So I was listening to a passage in Luke chapter 2 on my Bible app a few days ago and it was talking about the time when Jesus, Joseph, and Mary were traveling to Jerusalem for their yearly Passover trip. On their way back home to Nazareth Jesus got separated from them and later was found listening to teachers in the temple.
What I read shocked me. Let’s read on.
”Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.” “But why did you need to search?” Jesus asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they didn’t understand what he meant. Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart.“
Luke 2:41-51 NLT
Ok this passage became so real to me! I was able to relate it to my daily life so much. Mary and Joseph lose their child for 3 days. 3 days!!!!
Side note: I lost mine for 1 minute in a grocery store once and was thrown into total panic so I can only imagine the emotions they were feeling.
Then, they find him and Jesus is so calm, “like dude I’m with my dad” 🤣
How seriously confusing is that? 🤣
Especially for mere human minds to conceive…… can’t you see Joseph saying “Son, I’m your dad what are you talking about?” “You were not with me”
See I always thought Mary and Joseph had this high level of understanding of what was going on with Jesus and His life, and at times I believe they did. However, this text is very clear here that they were pretty confused about what Jesus was talking about. They’re all like…… what in the world does he mean? We are his parents. Why is he saying he was with His father????
I don’t know about y’all but this brings me some hope. I mean God chose these people to raise the son of God and it’s obvious that even they didn’t fully grasp the miracle they were living out. Sometimes you just can’t and don’t fully grasp what God is doing.
We often pray to God for miracles without realizing we are currently walking in them.
THINGS. JUST. TAKE. TIME…..
Sure, Mary and Joseph understood they were part of a miracle when the angels showed up to give them the news but it’s obvious from this text that in their day to day lives they didn’t fully grasp it all the time. I love how it says in one version, Mary pondered these things in her heart. That’s beautiful to me. It was like she knew what her son was saying was important. Although she didn’t fully get it, she knew it was important enough to hold onto and reflect upon. To me that’s what it means when you ponder something in your heart. When I ponder something, I write it in my phone journal and come back to it later when I’ve been given more wisdom from the Lord to put more of the pieces together. Isn’t it cool that as special of a lady as Mary was, she was also walking out a very human day to day life which didn’t always make sense to her.
It doesn’t always make sense when the answer isn’t coming and nothing is working.
When that child isn’t getting through that hard phase and you’ve done all you know to do.
When the promotion isn’t coming
When the business isn’t growing
When the bills keep getting bigger and inflation keeps increasing
When the doctors can’t find the answer.
When the marriage is still struggling
When the prodigal still hasn’t come home.
It’s all so very real and very confusing.
On and on we go continuing to push through life without fully understanding. And Jesus says…. Why are you frantic? Don’t you know I’m at work? And sometimes we look at Him like what in the world are you talking about Jesus???? There is no evidence of what you’re saying here. Nothing you’re saying looks like what I thought it would.
That’s where faith and hope must be picked up and put into action. We must trust that God is at work no matter how chaotic and confusing things seem. Mary did. I truly believe that’s why it says she pandered these things in her heart. I notice scripture says that she pondered things in her heart more than just one time. I believe it was a way of life for her. It had to have been in order for her to raise the son of God. I know as she went from her day to day God continued to give her wisdom and favor to understand the words of her son Jesus in His precious time. He will also do the same for us.
To summarize, no, we don’t always get the answers when we want them. However, we can remain steadfast and continue our journey with faith and hope in the one who is working even when we cannot see it.
Merry Christmas everyone. As we go through this season and start our new year, let’s remember to be more like Mary. Let’s ponder the words of Jesus in our heart.