Children’s Message: The Boy Jesus visited the temple Luke 2:41-52
Main Objective: Who is Jesus? That might seem like a simple and straight forward Gospel question, but it’s an important one to address frequently with kids. This message focuses on the story of Jesus in the temple as a 12-year-old boy. The story reminds us that Jesus was aware of His identity as the Son of God, but also obeyed His parents and was responsible to them as a human. He had an earthly and heavenly family. It is important for us to know that He was fully God and fully man, able to suffer on our behalf and take away our sins.
Law/Gospel Theme: The amazing message of the Gospel is that God became man and lived among us. He knows what it’s like to be in our shoes, and because He lived without sin, He can take our guilt away! This story reminds us that Jesus was fully human and fully God. He understood, even in childhood, His connection to the Father; yet He also obeyed His parents and grew physically and spiritually.
Luke 2:41-52 Children’s Sermon Jesus Man and God
Optional Materials: Pictures of family members (and maybe friends, as well).
Bible Passage: Luke 2:41-52
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children and discuss families…
Hello, children of God!
Who is in your family? Who are your brothers, sisters, cousins…? Show some pictures of personal family and describe who people are. These are people in my family, just like you have people in your family. God gives us families to take care of us and protect and provide for us. But even more importantly, He is our Heavenly Father. He loves us and created us and is with us.
Did you know that Jesus had an earthly family? Of course, He is the Son of God. God is His true father, but Mary and Joseph took care of Him as He grew up. Actually, though, we don’t know a lot about the childhood of Jesus. In fact, from His birth to adulthood, the Bible only tells one specific account. It took place when Jesus was about twelve years old. He was with His parents, and they traveled to the temple in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph were on the way back, traveling with some other people, and they realized that Jesus was not with them. They looked around but couldn’t find Him. Finally, they returned to Jerusalem, and after three days they found Jesus. He was sitting with the leaders of the temple, talking with them and impressing them with how much He knew and understood. When Joseph and Mary found Him, they were worried and upset. When they confronted Him, Jesus said, “didn’t you know I would be in my Father’s house?” He didn’t think He was lost. He was right where He belonged. Even at that age, He knew that God was His true father. He wasn’t being disrespectful to Mary and Joseph, although they didn’t quite understand what He meant. He went with them and still listened to them and obeyed them, but He knew He had a mission on Earth.
Jesus was completely human, and still completely God. He didn’t stop being God when He took on flesh and came to Earth. This can be hard to fully understand. Jesus was human in every way, but He didn’t sin. This is important for us and essential for our salvation. Because He was completely human, He was able to take on our sins and take our place, suffering the punishment we deserved and dying on the cross for us. But as God, He was perfect and sinless. And, of course, He didn’t stay dead! He rose again, and gives us new life. He defeated sin and death so that we don’t have to fear them.
So we can rejoice in who Jesus is and give thanks for the work He did on Earth, and the work He continues to do now. We can be grateful for the families that God gives us, and know that through His son, Jesus, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. God is our Father, and in Jesus we have salvation and know that eternal life awaits us!
Let’s pray and thank God for our families and for His Son.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us our families
And for all of your blessings.
Please help us listen to and obey You and our parents
Thank you for sending Jesus
Thank you for your sacrifice
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 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?”50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
-Luke 2:41-52