Treasuring These Things - Day 81 Month 3-22 Week 12-4
Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)
Leviticus 21-22:16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2021-22%3A16&version=NASB1995
Psalm 68:11-23 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2068%3A11-23&version=NASB1995
Isaiah 57:11-21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2057%3A11-21&version=NASB1995
Luke 2:39-52 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A39-52&version=NASB1995
Treasuring These Things
1. I’m jumping right to our Luke reading. I can imagine Mary and Joseph coming to the realization that Jesus was not travelling with them. They had gone to the Passover feast in Jerusalem, (interesting that this would be exactly 21 years before his death and resurrection) and were on their way back, about a day's journey. I checked google and it takes 32 hours to walk from Jerusalem to Nazareth. I am guessing it’s probably a 4 day journey in a caravan. They probably started in the morning and when it was time for dinner, they couldn’t find Jesus.
Please afford me this dialogue because I’m imagining how my parents would be reacting. Mom says, “Stephen, where are you? I need you to mash the potatoes.” When I don’t answer, she gets cross (her words), “Stephen, I don’t have time for this. We need to eat, get a night's rest and your disappearance is not helpful.” Mom calls dad. “Corney (he’d only let his family and close friends call him that but his name was Cornelius), have you seen Stephen? I need him to mash the potatoes and I can’t seem to find him.” (Dad is not cross, he’s angry!!!) “Stephen, where are you? (Dad's more angry because I’ve inconvenienced him and he’s also looking at the map for tomorrow's journey.) No answer. They search throughout the caravan. I’m not sure how many people were there, but I sense it was like the old church picnic where there’s like 200 people. When they don’t find me, their crossness and anger turn to fear. “Oh no, where is he?” I’m sure the dialogue was a little different but I think this kind of situation does draw us back to our childhood and how all parents would react. Now back to Jesus’ parents….
They walk back to Jerusalem, and find him after 3 days of searching! I think it makes sense that they’re a little dismayed when Mary asks, “Son, why have you treated us this way?” If you think about it though, how angry can you be? Your son is sitting with the church leaders listening and asking questions. Rabbis teach by using questions. Jesus would be asking questions, rabbis would respond with a question to Jesus, Jesus would respond with a related question and the rabbis would respond with more questions. This had been going on for 3 days. No wonder those who heard Him were amazed. He is God in a 12 year old body and clothes.
We know that Jesus was without sin, so he wasn’t being disobedient staying behind in Jerusalem. I’d suggest He was in fact like a sponge learning from His Fathers’ representatives on earth and may not even know the Caravan had left. After all, He was born fully human in all its human needs, as well as being divine. I think his parents understood once they found Him because Mary “treasured all these things in her heart.”
I’m sure that my parents, being as spiritually minded as they were, would have recognized, though not comparable to Jesus, if I’m at church learning and discussing God with the pastors and teachers, I would not need to experience much discipline. They would say to me, “Stephen, next time you do this, let us know so we don’t have to worry.” My dad would have bought me 10 different translations of the Bible, every bible commentary (a bible study book) known to man, and put a deposit down at the local Bible college so I could continue my education. Anger would shift to pride though he’d show “angry face” to make me think I need to work harder. Unfortunately, even though I didn’t do what Jesus did - learning and discussing spirituality with pastors - because my dad was raised to believe it a weakness to compliment and encourage children so they don’t get “soft”, I’d never realize he was actually proud of me for anything until after his passing.
My parents would have been proud to see me getting to know God better. Just think how much more thrilled God is when we want to know Him better! He’s our perfect heavenly Father!
2. Stepping back to the reading in Psalms, here’s a little encouragement. Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation.”
Very simply, God loves us and bears our burdens. From Matthew 11:28-30 from Jesus “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” As a Jesus follower, we do His bidding but the burden becomes light. Why? Because He’s carrying our burden!
One of my former pastors used to end every church service with the statement “You are loved.” I think it’s a great way to end the blog today. You are Loved!!!
Have a great day!
Steve
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