Rev Gav

Care

Luke 2:41-45

Jesus Speaks with the Teachers

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. ⁴² When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. ⁴³ After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, ⁴⁴ because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends.

⁴⁵ When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. ⁴⁶ Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. ⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸ His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

⁴⁹ “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they didn’t understand what he meant.

⁵¹ Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.

⁵² Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Reflect

Jesus was now 12 years old, and every year the whole family — including the extended family — would make a trip, or a pilgrimage, to Jerusalem. This was to celebrate the festival of Passover, an occasion from Israel’s past when God had dramatically rescued the people from Egyptian slavery. On this occasion the festival was over, and the family were heading back home to Nazareth and the surrounding area. However, Jesus had been accidentally left behind in Jerusalem.

Does it not strike you as odd that it takes a whole day before Mary and Joseph discover that Jesus is not with them? It does not sound like great parenting does it? However, we have to remember that in that culture, at that time, families were much bigger — aunts, uncles, and all their children, grandparents and cousins — they would have all been together, and it would have been a mutual responsibility to look out for each other’s children.

Anyway, it took a day to realise that Jesus was not with them and then Joseph and Mary pegged it back to Jerusalem, presumably taking another day to get there. Can you imagine the anguish and worry they felt? And as they journeyed they had a whole day to think about it — planning where to look, thinking the worst, hoping Jesus would be okay.

It was not until I became a parent that I discovered just how much my parents must love me — even when I appear to do daft, stupid, or inconsiderate things. Jesus had his parents to look out for him. Who looks out for you? Who would care about you if you went missing?

Do

Today, think about someone who cares about you. It might be a parent, brother, sister, carer, neighbour or friend. Thank God for them, and today, if you are able, do something to show them how grateful you are for their love.

Pray

Holy God
Thank you for those that care about me,
and help me to never take their love for granted.
I ask that you will bless them,
that they might be encouraged and know your peace.
May I show them that I am grateful
for their support and care.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

How are families today, in our culture, similar or different to families in Jesus’ day?