Message Title - "THREE DAYS WITHOUT JESUS".

Message based on Luke chapter 2 verses 25 -52

In Luke's Gospel chapter 2 and beginning at verse 41, we have the account of a time when Mary and Joseph went for three days without Jesus.
How could such a thing happen?
Quite easily in those days, because many people travelled together in families, the women travelled in front and the men travelled behind.

How was it possible for Mary and Joseph to travel for three days without Jesus?
For the very same reason millions of people travel through life without Him today.
Verse 44 tells "They SUPPOSED He was with them".
Mary supposed Joseph had Jesus with him. Joseph supposed Mary had Jesus with her.
When they discovered that neither of them had Jesus with them, they SUPPOSED that some of their relatives had him.

Many people travel along life's road supposing they have Jesus with them.
They suppose Jesus is with them because:
They have been born into a Christian family.
They have been christened.
They have been confirmed.
They used to go to Sunday School.
They go to Church, they may even be a Church member
They read the Bible.
They say prayers.
They live the best life they can.

The reality is that people can experience, or do of all these things and still not really know for sure that they have Jesus with them in their daily life, and as they face the inescapable prospect of death, they have no certainty that it is well with their soul. Tragically, many people die leaving a big question mark behind, as to where they will spend eternity.

In Matt 7:21 Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? "And then, I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness".

In Matt 25, Jesus said the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish, took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight, a cry was heard, "Behold the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying, "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and "THOSE WHO WERE READY" went in with him to the wedding, and THE DOOR WAS SHUT.
Afterward, the other virgins came also saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, "assuredly I say to you, I do not know you". Watch therefore, for you know, neither the day nor the hour, in which the Son of Man is coming".

Precious friend it is so foolish to live in the realm of SUPPOSITION.

Mary and Joseph had travelled a whole day's journey, supposing that Jesus was with them.
The fact is, he was not with them and they had travelled for three days without realising this most important fact.
The gospel record in Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph SOUGHT Jesus among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, SEEKING Him.

Here I see a SORROWFUL SEARCH

Mary and Joseph expected to find that their relatives or acquaintances had Jesus, but that search only brought them sorrow. When they eventually found Jesus again, Mary said to Him "Your Father and I have sought you sorrowing".
Precious friend, the reality is that Jesus is not to be found in the lives, the hearts and the homes of many of our relatives and acquaintances. This is because so many people try to live their life independent of God, so many people have a RELIGION but they do not have a RELATIONSHIP with the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is possible that many of our relatives and acquaintances go to Church, but they have never as yet come to know, to love and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ who is the HEAD, the FOUNDATION and the CHIEF CORNERSTONE of the Church.

Jesus was found at the place where He had been left behind

I find it very interesting to learn where Mary and Joseph actually found Jesus again.

Luke 2:46 says: After three days, THEY FOUND HIM IN THE TEMPLE.

They found Jesus at the place where they had left Him.

So many people have left Jesus behind at the Church, for example, when they became teenagers, they thought they had outgrown all this stuff about Jesus so they left Him behind in the Sunday School.
Many people have left Jesus behind in the Church when they got married, now that they were joined to a partner they had no time for or interest in God, and they certainly did not want to know anything about a personal relationship with Jesus.
Many people have left Jesus behind at the Church after the funeral of someone they loved, perhaps it was a member of their immediate family, or a close personal friend.

That is where I want to end this message today, as we join a woman in a cemetery who has been without Jesus for three days.

Her name is Mary Madgalene, and the story is told in John chapter 20.
It was very early on Sunday morning, in fact it was still dark.
Verse 11 - says "Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping".
Two angels inside the empty tomb asked her "Woman why are you weeping"?
She said to them - "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him".
After Mary had explained why she was weeping, she TURNED AROUND and saw someone standing there. The man asked her the same question as the two angels. "Woman why are you weeping", who are you seeking?
The Bible record then reports that MARY SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER said to him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take Him away".
Poor Mary - Searching for a dead Jesus. Wanting to take a dead Jesus away with her.

Precious friend, let me ask you a question. What use is a dead Jesus to anyone? What benefit is there in a dead religion? What hope do we have, if all we have is a dead Jesus? For so many people, the Jesus who is being portrayed by the Church is a dead Jesus, an irrelevant Jesus, and they face the prospect of a HOPELESS END, instead of the glorious prospect of an ENDLESS HOPE.
Jesus said to her "Mary"
Mary recognised the voice of Jesus when he spoke her name and she turned and said to Him "Rabboni" which means teacher.

Just now, Jesus is speaking to you personally.
Listen as He reveals to you the truth about who He really is.
In John chapter 8 and verses 31-32. Jesus said this, "If you continue in My Word, you will KNOW the TRUTH and the TRUTH will make you FREE".

Jesus says - "I AM - not I was - not I might be - not I will be.
I AM - "The resurrection and the life, he who believes in me though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die" (Jn 11:25-26)
I AM - "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through Me". (Jn 14:6)
I AM - "The door, if anyone enters by Me, he shall be saved, and will go out and in and find pasture. (Jn 10:9)
I AM - "The good shepherd, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep". (Jn 10:11)
I AM - "The light of the world, he who follows Me shall never walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (Jn 8:12)
I AM - "The bread of life , he who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst". (Jn 6:35)
I AM - "The true vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me, you can do nothing". (Jn 15:1,5)
I AM - "The Lord - I change not". (Mal 3:6) Precious friend - In Hebrews 13:8 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever".

Who is this great I AM?

He is - Jehovah Shammah - "The Lord ever present"
He is - Jehovah Jireh - "The Lord our provider".
He is - Jehovah Shalom - "The Lord our peace".
He is -Jehovah Raah - "The Lord our Shepherd".
He is - Jehovah T-sid -kenu - "The Lord our righteousness".
He is - Jehovah Rapha "The Lord that healeth us".

I want to end with the words of: Wendy Marice Langton.

At the time of writing this she was a State registered nurse, a wife and a mother.
"I can not explain my faith in the manner of the intellectual, or in the terminology of the theologian. For my faith is basically a simple thing, arising from the yearning of a young girl's heart for something better. Something more than the disappointment of continually missing the mark, the frustration of wanting to be the best, but not knowing how to go about it, and the resultant burden of discontent.
When I heard of One, who understood my heart's desire, who really cared that I suffered so, I ran to Him with the swift eagerness of youth.
Bewildered, my loved ones said, "She will grow out of it". But one does not grow out of Christ, one only grows into Him.
"It won't last" they predicted, but is has and He is more precious today than when I first believed.
You ask, "Is He then all He claims to be"? He is more! He is more!
In joy he has been the light of the morning.
In trouble the clear shining after rain.
In sorrow, morning without clouds.
He has plumbed depths I never knew existed.
He has set goals for me that I never dreamed possible.
He has put such meaning into life - How can I help but believe"?

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