Joseph and Mary Return to Jerusalem - Luke 2:45

Luke the physician wrote how Joseph and Mary, “went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance”, and in chapter two and verse forty-five of his book Luke shared when Jesus' parents, “found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem” where we read:

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

The verse reads, “And when they found him not, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “they found him not” which means “Joseph and Mary did not come upon, learn, discover or obtain the knowledge of where Jesus was”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary decided to do the following after their attempts to “find” Jesus were unsuccessful.

The verse goes on to say, “... they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.” Luke continued with the words, “they turned back again” which means “Joseph and Mary returned” “to Jerusalem” or “to the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace”, “seeking him” which means “looking for Jesus with desire”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem with a passionate desire to “search” for Jesus.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover how Joseph and Mary responded to the absence of Jesus. They lost “the Son of God”, and after searching through their family and friends, they decided to go back to Jerusalem to “look for” Him. Anyone who has “lost” a child knows the inward fear and concern over them, and as Joseph and Mary were a “days journey” away, we can imagine their anxious thoughts along their way of travel. God knew this part of His plan for the salvation of mankind, and although Joseph and Mary were “seeking” Jesus, God knew what Jesus was doing. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when times arrive that they do not know where Jesus is in their lives, they may be certain, God knows where Jesus is and His plan is being worked out for them.

Next time Luke shares, “after three days they found him in the temple”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".