In the late 50’s and early 60’s some larger grocery stores had a section where parents could leave their kids while they shopped. In the old Mick or Mac store it was an elevated platform with waist high walls near the entrance of the store. It had old children’s story books, comic books, coloring books and crayons and a few old toys for entertainment. That’s where me, my little sister and brother would stay while mom and dad shopped.
On one occasion dad and mom had finished shopping and were on the way out the door. Dad had already called “come on” several times so we knew he meant business and we headed for the door too.
We piled in the car, slammed the doors and dad was quickly on the road headed for home. My sister and I just stared at each other. Half way home mom turned around in her seat and looked back and forth from Jennifer to me and suddenly yelled, “Where is your brother!?” In unison we answered, “You left him at the store.” The next question was, “Why didn’t you say anything!?” All she got were shrugged shoulders and a, “I don’t know.” Maybe it was because we were in shock. They had just left Jeff! Who knew, it could have been planned and we were next. After all, Mom had promised on occasion when we had exhausted her patience and trampled on every nerve to give us away.
We returned to the store as fast as we had left it. My little brother Jeff hadn’t even noticed that we were gone. He was perfectly content playing. Of course Mom was crying. She grabbed him up, hugged and kissed him and promised she would never do that again. I’m not sure at the time he understood what mom promised she would never do again. Dad was very quiet on the way home.
In the book of Luke chapter 2:41-52 we find the story of another father and mother who had unintentionally left their child behind. It took them more than a few minutes to locate their child. It took them three days. However, Luke’s intent in telling this story was not to remind us of our parental responsibilities. He wanted us to get a glimpse of how Jesus, the Son of God, matured as a child, and what kind of child he was to His earthly parents and to His heavenly Father.
It had been a long week in Jerusalem. Every year Joseph and Mary had made the trip from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the week of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. It had taken them three or four days just to get to Jerusalem. The week would have been very busy and crowded. They were a day’s journey on their way home when they realized that Jesus was not in the group. By the time they got back to Jerusalem two days had passed since they had seen Jesus. The temple complex itself covered about 34 acres. After a day of searching in Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph found Jesus under the tutelage of some religious teachers.
First, note Jesus knew where he was and was not panicked because His earthly parents had gone away. He was perfectly content to be there in the temple listening and learning. While my little brother had been oblivious to his surroundings and the fact that we had all left, Jesus was well aware of His circumstances, where He was and who He was with.
Second, A jewish boy twelve years of age would have been under intense training the year before his bar mitzvah. From Luke’s brief description Jesus was the perfect student. He listened. He asked substantive and relevant questions. And, He comprehended what he is told.
Third, note Jesus response to His mother’s rebuke.
(Let me just say that Mary seems to be blaming Jesus for her anxiety over losing him. Didn’t she and Joseph bear the brunt of the responsibility to know where their 12 year old boy was at all times? Maybe it tells us that they had such a great deal of trust in the boy Jesus that they just took for granted that He had obediently followed them.)
Jesus responds by reminding Mary and Joseph that He is God’s Son. “Didn’t you know that it was necessary for me to be in my Father’s house?” or as the KJV translates it “about my Father’s business.” Jesus seems to be keenly aware of His relationship with the Father and the necessity of doing His work. He seems to have already developed some insight into His mission and ministry.
Finally, note that Jesus was obedient to His earthly parents. In every regard, this short passage demonstrates that Jesus was perfectly submissive to His heavenly Father and also to His earthly father and mother. Luke tells us that he went back to Nazareth and was not only obedient to Joseph and Mary but that He grew in a right relationship with both His heavenly Father, and with people. Jesus loved the Father and others. Even as a child Jesus had His priorities in the right order.
The next time we meet Jesus is some eighteen years later. He is thirty years old and He has come to the Jordan River to be baptized by His cousin, John the Baptist.
It is too much to hope that our children will be perfectly well behaved and always obedient. We are part of a fallen world and no child will be like the perfect, sinless Son of God. However, it is not too much to expect Christian parents to model their love for God and others and to teach their children daily what it means to obediently follow Christ. From this story we can surmise that Mary and Joseph had been teaching Jesus Scripture and it’s application to life. They demonstrated that God was a priority in their worship and daily life. After all, they didn’t leave Jesus at the Mick or Mac. They left him at the temple.