In Luke 2 we read that Jesus “grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favour was on him. Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the 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…” (Verses 40-43) We might wonder how Jesus seemed “lost” but they travelled with many others, so it was normal for people to be in groups. When Joseph and Mary realized that Jesus was not in the crowd they travelled with; they searched for him. “After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at his understanding and His answers.” (V 46-47)
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.” “Why were you searching for me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (V 48-49) Jesus was telling his earthly parents what He was involved in His heavenly Father’s interests.
Are we more involved in our Abba Father’s interests and building for ourselves treasures in heaven, leading others to Christ, maturing in our faith, or are we more busy in earthly worries and concerns?
There are some mistakes Mary and Joseph made which we can learn from –
– Jesus wasn’t with them and they didn’t realize it. (V 43)
– They forgot Him. (V 44)
– They looked for Jesus in the wrong places. (V 44)
Abba Father reminds us to search for Him. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 He says – ““For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me WHEN you search for Me with all your heart.”
I’m sure that once Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus was not with them, that they searched diligently for Him because they had been entrusted with this PRECIOUS, GREATEST TREASURE from Father God. I think they were anxious and worried until they found Him. How do we react when we realize that Jesus is no longer with us, that somehow we have lost contact with Him, that he seems to no longer hear our prayers. We must EARNESTLY seek Him as Matt. 7:7 states – ““Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” And Deut. 4:29 says – ““But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with ALL your heart.” It says “ALL YOUR HEART,” not some of it.
We know the parable of the women who lost a coin and she searched for it until she found it. Or the story of the lost sheep where the shepherd left his whole herd to seek that one which was lost. Just like our Good Shepherd Jesus seeks us and longs for us to be in His fold – just so we need to search for Him whole heartedly, UNTIL we find Him. Then we need to KEEP Him safe in our lives so that He becomes our Refuge from the storms and our special Hiding place where no harm can hurt us.
Thank You, Blessed Lord, that You are waiting quietly and patiently for us to come to You with every one of our needs. Thank You that You are ever present, that all we need to do is to come humbly to You in prayer and talk to You like we would to our best friend. Thank You for loving us unconditionally. Amen
Myrtle Turunen