A sermon based on Luke 2:40-52, by Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, Sr Pastor Emeritus, Our Savior Lutheran Church
At Christmas, there are twelve days to tell the story set forth in the Bible. St. Luke informs of Jesus’ actual birth, the visit of the shepherds, as well his circumcision and encounter with Simeon and Anna in the temple. St. Matthew provides a chapter on the visit of the Wise Men, the flight of the holy family from Herod into Egypt, and the slaughter of Bethlehem’s innocent children. Often overlooked is “The Boy Jesus in the Temple” in the final verses of Luke 2.
He has grown by this time to the age of 12 and is in Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph for the Passover celebration. Grow up!” is the sermon theme, and it merits possible applications not only to the youthful Jesus and his parents, but to us. It doesn’t really matter whether we are a child, a teenager, or a seasoned adult. The new year of 2025 challenges each of us, along with our congregation, to “grow up” in our faith life and in our relationships with others.
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