Articles
What Was Once Lost Is Now Found
When I was twelve years old, I was in 7th grade. As a result, I was awkward and didn’t know any better. I worried my parents a few times because I would be so busy having fun with my friends that I wasn’t as communicative as I should have been, especially as night approached. In Luke 2, teenage Jesus’ parents became worried for Him after discovering He wasn't with them and later found Him at Jerusalem’s temple. The chapter doesn’t mention the circumstances behind Jesus ending up at the Jerusalem temple as a twelve-year-old boy. That is because knowing whether Jesus’ parents accidentally left Him or He simply wandered off doesn’t matter. The verses say only what’s important to know. Mary and John had traveled a day outside the city before being worried because he wasn’t journeying alongside them and spent four days looking for Him.
After four days of frantic searching–probably finding it hard not to assume the worst–it’s understandable why Mary told Jesus once they found him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress” (Luke2:48). Mary telling Jesus that they were searching with “great distress” shows their dedication and love as parents. As mankind’s parent, God has the same attitude toward us. Sin has separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Yet, He does everything to look for us and save us, even at the cost of His son. 1 Timothy 2:1-6 reads, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
Jesus remained at the temple to grow His relationship with and obey His spiritual Father, but He also would accomplish this by obeying His earthly parents. Thus, Luke 2:51 reads, “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.” Following Jesus’ example, a person must pray, read their Bible, and become baptized to have a relationship with God and obey Him in all they do. Seeing Jesus’ obedience and love for them overjoyed Mary and she treasured His actions in her heart. If people obey and show their love for God today, He will be overjoyed. In Luke 15:9-10, God tells us, “‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
As the perfect parent, God doesn’t play the blame game if we are lost from His side. All He wants is for us to be close to Him again. If you need to grow your relationship with God, He has given you today to change that!
