Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. When the festival was over, they went home, but Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know about it. They traveled for a whole day thinking that Jesus was with them in the group. They began looking for him among their family and close friends, but they did not find him. So they went back to Jerusalem to look for him there.
After three days they found him. Jesus was sitting in the Temple area with the religious teachers, listening and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and wise answers. When his parents saw him, they wondered how this was possible. And his mother said, “Son, why did you do this to us? Your father and I were very worried about you. We have been looking for you.”
Jesus said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? You should have known that I must be where my Father’s work is. (or in my Father's House)”
Luke 2:41-52
Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and a host of family and friends, traveled to attend the Passover festival as usual, and had began to travel home. After one full day of traveling, his parents realized that Jesus wasn't with them.
One Day
24 hours..
For one entire day, there was no hearing His voice, preparing His meals, or simply looking at His face. They thought He was present amongst family and friends, but he was not.
Then they went back...
They returned to the last place that they were with Him personally; not the last place the family and friends were with Him.
Our relationship with Jesus is an individual one, therefore, when there is distance; we have to go back to where we last encountered Him. The place where our family and friends encountered Him last, may be different from ours.
Furthermore, we have to go back to Him, because we are the ones that have moved, 100% of the time.
We must ask..
Where was the last place I heard His voice?
Where was the last place I saw Him active in my life?
Three Days
72 Hours...
After three days, Jesus was found.
He was found, where his Father's work was, in His Father's house.
Three days without knowing where your 12 year old child is, is a big deal.
It's an even bigger deal when that 12 year old is the Savior of the world.
When we enter into relationship with Jesus Christ, we are afforded a priceless privilege, to be in constant communication with our Savior. He is the lover of our soul, our comforter, our healer, our deliverer, our friend, and wise counselor. We must always be sensitive of where He is and what He is doing. The cost of traveling through this life without Him is astronomical.
We must above all things protect, guard, and hold at the highest esteem, our relationship with Him; always regarding His presence and our time with Him, as priority one.
A lot can happen in three days.
Our Savior hung, bled, died, and was resurrected in three days, for the remission of our sin.
In that same amount of time, Jesus' presence or absence in our everyday life, can determine what will live, die, and be resurrected in our lives.
Check in.
If there is distance,
Go Back.... His Presence is Precious.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
James 4:8
I really like this blog. Sometimes life gets so busy and you race to get everything done while making sacrifices. Unfortunately, putting discussions with my Heavenly Father always seems to be the first- terrible. I am so happy ( wish there was a better word) that GOD loves me, even though I can be a rotten child. Thank you for blogging GO Back!