Jesus: God Who Came to Earth 3

Big Idea: Follow Jesus’ example of obedience.

Scripture: Luke 2:40-52

Memory Verse: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” -Philippians 2:13 ESV

Word Up!: Obey God!

In today’s Bible lesson, we get a glimpse into the boyhood of Jesus when he was 12 years old. It was the time of the yearly celebration of the Passover (see Exodus chapter 12) in which they remembered what God had done for the Israelites thousands of years before by rescuing His people from slavery and death in Egypt. Jesus’ family and many other families traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem for this celebration.

After the weeklong celebration, Jesus stayed behind in the Temple listening to the finest teachers of the Law (the Scriptures) and asking them questions. Not only this, the important teachers were asking Jesus questions. Luke 2:47 tells us, “And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.” In Luke 2:52 it tells us that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.”

Jesus knew His identity as the Son of God (see Luke 2:49). As one who has put their faith in the Savior, God gives us His assurance that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (see Philippians 1:6).

Today’s memory verse affirms this: Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Our part is to rely on God the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to help us to obey God in our daily lives. We obey God because we love Him.

Our first step in obedience to God is to believe in Jesus as our Savior.

We then become a child of God. John 1:12 “but to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Will you take that first step of obedience by believing that Jesus died on the cross to save you from your sin?