The story of Jesus, lost by his parents. Where can we find Jesus?

Leon ♦ June 22, 2024 ♦ Leave a comment

In the gospel of Luke, chapter 2, beginning in verse 41, we find the story where Mary and Joseph, along with many family members and friends, travel from Nazareth to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Upon returning on their journey back home, they discover that their 12 year old son Jesus, is not among the traveling caravan of friends and family. Verse 44 states “they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.” They return to Jerusalem, and after searching for three days, they find Jesus in the temple, teaching and asking questions among the elders of the city. When they found him it states, they were amazed! And asked why he had caused them so much worry. Jesus responded by saying, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

This story reminds me of a time in my life when I felt, I had lost Jesus. I has been attending a church with my wife and young children for over eight years. This particular church denomination had a very narrow interpretation of God’s word. It was a church based more upon our strict adherence to God’s laws, ceremonies and commandments, and less upon His love, forgiveness and grace. When I became disillusioned with this church, I felt I had no spiritual direction for many years. I rejected the Bible and stopped attending that particular church. I gave God and his word little thought for many years, and found myself very unhappy. After several years I began to turn back to God. Just as Mary and Joseph had done. I sought Jesus, but was unable to find him. I searched, as it were, among family, friends and acquaintances. I tried attending a number of different church denominations. I became involved in everything from New Age teachings and interpretations, to orthodox Catholic services. Still I could not find, what seemed to me, to be a personal relationship with my Savior Jesus. Finally I turned to The Word of God. I studied the Bible from cover to cover, as best I could. I filled notebooks, and tried to contemplate and understand the Word of God. I came to realize, Jesus is the manifestation of the Bible from Genesis to Revelations. The first verse of the gospel of John states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” As Christians we are the temple of God. 2 Corinthians 6:16 ” for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” When Mary and Joseph found Jesus, he was in the Temple, and it sates they were amazed! It is amazing to find Jesus is not far off, but nearer then we could possibly imagine. Jesus said he would never leave us, nor forsake us. If we become lost, and it appears Jesus has left our lives. Or it seems as if we cannot find Him. We do not need to spend days or years looking for Him. Jesus dwells within us! We can find Him and come to know Him, through his word. The Holy Bible. The revelation of who we are in Christ, is revealed through His word. We can rest, and know we are eternally loved, eternally forgiven. We can come to know the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. And be confident Jesus is in His Temple, going about His Fathers work. John 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”