When His strength was all but gone and His life was ending on the cross

He was still the perfect example:

He still loved His Father He was on the cross for His glory

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He still loved His neighbor He prayed that the Father might forgive them


Have you set your heart to love Him with an undivided heart,

And to love and pray for your neighbor,

Until the last moment of your life?

Being a Christian is not a part time occupation

Its not something you switch on and off when you want to.

When you switch it off, you leave the path;

You sin, grieve the Spirit, and set yourself back.


Purpose in your heart to love and honor Him,

And to love your neighbor as yourself,

In everything,

At all times,

From now until the day you must lay down your life.

Thats what it means to know Jesus.


6. Do you know Him in this way?

If not, come to Him now turn from your sins and trust Him to save you.

If you do, then pray and seek the Lord for more of His Spirit

That you might become more like Him. Amen.


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