FOUR DAYS WITHOUT JESUS

TEXT- LUKE 2:41-52

INTRODUCTION

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 2:41-55 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "FOUR DAYS WITHOUT JESUS."

HERE IN THIS PASSAGE WE FIND JOSEPH AND MARY HAVING A CRISIS IN THEIR FAMILY.

JESUS WAS MISSING FROM HIS PARENTS FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT FOUR DAYS.

DURING HARRY TRUMAN’S PRESIDENCY, A VERY DISTURBING DISCOVERY WAS MADE ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE. ONE DAY WHILE THE PRESIDENT WAS TAKING A BATH, HE FELT THE BATHTUB SETTLE. LATTER, A LEG OF A PIANO BROKE THROUGH THE FIRST FLOOR CEILING. TRUMAN DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR WAS ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSING!

THE OUTER WALLS WERE SOLID, BUT THE SUPPORTS FOR THE INNER WALLS WERE NOT CONSTRUCTED WELL.

IN 1949 A $7 MILLION SALVAGE JOB ON THE WHITE HOUSE WAS BEGUN AND WAS FINALLY COMPLETED IN 1952.

WHEN THE FIRST FAMILY MOVED BACK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE ARCHITECT ASSURED THEM THAT IT WOULD STAND FOR THE NEXT 500 YEARS.

WHETHER IT IS THE WHITE HOUSE OR YOUR HOUSE, FAULTY CONSTRUCTION WILL ALWAYS LEAD TO A SHAKY HOME!

THIS IS ALSO TRUE OF OUR FAMILIES.

TODAY THE FAMILY INSTITUTION IS ON SHAKY GROUND AND IS VIEWED BY MANY AS FALLING APART.


    * TODAY 50% OF ALL FIRST TIME MARRIAGES END UP IN DIVORCE.

    * 55% OF ALL SECOND TIME MARRIAGES END UP IN DIVORCE.

    * AND 80%-85% OF ALL THIRD TIME MARRIAGES END UP IN DIVORCE.


TODAY THE FAMILY INSTITUTION IS FACED WITH A CRISIS OF GARGANTUAN PROPORTIONS.

SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES ARE ON THE RISE. TEENAGE SUICIDE IS ON THE RISE. AND NOW, WE OUR COUNTRY IS ON THE VERGE OF ALLOWING SAME SEX MARRIAGES.

AS WE EXAMINE OUR TEXT TODAY I WOULD LIKE US TO LEARN THREE LESSONS FROM THE CRISIS JOSEPH AND MARY EXPERIENCED IN THEIR FAMILY.