Losing and Finding Jesus

Yesterday I was reminded of when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem for the first time.  After the days of the feast were completed, the passage in Luke 2 says they left with a company of other people.  They traveled for a day, assuming Jesus was somewhere with the people of the group.  When they realised Jesus was not in the company, they hurried back to Jerusalem to seek Jesus.  If you have ever lost a child even for a short time it is worrisome, but how much more when you have been entrusted to raise the Son of God!

Luke 2:46-49 states, "Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. ⁴⁸ So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." ⁴⁹ And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"  Joseph and Mary had "lost" Jesus, but Jesus wasn't lost.  His behaviour and choices were completely consistent with His divine character and purpose:  "I must be about My Father's business."  Joseph and Mary inferred Jesus had wronged them in some way because of their anxious feelings of losing Him.  But Jesus asked them, "Why did you seek Me?"  The truth is, they never should have lost sight of Him.  They should not assumed He was with them when it was they who left Him behind!

There is a picture we do well to meditate upon.  Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in obedience to celebrate the Passover.  A time came when Joseph and Mary figured it was time to head home, but forgot to bring Jesus with them.  They simply assumed He would find His way home with them.  But on the trip back to Nazareth, they discovered Jesus was not with them!  Can Christians do the exact same thing?  Absolutely.  We go to church on Sunday mornings or to attend a prayer meeting or evening service and assume Jesus will be there.  We head off to work or a business meeting and expect because we are a Christian, the presence of Christ will be around us all the time.  Even though Jesus was born of Mary it did not mean they were inseparable.  You may say, "Wait a second!  Jesus said He would never leave or forsake us!"  And you would be right.  However, just because Jesus will not leave or forsake us does not mean we are unable to leave or forsake Him.  If we think by virtue of being born again God is "in" all that we say or do - that God's presence will rubber-stamp our actions or words with His approval because of our belief - we are making an assumption similar to what Joseph and Mary did.  "Oh, He must be around somewhere," we say.  The reality was Jesus was more than a day's journey away!  For three days there was great distance between them and Jesus.  But when they sought Jesus faithfully, they found Him.  When they finally found Him with great relief, He was about His Father's business.

Let us never lose sight of Jesus.  Stay close to His side.  He will always be about His Father's business.  One of the roles of a shepherd is to seek lost sheep.  I am grateful Jesus is my Good Shepherd, so when I lose sight of Him and cry out to Him, seeking Him with all my heart, I can always find Him.  Instead of blaming Jesus for not gracing us with His presence, we ought to put into practice James 4:6-10, "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."