Luke 2:41-52
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (EHV)
“I just don't understand why my child did that.” Has that thought ever crossed your mind? It certainly did for me as my children were growing up, as it probably has for most parents. If your child has extraordinary challenges, the number of unexpected actions might be on the higher end of the parenting curve. Oh, to have a child with fewer challenges and unexpected behaviors!
We would normally expect that it would be very easy to parent a child if only that child were perfect, like the child Jesus in this section of Scripture. Mary and Joseph had it made! Except, they didn't. We are only told of one instance of them being parents to Jesus as a child, and it shows them facing “challenging behavior.”
The journey to Jerusalem should have been a trip for them to treasure. Instead, itbecame a panic-stricken search for their son. When they finally found him, they didn't understand his explanation for what he had been doing. This perfect child had not been sinfully disobedient to them, but was rather being obedient to his heavenly Father. And as he continued to grow in the years to follow, he would continue to be obedient to his earthly parents as well.
None of the children we have the blessing to raise are as perfect as Jesus. They will have times when they are acting inappropriately and will have to be rebuked for those actions. But just because we might not understand the reasons for their actions doesn't mean that they are coming from a place of willful, sinful disobedience. They might be reacting to a past trauma or struggling to cope with a current challenge.
As imperfect parents, we will not always accurately determine the reason for each individual behavior we see. But it's important that we keep searching for what is behind the behavior. If it is sinful rebellion, then God's law is needed. But if it isn't, then bring God's gospel and it's message of love to weak, imperfect sinners who need, and who have, a perfect Savior.
Lord Jesus, your earthly mother Mary treasured in her heart the extraordinary experiences she had raising you. While I treasure being able to be a parent to my child, I also may get exasperated sometimes. Even when my child’s words or actions don’t’ make sense on the surface, help me listen for what that behavior is communicating. Even in challenging times, give me strength to share your loving gospel message with them. Amen.
by Paul Mose