Parenting
Messiah Mess, 11 October 2026
12 10 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ideal Family
Messiah Mess
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 11, 2026
Luke 2:41-48
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: The Messiah lived in a messed-up family, too, and was even “left behind.”
Scripture: Luke 2:41-48
Good morning! My name is Kirk, and today we’re concluding our series entitled “Ideal Family.” The big idea of the series is that all families are messed up, including biblical families. I find it comforting to know that even the heroes of the Bible were imperfect like me, and that all of the families in the Bible had issues…even Jesus’ family.
Have you ever lost something? We all have. It can be a terrible feeling, even frightening, at times. A few years ago, I lost my cell phone at a Detroit Tigers game. I was relieved to recover it.
Sometimes we don’t even know something is lost. Recently, a stranger came to the front door of our home and asked if there was a Heather there. She had found my wife’s wallet on the ground in a parking lot. Heather didn’t even know she dropped it!
I’m fascinated by the story of Jesus being left behind at the temple.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. (Luke 2:41)
This is an annual event. We know they did it at least a dozen times because…
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. (Luke 2:42)
Some of you have annual trips. You go to that cottage in Pure Michigan. There’s a special place you rent in Hocking Hills or Amish country. You celebrate a holiday in the same home each year.
In the case of Mary and Joseph, it was their faith tradition that prompted them to travel to Jerusalem for Passover.
After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. (Luke 2:43)
I love the phrase “the boy Jesus.” Did he know his parents were leaving? How many children did they have to wrangle as they headed back to Nazareth? It’s about 90 miles away. These journeys were done in a group to guard against robbers, though we don’t know how many were in their caravan.
Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. (Luke 2:44)
“Thinking” he was in their company. That’s what we call an assumption, friends! Can you imagine the conversation? “Where’s Jesus?” “Is he with you?” “No!” “I thought he was with you!” It took a day for them to realize he was lost.
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Luke 2:45)
I would hope so! Can you imagine what Child Protective Services would say to Mary and Joseph?!?!?
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46)
I can’t imagine looking for a lost child for three days! I can remember times when I’d lose one of my kids for a few seconds in a store and be on the verge of panic.
Obviously, Jesus wasn’t worried. It never even says he knew he was lost! What happened? How did he miss the journey back to Nazareth?
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” (Luke 2:47-48)
Mary blames Jesus for being left behind! At least they searched for him! Are you searching for Jesus? He said,
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)
The book of Luke is filled with several lost and found stories, most notably the lost coin, sheep, and son in Luke chapter 15. I love how he records Jesus’ mission:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Jesus’ Not-So-Perfect Family
Perhaps no other story shows us how Jesus did not come from an Ideal Family. He was sinless, but his parents were not perfect. His siblings weren’t perfect. In fact, it wasn’t until years later that his half-brother, James, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah…and they lived together! How did James miss the clues:
- The family dog died…until Jesus brought it back to life!
- Mary ran out of bread…until Jesus multiplied the loaves until there were leftovers
- Wine was served at every meal…even when they only had water to drink!
- Jesus won the Fantasy Football league every year!
I’m being facetious, just playing a bit, but seriously, Jesus’ family wasn’t perfect. Like ours, they surely had struggles, conflicts, and parental mistakes. Despite the flaws of Mary and Joseph, I’d say Jesus turned out pretty good!
So What?
The Messiah lived in a messed-up family, too, and was even “left behind.”
As we close out this series, there are a few things I want you to remember…
1. All families are broken. That’s why we need God’s grace and healing.
2. We have a family of origin and a spiritual family.
3. Loving others begins with family. It’s often easier to love strangers than those closest to us, but Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by…our politics? Our theology? Our Sunday morning music? No, it’s our love for one another.
As members of God’s family, we all fail and sin, but our Dad is perfect. He never fails.
Throughout this series, I hope you’ve been encouraged and challenged as you reflect on your own family. Families can be messy…but they also provide us with the greatest opportunities to learn, grow, serve, and experience joy.
As your brother in Christ, I’m grateful for you. I love your encouragement, appreciate your constructive criticism, and need your prayers. Together we are seeking to love, equip, and send…and welcome new spiritual siblings into the family.
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 11, 2026
Luke 2:41-48
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: The Messiah lived in a messed-up family, too, and was even “left behind.”
Scripture: Luke 2:41-48
Good morning! My name is Kirk, and today we’re concluding our series entitled “Ideal Family.” The big idea of the series is that all families are messed up, including biblical families. I find it comforting to know that even the heroes of the Bible were imperfect like me, and that all of the families in the Bible had issues…even Jesus’ family.
Have you ever lost something? We all have. It can be a terrible feeling, even frightening, at times. A few years ago, I lost my cell phone at a Detroit Tigers game. I was relieved to recover it.
Sometimes we don’t even know something is lost. Recently, a stranger came to the front door of our home and asked if there was a Heather there. She had found my wife’s wallet on the ground in a parking lot. Heather didn’t even know she dropped it!
I’m fascinated by the story of Jesus being left behind at the temple.
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. (Luke 2:41)
This is an annual event. We know they did it at least a dozen times because…
When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. (Luke 2:42)
Some of you have annual trips. You go to that cottage in Pure Michigan. There’s a special place you rent in Hocking Hills or Amish country. You celebrate a holiday in the same home each year.
In the case of Mary and Joseph, it was their faith tradition that prompted them to travel to Jerusalem for Passover.
After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. (Luke 2:43)
I love the phrase “the boy Jesus.” Did he know his parents were leaving? How many children did they have to wrangle as they headed back to Nazareth? It’s about 90 miles away. These journeys were done in a group to guard against robbers, though we don’t know how many were in their caravan.
Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. (Luke 2:44)
“Thinking” he was in their company. That’s what we call an assumption, friends! Can you imagine the conversation? “Where’s Jesus?” “Is he with you?” “No!” “I thought he was with you!” It took a day for them to realize he was lost.
When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. (Luke 2:45)
I would hope so! Can you imagine what Child Protective Services would say to Mary and Joseph?!?!?
After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46)
I can’t imagine looking for a lost child for three days! I can remember times when I’d lose one of my kids for a few seconds in a store and be on the verge of panic.
Obviously, Jesus wasn’t worried. It never even says he knew he was lost! What happened? How did he miss the journey back to Nazareth?
Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” (Luke 2:47-48)
Mary blames Jesus for being left behind! At least they searched for him! Are you searching for Jesus? He said,
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)
The book of Luke is filled with several lost and found stories, most notably the lost coin, sheep, and son in Luke chapter 15. I love how he records Jesus’ mission:
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Jesus’ Not-So-Perfect Family
Perhaps no other story shows us how Jesus did not come from an Ideal Family. He was sinless, but his parents were not perfect. His siblings weren’t perfect. In fact, it wasn’t until years later that his half-brother, James, acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah…and they lived together! How did James miss the clues:
- The family dog died…until Jesus brought it back to life!
- Mary ran out of bread…until Jesus multiplied the loaves until there were leftovers
- Wine was served at every meal…even when they only had water to drink!
- Jesus won the Fantasy Football league every year!
I’m being facetious, just playing a bit, but seriously, Jesus’ family wasn’t perfect. Like ours, they surely had struggles, conflicts, and parental mistakes. Despite the flaws of Mary and Joseph, I’d say Jesus turned out pretty good!
So What?
The Messiah lived in a messed-up family, too, and was even “left behind.”
As we close out this series, there are a few things I want you to remember…
1. All families are broken. That’s why we need God’s grace and healing.
2. We have a family of origin and a spiritual family.
3. Loving others begins with family. It’s often easier to love strangers than those closest to us, but Jesus said the world will know we are His disciples by…our politics? Our theology? Our Sunday morning music? No, it’s our love for one another.
As members of God’s family, we all fail and sin, but our Dad is perfect. He never fails.
Throughout this series, I hope you’ve been encouraged and challenged as you reflect on your own family. Families can be messy…but they also provide us with the greatest opportunities to learn, grow, serve, and experience joy.
As your brother in Christ, I’m grateful for you. I love your encouragement, appreciate your constructive criticism, and need your prayers. Together we are seeking to love, equip, and send…and welcome new spiritual siblings into the family.