DAY Three of Twenty-One "Son of God"

DAY Three of Twenty-One "Son of God"

Luke 2:49

49“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?”

Luke 2:41-52

41Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.

42When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual.

43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first,

44because 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.

45When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there.

46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48His 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?”

50But they didn't understand what he meant.

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

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

SORTING IT OUT The Bible only gives us one account of Jesus’ life as a child, the story of when Jesus stayed behind at the temple in Jerusalem after the Feast of Passover, and his parents couldn’t find him for three days.

Can you imagine how Mary and Joseph felt?

Their son, whom angels had told them was the promised Savior of their people, was missing. No matter how they searched, they couldn’t find Him anywhere. After the roller coaster of events from the annunciation through Jesus’ birth and the resulting flight into Egypt—angels, wise men, murderous kings—the Promised One was now lost and they couldn’t find him. They must have been terrified.

Yet when Mary and Joseph found Jesus, He was surprised they didn’t think to look for Him in the Temple. Of course He was in His Father’s house.

YOUR TURN It’s tempting to read Jesus’ response as the indifference of youth. But perhaps what Jesus was trying to say—both to His parents, and to us—was don’t be afraid. Trust me, Jesus says. I am always doing the work of my Father.

GOD’S TURN Thank you, Jesus, for always knowing what You are doing. Help me to trust You.

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