Day 76

Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15

IN OUR READING from Luke today, we encountered one of the only references to Jesus’ boyhood. But this short passage provides much context for Jesus’ life and ministry. According to Luke, Jesus’ earthly parents were devout and made a yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover. Twelve-year-old Jesus also made the annual journey to the Holy City —as He had done many times before. This time, He remained alone in Jerusalem once the northbound procession had departed for Galilee. Mary and Joseph traveled an entire day’s journey away from Jerusalem before they realized Jesus was missing. They lived very communally and had assumed He was among His friends and extended family.

We can only imagine the panic welling up within the couple when they realized that Jesus was nowhere to be found. It would have been overwhelming for any parent, but in this case, not only had they lost their son —they had lost the Son of God.

Rushing back to Jerusalem, they frantically searched for Jesus for three days! Those of us who are parents can sense their anxiety and dread, imagining how we would react in this situation. Finally, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple, among the religious leaders and thinkers of the day. These were the elite experts in all of Israel, for they taught in the Temple of the Most High God, and Jesus amazed them. He amazed His parents as well, but for totally different reasons.

“Son,” His mother said to Him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere” (Luke 2:48). And Jesus gave His famous response: “But why did you need to search? . . . Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

This was the point at which Jesus blipped on the radar of the religious establishment that would one day sentence Him to death. Before all the confrontations and antagonism, the religious leaders were not against Jesus. Rather, they were amazed by Him. And as we read the Gospels, we see that they were not always against Jesus. They traveled to hear Him and asked penetrating questions of Him long before they opposed Him.

“This is that kid who was in the Temple,” they must have said to one another as they wondered about His teachings. But ultimately, Jesus’ thwarting of tradition made Him a perceived danger. Jesus wasn’t interested in traditions that circumnavigated a connection to the heart.

As we continue watching Jesus’ ministry unfold in Luke’s Gospel, let’s examine our own faith journey. Are we learning of Jesus because we want to know the rules? Or are we learning of Jesus because we want to fall in love?

PRAYER:

You have raised a banner for those who fear you —a rallying point in the face of attack.