Today’s Reading: Luke 2:21-52

Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. – Luke 2:21-22

There was a man in Jerusalem who had been eagerly awaiting the coming of the Messiah. That day, the Holy Spirit led him to the Temple, where he saw Mary and Joseph with their newborn son. Upon seeing Jesus, Simeon knew this was the one he had been waiting for. He prophesied over Mary’s baby.

“This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” – Luke 2:34-35

There was also a prophet named Anna at the Temple that day. She stayed at the Temple day and night worshiping God through fasting and prayer. As she observed the interaction between Simeon and the young parents, she began to praise God. She quickly spread the word to those she knew had also been waiting in expectation for God to rescue Jerusalem.

When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him. – Luke 2:39-40

The writers of the gospels seem to fast forward through Jesus’ childhood. Not much is written about the time between the visit with the wisemen and the journey to Jerusalem when Jesus was twelve years old. Out of curiosity, we wonder what it would have been like to raise the Son of God. We imagine Jesus playing with his brothers, watching his father build things with wood or cuddling up beside the fire with his mother after a long day. Most likely, Jesus had a pretty normal childhood.

Luke describes Jesus as a healthy and strong child, filled with wisdom and favored by God. Each year he would go to Jerusalem with his parents for the Passover festival. When he was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph realized that he was not with the rest of their group traveling back home from the city. They turned around and headed back to Jerusalem to look for him there.

Have you ever lost your child, even for just a minute? The feeling that surges through you is far beyond what the word “panic” describes. This must have been how Mary was feeling that day as she looked for her son — the son she knew belonged to God and yet was very much her little boy. I know the fear of a few seconds of being unable to find my daughter, but I cannot imagine what it must have been like for Mary to endure three days of searching for her son. Did she sleep at night? How many “what if” scenarios played through her mind from the time she confirmed Jesus was missing until the moment they found him in the Temple. How relieved she must have been when she found him!

The bible says Mary and Joseph did not know what to think (NLT); they were amazed (KJV) or astonished (NIV). The Greek word used to describe the reaction of Joseph and Mary is “ekpletto” — to knock someone out of their senses, to strike with astonishment or perhaps terror or admiration. If there had been social media in those days, Joseph might have posted — I cannot find my son! #ekpletto

After an exhausting three day search for their son, Joseph and Mary walked into the temple and found Jesus not just sitting among the Jewish teachers but listening intently to them, asking questions and then responding with his own understanding and answers. Yes, I am guessing the word “ekpletto” would be the proper description of the reaction of more than just Joseph and Mary that day.

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.”

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant. – Luke 2:48-50

Jesus was drawn to His Father; he had a heart connection with God. Just as I can relate to Mary in this passage, I can also relate to Jesus. I love those moments when my heart is pulled so strongly toward God that I cannot get enough of Him. I love those moments when I am surrounded by His presence with no desire to ever be separated from Him.

I MUST BE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE.

My prayer this morning is that we will all experience a strong pull toward God as we end one year and begin another. I pray that our time alone with God draws us like a strong magnet as we run into His presence each day. I pray that this weekend we do not anticipate just another Sunday morning worship time, but that we rush into His sanctuary with the spirit of I must be in my Father’s house! Let us respond to God’s invitation to spend time with him today without resistance.

Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. – Luke 2:51-52