Today, I want us to look at yet another passage found in the book of Luke. Luke 2:41-51.
It is entitled 'The Boy Jesus in the Temple.'
This scripture gives us the rare opportunity to witness Jesus at the tender age of 12 years.
Most 12 year old boys today can probably be found running around the house doing mischievous things or playing outside but Jesus, on the other hand, was doing something especially interesting.
Before we get into that though, let's put this story into context. Jesus' parents had gone to Jeruselem for the Passover Festival. Back in those days, they would walk where ever they went. Now Mary and Joseph had travelled for one day before realizing that Jesus was not among their relatives or friends. I can imagine how they must have felt. They were probably thinking "God, don't look now but I think we just lost the savior of the world!"
On a more serious note though, surely they were worried so they went back to Jeruselem to find him.
Day one; where could he be?
Day two; someone must have taken him!
Day three; just about the time when they were ready to belive that all their fears had come to pass, Jesus was found!
What was he doing? Did ge get lost? Did he run away to hang out with his friends?
No, he was found in the Temple, "sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions."
Jesus was preparing himself for his destiny! Even at age 12, he was already being prepared for his future in ministry.
Of course his parents were relived to have found him. When they found him Mary had said "Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you. "
To which Jesus responded "Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"
His response was more meaningful than Mary and Joseph understood at that time. Jesus is the son of God; that is the Father he was referring to.
What he was telling them was that if they really knew who he was, they would have known where he would be, if they understood his destiny, they wouldn't have had to search because they would have looked in the right places to find him.
I find this scripture significant in another sense also. This wasn't the only time Jesus had gone missing. There was one other time, do you remember when that was?
It was after he died on calvary, and again he was found on the third day; the day of his resurrection! He was gone but he returned, and now he is at the right hand of God.
Mary and Joseph had lost him and because they didn't understand who he was, they didn't look for him in the right places, much like his disciples after his death; they were looking for him in the grave but he had already conquered the grave!
What about you? Do you look in the right places to find your savior? Do you look to the Bible, do you look to the church? Do you look to the heavens? Do you look to your heart? Where ever God is, Jesus is there also.
It's easy to find Jesus! Once you know who he is, you will never lose him because he is always near; even in the darkest of hours.
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