Jump Start # 3440

Luke 2:46 “And it came about that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.”

 It is an alarming warning. Out of the blue, your phone sends a loud message. A child is missing. An Amber Alert is issued. Phones start receiving the warning. A missing child is one of the most frightening situations. As a little boy, I got lost once in a store. I couldn’t find my parents. I was crying. Store officials got on the loudspeaker and my parents came and rescued a scared little Roger.

 Our passage is about a lost twelve-year-old. He was lost for four days. A parent’s worst nightmare. That lost twelve-year-old was Jesus. Jesus was found in the temple listening and asking questions. But for those four days, where did Jesus go? Where did He sleep at night? Who fed Him? Who took care of Him? How does a twelve-year-old survive alone in a big city?

 The details are not given. Was Jesus with extended family? Was He with strangers? Was He safe? Was He scared? Did He stay in the city at night? A lost twelve-year-old.

 Do you see lessons here for us?

 First, many twelve-year-olds are lost right at home. Physically they are right where they are supposed to be, but spiritually and morally they are very lost. Without parental guidance, without divine instruction, they begin a life of dugs and alcohol that will take years off of their lives. They, by what they see, build a habit of lying and dishonesty. They do this to avoid trouble and that habit will stay with them all of their lives. Sundays are not spent in a church house worshipping God. Criminal activity is glamorized and idolized. No boundaries. No restrictions. No discipline. No authority. No accountability. Many do not know the Lord. They do not know how wonderful walking with the Lord is. 

 Second, parents can make assumptions that are just not true. Mary and Joseph just assumed Jesus was with them somewhere in the crowd. Likely, they must have thought, He was with the other children. But He wasn’t. Parents can assume that everything is going well in school when it is not. They can assume their child is happy, when he is not. Teen suicide rate is off the charts. Kids that are focused, have a purpose and have a foundation of God in their lives are likely not to think about taking their lives. Parents can’t just assume. They must be actively involved in the upbringing, training of their children.

 Sometimes we don’t want to know the truth. Sometimes we like hiding behind the veil of everything is fine. We assume if things are not fine, our children will come and tell us. Often, the parents are the last to know and the last that the child wants to talk to.

 Nehemiah saw the fear in his people. He responded by praying and taking action. In Proverbs, we find, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds” (27:23). Nehemiah noticed. The shepherds of ancient Israel would walk among the flocks and look carefully at them. This is what parents must do. You need to know your children. You need to know when something is bothering them. You need to recognize when they are afraid of something. Assumptions and denial often live very close to each other. We deny that our kids are troubled. We deny that our children need help. We deny the worst and assume the best and often that is not the case.

 Third, Mary and Joseph found Jesus. They stopped their travel home and returned to Jerusalem to find Jesus. There are times when we must stop what we are doing, and devote the time and attention that we need to give to our children. For Mary and Joseph, there was a crisis. Jesus was missing. Panic must have filled their hearts. Going home was no longer the priority. Finding Jesus was a must. And, there are times we must turn that TV off and spend time with our children. There are times when we may have rearrange our schedules, even canceling vacations or special business trips to be home with our children. There is a priority and it is our children. As important as you job is, you’ll be replaced someday. No one can take your place as a parent. No one has the interest in their well-being as you do.

 It may be time for some of us to stop and turn around and find our children.

 Fourth, Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was doing in the temple. This was unusual for a twelve-year-old. Most twelve-year-old boys are busy playing. Jesus was in the temple. He was listening and he was asking questions. The spiritual interest of the Lord was amazing. Mary and Joseph did not understand Jesus’ expression, “My father’s business,” that he stated. Jesus knew what He was supposed to be doing. Jesus was on a mission.

 As parents, we must create an environment where our children can ask questions. They hear things at school. They see things on TV. Their friends tell them things. Their minds are swirling with all kinds of thoughts, questions and concerns. Let them talk. Don’t give them simplistic answers just so you can go on to doing things that you want to do. Dig deep with them. Chase those mental and spiritual rabbits. Get into the weeds with real questions and real answers. They may ask you things that you do not want to hear. But better if they ask you than a friend who may not give them the right answer.

 Jesus wasn’t really missing. He was right where He was supposed to be. He knew where He was.

 Roger