As you meditate on God’s word today, may
you feel the hope and peace that He has for you.
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
 |
| Poppies growing in Israel. |
Image Jesus and His family traveling from
Nazareth to Jerusalem. Spring was beginning—there may have been wild flowers
blooming along the roadway—with warm breezes and the ever enduring sunshine
beating down on them as they travel up the mountain roadway to go to the Temple
as required at the time of Passover, in accordance with Deuteronomy 16:1-6.
This was done in obedience to worship God and make the proper sacrifice. The
distance was about 60 miles and that could take from two to five days. Jesus’
family traveled with others from Nazareth and it must have been a time of
celebration all along the way, coming and going. As they journeyed home, Mary
and Joseph didn’t miss Jesus among all the sojourners, until probably time for
the evening meal and He wasn’t there. Where was He? They found Him a couple of
days later…in His Father’s house. Have you ever been missing or missed someone
in your family and search high and low for them? Kids get lost in stores and
parks, but do you not miss them for hours? Imagine how frantic Mary and Joseph
must have felt. Looking for Him along the way back to Jerusalem…and in the inn
where they had stayed…and the market where they had shopped, picking up last
minute supplies for their trip home. He was nowhere to be found. And then
looking around the Temple, the colonnade, the courts, and then the steps of the
Temple. There He was! They were rejoicing…but asking Him, “why have you done this to us?” They felt like He had disobeyed
them, but He felt like He was where He needed to be…in His Father’s house. Are
we where we need to be? Physically. Mentally. Spiritually.
God is in control…and worthy of our trust, our
love and our commitment. Many of the Psalms point us toward God’s love. This
one from today’s Lenten lectionary scripture I think does that by praising God
and His faithfulness.
I will sing of the LORD's unfailing love
forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will
last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.
Psalm 89:1-2
The world is in such turmoil now, panicking
over the corona virus. Now is the time to seek God and to rely on Him for peace
within our hearts and homes. He is faithful to us. Be there for God. He will be
there for you.
Prayer
~ Lord, we search for You during this stormy time. Guide our nation, our
leaders and each of us that we would make wise choices. Take away the fear that
so many people have and give them Your peace.
©
2020 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Unless
otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of
Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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