Keith Battle - The Hiding Time - Part 2

Luke chapter 2 is where I want to direct your attention as we continue or conclude this brief series called «The Hiding Time.» I want to pick up from where we left off last week, discussing this period in our lives that all of us go through where we feel overlooked, wondering when we will get our opportunity and when our chance is going to come. I think God places us in what I call the «Hiding Time.» Last week, we looked at John the Baptist, who was growing up and becoming strong in spirit in the wilderness until the time when his ministry went public. That wilderness experience was his preparation for his public platform, and all of us need that preparation time so that when we finally reach the opportunity we’ve been longing for, we are ready for it. Somebody say, «I’m ready!»

Alright, Luke chapter 2. I’m going to start reading in verse 41. For those of you who are here, I cannot hear you. Thank God for all of you online; in the chat, what’s up? Love you all! Send me some love, say «What’s up,» show me your hand, tell me where you’re from. I love all that! I want to see you on the screen. I can’t hear you all, though, and I can’t hear you at Landover—it is impossible to do that. But those of you in here, you cannot be quiet! I’ve been preaching for two years in a quiet room. I need somebody to make some noise! You can come in here; you’re going to have to do something like burp, cough, clear your throat, or make some noise under that mask. Do something! Amen, because the blue chairs don’t talk! Amen! Praise the Lord. So I need you all to give me something; give me some energy. Hallelujah!

Alright, verse 41: Chapter 2 says, «Every year, Jesus’s parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.» Verse 42 says, «When Jesus was 12 years old,» how old was he? «He was 12 years old.» They attended the festival as usual, and after the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth. But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first because, verse 44, they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later, they finally discovered him in the temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. I can only imagine what it would be like to not know where your child is for three days at 12 years old.

Verse 47: «All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.» His parents didn’t know what to think. «Son,» his mother said to him, «why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.» Jesus responds in verse 49, «But why did you need to search?» he asked. «Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?» You should have known where I would be. «Yeah, I’m about my Father’s business.» But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Amen, children! He was obedient. Jesus, as a child, was obedient to the very people he created. I have to walk that off! Jesus was the savior and creator of his parents, and yet he obeyed them. His mother stored all those things in her heart.

Verse 52: This is where I want to focus today. «Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.» I’ll read that again: «Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.» The Hiding Time, Part Two.

Even though I want to focus on verse 52, I read verses 41 to 52 to give you context. Particularly, I want to focus on verse 42 because it tells us how old he was. How old was he? He was 12 years old. I mention that because after this scene in chapter 2, verse 52, Jesus disappears. He is not lost this time; his parents know where he is, but he is hidden for the next 18 years. There is no biblical information about Jesus’s life during that 18-year period, and he does not reappear until Matthew 3 at 30 years of age when he gets baptized. So, Jesus was hidden for 18 years, and the Bible doesn’t tell us what was happening during that time except for right here in Luke 2:52. We know he was growing, and we know he grew in four ways. Look at the verse. I’m going to put—if they fire me, I can’t use my little flip chart anymore, my flip chart is my Lioness blanket, they took it from me! Y’all, so I have to use this now!

The first way he grew was in wisdom. How do you like that, huh? Bam! Say, «Pastor, it’s time to go to the next level!» The second way he grew was in stature. The third way he grew was in favor with God—that means he was growing spiritually. You like that, Leah? Huh? And then he grew in favor with God and with all people, which means he also grew in favor with people.