HTLC Sermon Notes: December 28, 2025 First Sunday of Christmas

It’s too bad there weren’t baby books in ancient Bethlehem … we could have followed the infant Jesus as he took his first step, got his first tooth, spoke his first words. But if those were things we needed to know, they’d be in the scriptures, whether there was a baby book or not!

The Gospel from Luke today introduces the twelve-year-old Jesus. It seems weird to look at this story when only a few days ago we were celebrating his birth, doesn’t it?

But I think the reason we don’t know anything about Jesus as an infant, a toddler, a little kid, is because we don’t need to! During those years Jesus was growing the human elements he needed. He was learning how to walk and talk. He was learning how to be a good, obedient son to his earthly parents.

Remember, the scripture tells us he was fully human and fully divine.

So today we fast forward to Jesus the tween! We are told Jesus, and his parents, have made their yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. All the faithful are supposed to go, but the Passover celebrations lasted seven or eight days. Many only stayed for the first couple of days, but the group Mary and Joseph were traveling with stayed the entire time.

Our story today begins as they are traveling home. It is the end of their first day of travel. As they get ready to settle in for the night, Mary realizes that Jesus isn’t there! If you’ve ever temporarily misplaced a child, you can feel the panic she must have felt. Maybe that’s never happened in your family…but have you ever watched that Christmas classic Home Alone? Kevin’s mom is frantic, and really, who wouldn’t be!

It’s not surprising that they traveled an entire day without seeing the child. This was a large group, and Jesus was old enough to hang with his pals. Plus, the women and children were in the front of the group, so Joseph probably thought Jesus was with his mom. But Jesus was 12, almost 13, which by ancient standards was a man. So, Mary was probably thinking he was with Joseph.

Can you imagine their dialogue when they couldn’t find him? ……..

At any rate, the worried parents turned right around and headed back.

We know they had traveled a day away from Jerusalem, and yet Luke tells us they found Jesus on the third day. This means they were frantically searching the crowds for two days before they thought to check the temple!

It might also be foreshadowing of the next time Jesus would be missing for three days…when his body lay dead in the tomb before the resurrection.

At any rate, they found him, and, as mothers everywhere would probably do, Mary most likely hugged him joyously and then scolded him. Jesus, however, had an answer…don’t all 12-year-olds? But his answer wasn’t a bratty come back…he simply said, “Didn’t you know I would be about my Father’s business?”

And here’s an interesting sidebar—this story is the last time the scripture mentions Joseph — we can presume because Jesus is transitioning from learning at the knee of his earthly father to learning and teaching about his Heavenly Father.

Jesus was continuing to grow; he was leaving his comfort zone and expanding his horizons. He knew his place. He knew his destiny. He was building on that knowledge.

I often ask myself when composing a sermon, so what? Who cares? What lesson can be learned for today’s world?

I believe today’s important lesson is that all of us, no matter what age, need to keep learning and growing. My children will tell you that one of my favorite sayings is “No learning is ever wasted.” I believe that, and I believe that everyone should be a life-long learner.

But growth, true growth, goes beyond learning. Growth almost always involves leaving one’s comfort zone!

It might be physical growth, like learning to live in a wheelchair or Doris with a new leg. Or perhaps emotional growth, for instance, as we learn to respond rather than react to a situation. Spiritual growth might involve increasing prayer life or reading more — either the Bible or books about spiritual topics. But any growth takes commitment, and leaning, and being willing to leave one’s comfort zone and change.

Learning and growth…important topics as we are about to begin the new adventure of a shiny new year. Jesus kept learning and growing, asking questions, and being curious through his ministry.

It’s a good model for everyone.

So, pick a topic, any topic, and resolve to learn more about it -- grow in understanding or grow in physical prowess, or grow in faith.

And pray with me about how we might grow as a congregation in 2026.

What might we learn about our community that will help us to better serve them? How can we, either individually or as a congregation, be a miracle in the life of someone else?

These are interesting ideas to pray about and ponder as we contemplate the end of one year and the beginning of new one. In fact, let’s pray now!

Heavenly Father, thank you for this beautiful season and sending your Son so he could teach us about you. As we close out the year and begin a new one, guide and direct our efforts as a Congregation. Help us continue to live in your will and walk in your ways. Give us a clear sense of direction and bless our efforts. In the holy name of Jesus, Amen.