Jesus is Lost

Every year His parents travelled to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When He was 12 years old, they went up according to the custom of the festival. After those days were over, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not know it. Assuming He was in the travelling party, they went a day's journey. Then they began looking 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 complex sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all those who hard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have anxiously searched for You."
"Why were you searching for Me?" He asked them. "Didn't you know that I had to 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 kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and with people. Luke 2:47-52

Imagine the headlines: parents lose child, failing to supervise him, the department of community services have considered taking child from parents because of their negligence. That's what would happen today.

Imagine how Jesus' parents felt at losing Him. They were responsible for raising the Son of God and they lost Him. How guilty would they have felt? What would others be saying about them? What would have been their greatest fear? Abduction, subjection to slavery?

Why did Jesus say, "didn't you know I had to be in My Father's house?" Why did He need to be in the temple? Jesus knew who His real Father was and where to find Him. He was at an age where He wanted to, independently, seek out His Father. The teachers knew more about the scripture than He yet they marvelled at His knowledge, His passion and His interest in the scriptures.

Knowing what really matters requires great insight and understanding, yet Jesus had it at 12. It takes most people until adulthood to understand the need for insight and understanding, some never do.

For us as Christians we need to know that what really matters is knowing God and not having our petty wants fulfilled. Being depressed because I cannot buy something is crazy. My God supplies all my needs. If my wants are not supplied, then I don't need them. We need to see things as He does. Jesus put the ability to sit before teachers ahead of somewhere to sleep and something to eat. He chose the better portion and God gave Him more.

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