Luke 2:40-52 ~ back to Jerusalem

Young Jesus in a Synagogue, by Yuriy Nosenko

Luke 2:40-52 (New Revised Standard Version)

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety."

He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor.

Jesus, being God, is only going forward. Jesus knows His direction and longs to gather all flawed people to His Father.

Luke 13:34
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

I can plainly see myself in Mary & Joseph; I've been so intent on Christmas, Christmas kindness, Christmas preparation, Christmas for friends, Christmas for family, Christmas car trip, that last night Christ was not part of my Post-Christmas melt down. I left Christ at Church and plowed down my own path. It was a tense Christmas - relatives not feeling so merry - had several unkind speeches to give to me. I felt it was very unkind & truthfully it was. So, I stored up all that unkindness aimed at me and blasted my family when we were home.

It is good to have the Scriptures for a road map. Mary & Joseph, on the religious pilgrimage, lose Jesus. Jesus didn't say, like I did, where were you while I was getting the brunt of it? Jesus didn't say, hey, I am important too. Jesus didn't say I deserved more and better and first? Jesus didn't sulk all the way back to Nazareth either.

Jesus waited patiently for Mary and Joseph, busy doing what His Father wanted. Jesus allowing time for Mary & Joseph, knowing they are on a journey that literally goes back and forth. Jesus continuing to act as God's radiant love. Jesus is my hero. Maybe some day, I will act more like Jesus. I know He will wait patiently for me.

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