Luke 2:41-52 — In My Father's Hidey Hole

READ THIS: Luke 2:41-52

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.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

This is the last story about Jesus as a child!! And before you write off Mary and Joseph as terrible parents who left their kid behind in a big city in true Home Alone 2 style, let me make it clear that, back in the day, a bunch of families would travel together and would look after each other's kids in these journeys to and from the temple. It was fair of them to assume Jesus was hanging out somewhere in the squad. 

FOUR days later, they find Jesus in the temple. This twelve year old was left alone for FOUR days. If you were left alone for FOUR days as a twelve year old...where would you be? How would you feel? Jesus was calm and felt like He was supposed to be where He was. 

I would have been freaking out, and I would have run to my parents crying out of relief. But, Jesus was on a mission to discuss God. When His parents got Him, He was obedient to them, but, first and foremost, He was obedient to God, even though His parents didn't understand it. 

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Have your parents ever not understood something you have done? Are those things usually because God asked you to do something unexpected or because you just wanted to do something you wanted to do?

2. Where are you the most calm and the most at peace? What would it look like if God was your safe place?

TRY THIS:

Admit, there's a place in your house that's kind of a hidey hole/safe space. For me, it's my closet. For you, it might be under your covers or in your backyard or in the kitchen somewhere. Go to that place and pray...ask God that HE might feel more like a safe place than that place you're in!