Interestingly, the only Biblical account we have of the life of Jesus between His early childhood and adulthood was when He was twelve years old and His parents accidentally left Him behind in Jerusalem. You probably remember the story, recorded in the last part of Luke 2.
Joseph and Mary had gone up to Jerusalem with their family to celebrate Passover, which they did every year. On their long walk back home to Galilee--after a full day's journey--they realized that the boy was not with them. I can imagine the conversation.
Mary: "Where's Jesus?"
Joseph: "I thought He was with you."
Mary: "No, I thought He was with you!”
Joseph: "No, remember, I said I would pack the donkey, and you were responsible for getting Jesus."
Mary: "Uh oh."
After three days--one coming, another going back, and one day searching--they found Jesus, where they had left Him, in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, "in His Father's house."
I share this story because, in that context, I don't feel as bad admitting that one time, I left one of my children at a fast food restaurant. It wasn't on purpose, though that's something I considered more than once when they weren't acting so nice. But it was more than a little embarrassing, to say the least, to have to go back to Hardee's and face the manager who was trying to call me to tell me I had left my daughter behind.
I felt like a horrible parent, until I remembered I was in pretty good company--that Jesus' parents did the same thing with Him. And He turned out all right.
There wasn't much excuse in my situation. My wife was sick in bed when I came home from work. The kids needed dinner, and I was inept in the kitchen. So, I loaded them all up in the van to go grab something quick. The dinner itself was as uneventful as you would expect with a dad and six little kids. On the way out, I saw someone I knew. We talked, while the kids loaded into the van.
The conversation went long (as often happens with me) and one of the children realized she needed to go to the bathroom, and wandered back inside. Meanwhile, my conversation ended, I got in and started the engine, and drove off. We were gone about five minutes when the older sisters did a head count in the back of the van and reluctantly told me, "Dad, I think we forgot Rachel."
Uh oh!
It's definitely not my proudest moment as a parent, and I won't even tell you what their sick momma had to say when we got home that night and the kids told on me. And needless to say, I have been reminded about that more than a few times over the years. Apparently, I don't get credit for all the times I didn't forget my children, just the one time I did. And did I mention that Jesus' parents did the same with Him, and He sure turned out all right!
But for the record, I don't recommend that you leave any of your kids behind, either accidentally or on purpose. And I don't think you should leave Jesus behind either. But just in case you might have done that recently--again, either accidentally or on purpose--I have a few spiritual lessons to share from that story, which you can find in Luke 2:42-51 by the way.
First, don't forget Jesus. It's easy to get distracted in this world, but whatever you do, don't forget Him. But secondly, if you do forget Him, and you go looking for Him, He will be right where you left Him, waiting on you. And you can be assured, that He is always "about His Father's business." And that's a good reminder, that if you want to stay close to Jesus, then commit yourself to being involved in your Heavenly Father's business as well. Jesus will be right there with you as you do.
I'm grateful to be a part of such a wonderful church family, and I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.
--Pastor Ken
