“LOSING JESUS”

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“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.  And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:41-49

“I can’t find my child!”  If you are a parent, chances are that you have experienced the panic of losing your child at least once in your life.  Nothing can make you feel more terrible as a parent than when this happens! 

Jesus’ parents didn’t just lose a child…imagine the pressure of losing God’s Messiah!   But it wasn’t that Mary and Joseph were bad parents, they were just busy juggling life.  Passover was the biggest holiday of the Jewish year and it meant picking up and traveling.  By comparison, think of how busy our own Christmas holiday is!  So they were busy making holiday food, catching up with relatives, and even were busy with all the Churchly things going on with this religious holiday.   


 

It’s easy for us to lose sight of Jesus when we are busy with life.  Making plans and going places, just like they did; grocery shopping and making meals.  Even getting the family to Church can be so busy and frustrating that when we get there, our focus really isn’t on Him but on other busy things.  The real question for us is, are we losing Jesus in the busyness of life?  You know, they didn’t even realized He was missing at first.  Maybe it has been the same with us too?  But when they DID realize they had lost Him, they immediately turned their back on everything and made finding Him their first priority.  
 

We find Jesus in the same place Mary and Joseph did:  at His Father’s House…if we are not too busy.  It is the one place Jesus has promised to be.   He says, “Where 2 or more are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).  The One who is call the Good Shepherd is found with His flock.  Even in Communion, Jesus meets us in a special way and is really present, saying “This is My body given for you…this is My blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins”.  

It’s easy to be busy and lose sight of Jesus, but thankfully, He shows us where He can be found!

Pastor Dan McQuality, 

Grace Lutheran Church, 201 S. College St., Lincoln, IL

10:30am  Sunday Worship;  9:00am Bible Study

 

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