In the bustle and confusion of getting ready for a trip, have you ever left something behind? How about driving a long distance only to realize you left something behind that was really important. Has anyone of you been accidently left behind at a store maybe? It’s a weird feeling. So in todays reading, we do find Mary and Joseph was faced with that exactly dilemma, yet we have a timeless truth of the young Jesus having Gods favor, and its by this event in the Gospel of Luke that sparks the realism to both Mary and Joseph, just who Jesus really is. Just like the story of Home Alone, the parents learned a valuable lesson as well.
So starting off with the story, “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up there according to the custom of the feast.” So first off, I want you to understand, Jesus, being the age of 12, in Jewish Law, the child is now responsible for their own actions and can decide for themselves how they would like to practice Judaism. The ceremony we know today as ‘Bat Mitzvah’. This also means, the child has authority in reading and siting scripture from the Torah, in which case we will see Jesus doing this in a moment.
In a summary, Mary and Joseph lost Jesus on their travels back to Nazareth. So finally realizing it, they returned to Jerusalem frantically searching, not just a few hours, but three days. Think about that! Searching all over, and I’m sure they was sick to their stomachs, anxiety was raised, and when they did find Jesus, they would probably want to strangle his neck putting them through this turmoil.
So lets read on, “Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When Joseph and Mary saw Him, they were bewildered; and His mother said to Him, Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!”
Now at this point, I could just see the look on both Mary and Josephs face, in both feeling relieved and angry at the same time, in after searching three days, finally finding Jesus. So did Jesus say “Mom and Dad, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do that, and it will never happen again!” No sir, he did not. Listen to Jesus response, And He said to them, Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
So if you think about this story carefully, there is lessons to be learned here. First, regardless of our view point on family, how we are to honor family, our parents, our children, and yes they all are important. But Jesus is sternly telling us here, God is more important than anything! And if you want to know where he is at, he is amongst His fathers business.
Secondly, sometimes parents have a tendency to hold their child back because they know the world is more dangerous than the child thinks it is, and they really might not be as prepared for it as Mary and Joseph believes. This is an eye opener for both Mary and Joseph for sure.
But amongst all of this, Mary learned something new; lets read on, “And yet they on their part did not understand the statement which He had made to them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued to be subject to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people.”
Favor! What a wonderful concept! The dictionary states Favor is an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Its an extra effort, on part of someone, to be found favored. In Greek, used in this part of scripture, its called ‘charis’ meaning grace, as a gift or blessing, freely extended to give Himself away to people.
Some years ago, I listened to a local radio station that had a gentlemen who on every broadcast made the statement that he was ‘Blessed and Highly Favored.” I found this statement at the time to be revolting! Yet, as I grew more as a Christian, I became more understanding of what it actually means, to have Favor with God.
In the beginning of the Nativity story, did not the Angel of God say to Mary, Greetings, favored one! You see, being favored, is something very special and prominent to obtain. Its actually an honor to be Gods favored people, of all whom know him and call him Lord and Master of their lives.
Does not Romans tells us “Blessed and happy and favored are those whose lawless acts have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered up and completely buried. Blessed and happy and favored is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account nor charge against him.”
How about Psalms, “Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong.”
Ephesians tells us, “He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace.”
Believe it or not, Christmas is 364 days from today. Lots of time to buy presents, get the meal ready, send out Christmas cards, etc. But there is no guarantee of time that we have to borrow from to get ready for Christ. It is today, now, that we are to be ready. Christ, in Christmas is not just a celebration we look forward too at one time of the year. Christ, in Christmas, we need to hold onto everyday of our lives! You see, without Christ, we would not know God, without Christ, we would not have the opportunity to find God, and without Christ, we would NOT be favored into Gods kingdom as adopted children of the Living God and be saved from our own sin. You see friends, being blessed and highly favored, Favored of God, is something we each should cherish and hold dear. For those that do not know God, and even choose not to, they do not have a chance. They can scramble, much like Mary and Joseph did to find Jesus, but they will not find him. You know why? Jesus says it best in the Gospel of John, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
Where is Jesus to be found? Amongst his fathers house, in amongst his fathers business! What God was making clear to Mary and Joseph is I am the Living God, do you not know that? But after searching and searching for Jesus three days, they finally found him, only having to complain, with relief. Why did you do this to us Jesus?
Friends, God is calling each of us to seek him out, knowing all too well, we each have a priority problem in our lives. Where do we first go to when we have pain and suffering, it should be Jesus. Where do we first go to when we have anxiety and worry, it should be Jesus. Where do we first go to when we have family or marriage problems, it should be Jesus. Where do we first go to when we simply can’t pray, it should always be Jesus! Stand, sit or kneel before his Throne, lift up your heart, open your mind to his presence, and simply, have a little talk with Jesus, as the hymn tells us; its just that simple.
In closing friends, I want to challenge you, starting today and even this coming new year to think about placing more emphasis on realigning your priorities, to put God First above everything else. You see, when we entertain a thought or action regularly, it becomes second nature. So when we are frantic in our emotions, we need an outlet, a solution. We each handle things differently, but where do we go first? It should always be God! We, being his favored children, have access to an unlimited source of strength and power that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from his undying love. I am blessed and highly favored, say that with me, I am blessed and highly favored.
When you have nowhere else to turn, turn to Christ, turn to our Savior, turn to the redeemer, AMEN.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION