Honor Your Father

Jerusalem Model - Old City - Temple

Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn't miss him at first, because 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. When they couldn't find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 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. 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 2:41-52

Three days later they found Jesus in the Temple. Three days. How many twelve year olds do you know who would sit in a church or other religious building for three days listening and discussing religion with leaders or teachers?  Jesus was an amazing child—it is no wonder that Mary pondered and remembered facts about Jesus life. It must have been a joy for Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus…an obedient child, although he did stay behind when they left Jerusalem after the Passover festival. This passage in Luke tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom, stature and favor with God and other people. God was probably telling the angels in heaven, “That is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” I imagine He was beaming with pride at the actions of His Son. That is how it is with fathers when their sons are doing well—when the child is obedient and honors his father. Father’s Day is coming up in a couple of weeks. Now is the time to start planning how you will honor your father. Jesus probably honored Joseph as his early father in ways besides his obedience. How will you show honor to your father…or the fathers in your family this year for Father’s Day?

Prayer ~ Jesus, thank you for being an example to us on how we are to treat our earthly and heaven fathers. Just as You were obedient to Mary, Joseph and to our Heavenly Father, we want to be obedient to our Heavenly Father…and also treat our earthly father with respect…whether he is deserving of it or not. Give us wisdom to be good parents and to guide our children and grandchildren in ways that are pleasing to You now and forever more.

© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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