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
Meditate.
Consider Jesus references to scripture. Read God’s word and listen to what He
is saying.
The
Passover festival in Jerusalem lasts seven days. That meant I could spend seven
days…well, at least six days, with the religious leaders at the Temple while our
family was in Jerusalem from Nazareth. The Temple was a glorious white marble
building with gold embellishments. It was dramatic—worthy of the earthly home
of our Heavenly Father, who met with a priest once a year in the Holy of Holies.
Like any twelve-year-old, I wanted to peek in there, but I knew that was not
acceptable. The outer room of that Holy Place had the altar of incense and the
great menorah, accessible only to priests and Levites, not to me or
to the general Jewish population. Beyond that area was the place where the
animals were actually sacrificed. The next outer area was labeled as the Court
of the Women or the Court of Prayer, where any Jews could congregate. That was where
the Rabbis, the religious teachers, taught. I was eager to sit on the steps and
listen to them.
 |
| Jonah was in the great fish! 50 year old Puppet looking his age. |
There was so much to learn—the depth
of the teaching was amazing. What seemed like a simple story was a life lesson.
I am excited about discovering more from these Rabbis, as they debate the
details of the scripture. Tomorrow I will learn more.
Prayer
– Lord God, thank you for Your lesson about Jonah. Was his rebellious nature
ever completely changed? I ask that You show me any defiant or stubborn
nature in me…and help me to change. I want to be like Jesus, not Jonah.
Verse
of Salvation ~ From then on Jesus began to preach, "Repent of your sins
and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." Matthew 4:17
© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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