God's Gospel Truths
Luke 2:41-5
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?
~ Jesus,
41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.”
49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Pondering Point
From the Gospel for each upcoming Sunday, we will let the Holy Spirit teach us God’s truths during our devotional time. What truth is found in our Luke 2 reading? Even at age 12, Jesus is clearly in tune with His heavenly roots – and already preparing Himself for taking part in the “family business” (see John 15:15) by connecting with His true Father.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
Do you think of God as your Father? Are you “grounded” or rooted in God and His word? Are you participating in His business? Jesus shared a telling phrase with a Samaritan woman that has meaning beyond weekend worship at the “Father’s house”:
John 4:21-26
21 “Woman,” [Jesus is speaking to a woman at a well] Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”
Just as Jesus’ entire life was one of praise to God, a form of true worship, so our lives are to reflect truly worshipful attitudes no matter what we are doing, whether we are coming or going.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, I desire to become the type of worshiper You seek. Let Your Holy Spirit lead me so that I may worship You in spirit and in truth. Whether coming or going, I pray for such a devoted heart both in Your house Father and in Your whole world. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.