Where else would I be?

Yesterday, we saw how Matthew records that the young Jesus and his parents fled from clear danger in their homeland as refugees. Herod was seeking to kill this child who had been recognised by some as the new Messiah. The family sought asylum in neighbouring Egypt until the threat had passed. Unlike many asylum seekers today, they were fortunate enough to be able return home to safety in Nazareth.

In the book of Luke, we hear how Jesus grew into a lovely lad.

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.  Luke 2:40

We unpacked this verse in ‘Wishes for a child’ if you’d like to have a read.

We only have one account in the Bible of Jesus as a child and this account only appears once in the book of Luke.

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’

‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.  Luke 2:41-52

It’s an endearing story. Very human. One that any parent out there can relate to. How in a crowd with a lot going on, it’s easy to think that your partner has eyes on your child. And he is 12 after all, old enough to do the right thing and stay close. There’s surely nothing to worry about. You’ll just finish this conversation and then go check on him. He’ll be with his mate’s family. Someone will know where he is.

And then the panic sets in. You start asking around and no one has seen him. You start to fear the worst. You try not to worry and try to be reasonable, but your heart is pounding and you can’t see straight and you can’t stop your voice from sounding hysterical. Of course, your child has no idea what’s going on. He doesn’t know he’s lost. He knows exactly where he is. It doesn’t cross his mind that you don’t too. He’s too fascinated by what’s going on to spare a thought for you.

Everyone is telling you to stop worrying, but you know this isn’t just any normal child. This is a special child, entrusted to your care by God. You feel terrible for not keeping him in your sight, for being distracted, for forgetting your responsibilities for a moment. What if someone has worked out who he is? What if his life is in danger? What have you done?

And then you find him. You’re overjoyed and so relieved and yet the first words out of your mouth are full of reproach and anger.

What are you playing at? Why would you do this to us?

Do what? What have I done? What would I be anywhere else?

Anyway, all’s well that ends well. The family return home and Jesus grows into one of those great kids who obeys his parents and is liked by everyone. Including God. And his mother puts that experience in a special place in her heart with all the other weird and wonderful experiences to reflect on at some later date. She ponders – ‘Sometimes it’s good to ponder’.

I don’t know about you, but I’d love to be known as someone of wisdom and stature, in favour with God and man. How might that come about? Well, what did Jesus do? The only thing we know is that he spent time with the spiritual teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. That seems like a great place to start. He was learning all that he could about God from those who studied the scriptures. He was curious, inquisitive, thirsting for knowledge. He wasn’t afraid to ask questions or to share his own take on things.

The good news is that that is exactly what we’ve been doing here. We’ve been studying the scriptures, asking questions and sharing insights. Of course, there are loads of other places we can be doing this too – from church groups to online forums. But taking the time to learn about God and from God is key.

There are those who say that the Bible is boring and irrelevant, but oh my word, this journey never ceases to inspire and surprise me! I am genuinely so excited by what is to come in the next few months as we study the life of Jesus and all that he said and did. There’ll be lots of questions, I’m sure, and plenty of insights too, I imagine.

Other people might be surprised to see us taking time out to spend in the presence of God, but for us, this surely is the most natural place to be as we continue on this journey.

Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? Where else would I be?

I’ll see you there!