Do you remember if you were ever lost as a child? One time at a football game I was following behind a man that carried a stadium chair like my dad had. When I realized I had been following the wrong person, panic flooded over me. Just as I am sure my parents were panicking because they couldn’t find me. I remember the feeling of relief when I found my parents.
Did you know that Mary and Joseph misplaced Jesus when he was twelve years old. In Luke 2:41, the bible says that they went every year to the Feast of the Passover. After the Passover, they returned home but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. They found Him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions…and all those who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers(vv.46-47). Mary was upset and asked Him, why have you treated us like this? He answered, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
In verse 50, they didn’t understand what he was saying to them. Do you ever feel like that? Jesus is always faithful to answer, even though we may not understand it. Often the time element is not what we expect. Sometimes he answers us immediately and sometimes it is much later. It is interesting to get this glimpse of Jesus as a child and shows us His devotion to God.
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. ”
Hebrews 5:7