There comes a time in every good parent’s life when the child they have complete control over, the child they have told what to do and where to be always, the child they have meticulously taught what is right and wrong with wisdom experiences that moment when they realize the child has and has been developing a mind of their own and now they show it!  Sometimes they show it when you least expect it!  There is a mix of emotions, however, that arise in this season of parenthood. 

We are taken aback when, as parents, we realize the work is paying off in the life of this child we love with our whole being.  Our investment of teaching is paying off in great dividends when we see them making choices on their own that are good!  But we are also a little sad that the “control” of overseeing, protecting, nurturing, and providing begins to wain as self-control in our child begins to blossom. 

As believers, we pray for our children to grow up in the Lord’s ways.  So, don’t be so surprised; be elated and delighted when they do as they begin to bear the “fruits” of your labor and the partnership of God’s Holy Spirit of “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”!  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Luke 2, The Message

They Found Him in the Temple

^41-45 Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.

^46-48 The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.

His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”

^49-50 He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.

^51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus’ parents think He is lost when they can’t find their boy but soon discover their boy is becoming the Son of God while being the Son of Man.  After twelve years of raising the boy in faith, sending Him to school to learn God’s Law, the boy is becoming the man He was sent to become—Savior and Lord. 

Only the gospel of Luke gives us a glimpse of the “boy” Jesus.  Here is Joseph and Mary’s first encounter with Jesus who is not lost but who is now displaying Who He was born to be.  Did they forget for a while Who they were assigned to care for and nurture from birth?  Maybe…parenting is challenging!

They lost sight of Jesus, but Jesus was never lost.  Jesus is learning, growing in stature and wisdom thanks to good devout parenting.  He is blessed by God to be a blessing to God’s people.  Jesus, Messiah come to save the world from the bondage of sin.  But Mary and Joseph were human with human emotions of fear for his safety and hurt that He did not consider their feelings.  Jesus knew it hurt so he left with them and lived obediently.  Mary never forgot the moment and held the experience close to her heart—I wonder if she knew more than she wanted to realize about Jesus? 

Jesus knew what she needed most at that time…to go back with them and live obedient to His earthly parents until His Father God told him the “time has come” to do His will. 

Jesus, lost?  No, Jesus was and is never lost.  It is we, who are lost until we find Jesus.

Lord,

Thank you for the privilege of parenting three children to adulthood by your Holy Spirit’s guidance and help.  Thank you for the grandchildren that came from marriage to three fine people who came into their lives.  Thank you for helping us “let go” of them to you at just the right time so they could find you and follow you, too by choice not by demand.  I pray they make the right choice of leaning on your understanding and wisdom, be found in you, and follow in all your ways.  Thank you for Your Word that teaches us.

In Jesus Name, Amen