YONG JESUS - Revival Christian Fellowship · 1 YONG JESUS LKE 2:39fi52 ... and the great caravan of people made their way back to Nazareth. Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus was

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Y O U N G J E S U SLU KE 2:39–52

To point children to the single clue in this story that reveals the true identity of Jesus

as the Messiah. God promised He would send a Savior, and He carefully placed clues

throughout history that would help identify Him when He finally arrived. Holy Scriptures,

written hundreds of years before, described what the Messiah would do and what He

would be like. On the night of His birth, the angels declared his majesty, and contemporary

prophets confirmed his identity. All the clues pointed to this one child, Jesus. In this story,

twelve years have passed since Jesus was born; these years were filled with growing as

other boys grew, playing as other boys played, and learning the Scriptures and his earthly

father’s trade, as other boys were accustomed to doing in those days. It was not uncommon

for the family to take the long pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover to celebrate God’s

deliverance; but this Passover was different. On the way home from the celebration, Mary

and Joseph did not find their beloved son where they expected to find Him. He was not with

the family making the journey back to Nazareth. After days of searching, they finally found

him in the temple, where he was calmly examining Scriptures with esteemed teachers of

the law. Jesus’ reply to His distressed mother contained an element of revelation that Mary

and Joseph could not completely comprehend: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not

know that I must be in my Father’s house?” This statement contains the first clue in recorded

Scripture where the boy, Jesus, announces who He really is. He is the beloved Son of God.

This particular Passover celebration of God’s deliverance had quietly revealed the Deliverer.

GOAL w


Jesus: The Messiah, the Son of the living God. He emptied himself of His divine rights

and assumed humanity. In childhood, he showed obedience to God through obedience

to Joseph and Mary. As he matured, he began to transition to exclusive obedience to His

Father in Heaven and occupied his time with pursuing God’s will and calling.

Mary and Joseph: The earthly parents of Jesus. They had a great love for their son and raised

Him in a manner pleasing to God. Mary was told that Jesus would be heir to the throne of

King David and would be the Savior of the world, but that this calling, combined with her

devotion, would produce a conflict that would one day cause her grief. The anxiety and

pain of searching for her missing son would not compare to the sorrow she would one day

endure when she would be a witness to her beloved son’s crucifixion.

CHARACTERS w

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?

MEMORY

VERSE

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Read Luke 2:39-52: It’s the time of the Passover, the great celebration of God’s deliverance!

Anticipation and excitement grew as Mary and Joseph, young Jesus, and other family and

friends arrived in the great city of Jerusalem to begin the festivities. The event concluded

after seven days, and the great caravan of people made their way back to Nazareth. Mary

and Joseph assumed that Jesus was somewhere in the large group, until one day into the

journey, they looked for Him but could not find Him. For two days, they searched for Him

until they finally found Him in the temple in Jerusalem. Their distress turned to relief and

then amazement as they discovered their son engaging in discourse well beyond his years.

Mary asked Jesus why He had caused them so much grief by not being with the rest of the

group as was expected. Jesus answered her, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not

know that I must be in my Father's house?” With this rhetorical statement, Jesus quietly

announced to Mary and Joseph that He is, in fact, the Son of God.

OVERVIEW w


Jesus is revealed as the Son of God. Many clues appear in Scripture that help to identify

Jesus as the Messiah.

1. In this story: Jesus said to Mary, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s House?”

Mary referred to Joseph as Jesus’s father, and Jesus reveals that His father is God almighty.

2. In the Old Testament: There are many, but a few examples include: He would be a

descendant of King David (Jeremiah 23:5); He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); He

would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); He would perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6); and

He would be betrayed by a friend, and the money would be used to purchase Potter’s Field

(Zech. 11:13).

3. From His birth: The angel Gabriel told Mary her son would be called “the Son of the

Most High” (Luke 1:32); Elizabeth testified that the child Mary was expecting was “the great

Redeemer” (Luke 1:43); the angels announced that Jesus was “Christ the Lord” (meaning “God

the Messiah”); Simeon, a righteous and devout man, exclaimed, “for my eyes have seen your

salvation …;” and the prophetess Anna spoke of the baby Jesus as the “redemption of Israel.”

SUGGESTIONS w


Scrolls of Wisdom | Supplies: 8½ x 11 paper, cut in half lengthwise, extra-large popsicle

sticks, glue, crayons, and yarn.

Hand each of the students one half-sheet of paper and have them write down the memory

verse on it (alternately, you can print the memory verse out ahead of time and have each

student paste it onto the paper). Glue one popsicle stick to each short side of the paper and

decorate. When the glue is dry, roll each popsicle stick toward the middle to form a scroll,

and tie it with yarn.

POST-LESSON

ACTIVITY

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Luke 2:49: The statement in this verse is the first in recorded Scripture in which Jesus reveals

his identity as the Son of God. He is expressing to His mother, Mary, the urgency that He

must be obedient to the will of His Father in Heaven.

MEMORY

VERSES

MEANING

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Treasure Hunt | Supplies: treasure chest or box filled with treasures of small gifts and treats.

Decide how many different places you will hide written clues before the final clue points

them to the treasure. The amount of time you have for the treasure hunt will determine how

many clues there will be. The first clue will be a written message that reveals to the group

where the second clue is. The second clue will point the group to the third clue, and so forth.

The last clue should lead them to the treasure. Be creative with the wording of the clues, you

could write a poem or something humorous. Have the children try to guess what location

you are describing—don’t just spell it out for them.

PRE-LESSON

ACTIVIT Y

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The Bible is full of clues that help us to uncover the hidden treasure of Jesus and all of the

gifts He has for each of us—the biggest gift is salvation. Some of the gifts Jesus promises

us include:

1. The gift of salvation (Ephesians 2:6),

2. The gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7-11),

3. The gift of wisdom (James 1:5),

4. The gift that is the love of God (1 John 4:16), and

5. The gift of answered prayers (Matthew 7:11).

TAKE

HOME

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QUESTION & ANSWER

Q1a: Where did Jesus and his family go to celebrate the

Passover?

A1: Jerusalem

Q1b: Have you ever taken a trip to a fun vacation spot?

TN: This question will get students thinking about the journey Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were

taking. The trip was long, but it was for a fun and festive purpose.

Q2a: How long did the Passover celebration last?

A2: Seven days

Q2b: What is you favorite part of your favorite

holiday celebration?

TN: This question will get students thinking about traditional ways to celebrate specific

holidays.

Q3a: Where did Mary and Joseph go to look for Jesus?

A3: They retraced their steps back to the city.

Q3b: Have you ever been lost?

TN: Jesus wasn't lost, but his parents didn't know where He was, or that He wasn't in danger.

Remembering how they felt when they were lost will help students to relate to the terror

Mary and Joseph felt as they searched for Jesus.

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QUESTION & ANSWERQUESTION & ANSWER

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QUESTION & ANSWER

Q4a: How long did Mary and Joseph search for Jesus?

A4: Two days

Q4b: How comfortable would you be if you were asked to

teach a college math class?

TN: This question is meant to show how strange it was to see a child of 12 have the level of

knowledge of the Scriptures that Jesus had. Presumably, Jesus was in the temple talking

with religious leaders about Scriptures for the two days that Joseph and Mary were searching

for Him. Being able to talk to people with deep understanding of Scripture for that long

is remarkable!

Q5a: How did Jesus respond to His mother’s statements

about being worried?

A5: He said he had been in His Father’s house the whole

time.

Q5b: Have you ever looked everywhere for something only to find it where it belongs?

TN: Students had the advantage of knowing where the item belonged, but Mary and Joseph

were just learning their son's purpose on this earth. Jesus' question to them: "Did you not

know that I must be in my Father's house?" didn't make sense to them. His question made

as much sense to Mary and Joseph as it would for someone to ask you why you didn't look

for the TV remote in the refrigerator.

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QUESTION & ANSWER

Q6a: How did Jesus show His obedience to His Father?

A6: He said and did only what His Father commanded

Him to do.

Q6b: What are some ways we can honor God's authority?

TN: In this story, Jesus did not act according to typical behavior following a feast; instead,

He stayed behind in the temple to discuss Scripture. Jesus acted as He was called to by His

Father in heaven. What has God called you to do?

Q7a: What made Jesus stand out from the rest?

A7: His deep devotion to God and to His Law.

Q7b: What are some ways we can grow in favor with God

and man?

TN: Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. While that is not possible for us to do, we can use His

life as an example of how to live. We can strive to do and say only what the Father wants,

just as Jesus did.

QUESTION & ANSWER

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MEMORY

VERSE

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BIG IDEA w

CLOSING

PRAYER

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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?

Jesus grew in favor with God and men, and so can we!

Dear Lord Jesus, we pray that You would reveal Yourself to us, that we would know Your

voice and follow You, and that we would uncover great and priceless gifts of Your plan for us.

Please help us to see You clearly. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.


LESSON TRANSCRIPT

When Jesus was 12 years old, He and his family made

the annual journey to the Passover in Jerusalem. It was

the time of year they worshiped and celebrated the God

of Israel who delivered them from the slavery of Egypt

many years before. Though the journey was long and

difficult, it was also very exciting, and it was an important

time to remember their Deliverer. As they neared their

destination, they could finally see the great city of

Jerusalem!

The Passover celebration lasted seven days. At the end of

the week, the caravan of family and friends all rejoined to

make the long trip back to Nazareth. What an amazing

time of remembering all that had taken place! But the

joyous and lively conversation of the event came to a

complete halt when Mary and Joseph realized that their

boy, Jesus, was missing!

He was not up front with his mother and the other

women, He was not with his cousins and the other

children, and He was not with the group of men trailing

behind. He was just plain missing! Mary was deeply

concerned. “Something is terribly wrong,” she said to

Joseph. “Jesus never wanders off alone; that boy is

always where he should be.” They quickly retraced their

steps back to the city.

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LESSON TRANSCRIPT


LESSON TRANSCRIPTLESSON TRANSCRIPT

For two days, they searched everywhere they could think

of until there was only one place left to look. As they

approached the temple in Jerusalem, the sight of their

son brought a welcome sigh of relief; but the reassurance

they felt was soon replaced with amazement. Here

was their 12-year-old son discussing the deep truths of

Scriptures with the leading teachers in Israel. All who

heard Him were surprised at how wise He was. He did

not have the look of a child being separated for days from

his parents, but the calm look of one with a purpose and

a plan.

Once they had taken in the scene, Mary ran up to Jesus,

“Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have

been searching for you, and we were worried sick!” Jesus

kindly replied, “I have been here the whole time. Where

else would I be but in my Father’s house?” Mary and

Joseph were puzzled by His reply, but they said no more.

Jesus knew God was His father, and He honored His

Father’s authority by being completely obedient to Him.

He said and did only what the Father commanded Him

to do. This event in the temple was no different. He was

doing what God called Him to do, and in continued

submission to His Father in Heaven, He showed love and

respect for His earthly parents and returned with them

to His home in Nazareth. And Mary treasured all these

thing in her heart.

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LESSON TRANSCRIPT

The young Jesus grew in wisdom and in favor with God

and man. His earthly parents were amazed by Him; His

heavenly Father was well-pleased with Him; and His

deep devotion to God and to His law made him stand

out from the rest. Little by little, the Messiah, the Savior

of the world, was being revealed, and His ultimate act of

obedience to God would be our deliverance.

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YONG JESUS - Revival Christian Fellowship · 1 YONG JESUS LKE 2:39fi52 ... and the great caravan of people made their way back to Nazareth. Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus was