Scripture
45When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. 46Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48His 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.” 49 “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50But they didn’t understand what he meant. Luke 2:45-50
Observation
It’s interesting to note that it was on the third day they found Jesus at The Temple. It was on the third day Abraham laid his son on the altar and it was on the third day that God intervened with a substitute. (Gen 22:1-4) This was, of course, a prophetic foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Jesus on the third day. Jesus prophesied this when he said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Mt. 12:40). Many times in scripture we find what we’ve been missing on the third day.
Application
This story always encourages me as a parent because if the parents of The Savior of The World can misplace him and not notice for three days then I’m not doing that badly. I think that’s the point though. Have I even noticed that Jesus isn’t around? One translation puts Jesus’ explanation of his absence as “Didn’t you realize I was to be involved with my Father’s affairs”? If I’m missing Jesus it’s because I’m involved on a lot, but not in what is concerning the Father right now. I noticed I’m making the same mistake Joseph and Mary did. “43After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, 44because 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.” (Lk 2:43-44) The Christmas and New Year celebration is over and I’m moving full steam ahead with the caravan into the new year and all of its planned activities. I love it! I love the crowd, and the parties, and the plans together. If I’m not careful, though, I’m going to move right on into the next celebrations, Sunday services, Valentines, Easter, etc. and not even notice Jesus isn’t with me. Or more accurately, notice that I’m not with Him fully involved in The Father's affairs. This is why I need to slow down for the next three days and see what I've been missing.
Prayer
This morning I felt you telling me in prayer that just like a person has to fast before going in to surgery that You are wanting to do heart surgery and You’re preparing me for it through this fast. This automatically tells me that though I’m fasting for three days, it’s really just beginning of the process You’re wanting to take me through. Like Abraham I want to lay down everything, the most precious and valuable relationships I have and trust them in Your hands. I want to believe like Abraham did that even if you’re asking me to lay down promises you are able to bring them back to life in Your timing (Heb. 11:19) I don’t waste time like Jonah running from my assignment, so I’m running to You. I don’t want to find myself a third of the year over only to realize I’ve been really busy doing stuff for You, but haven’t been with You! I pray that I would run to when my body groans and grumbles over the next three days. When I’m drinking water I pray that I would be refreshed and satisfied by You!
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