Lost and Found

^{Luke  2: 41-51} 

^{Mary Kept All These Things in Her Heart}

⁴¹ Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

⁴³ 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.

⁴⁴ But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

⁴⁵ And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

⁴⁹ And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

⁵⁰ And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

⁵¹ And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

We can imagine Mary's heart pounding as she and Joseph discovered that Jesus was missing. Turning around and searching for three days might be some indication of their state of mind.  What relief when they found him, and yet his answer must have seemed as strange to them as his disappearance. Nevertheless he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.  All this was much food for thought and Mary kept these things all in her heart, :"pondering them" as we read in other translations. 

Reflecting on this in our own lives, how many times do unexpected, even painful things happen in our own lives leaving us to walk in the darkness for awhile until they fully unfold and we see them as part of God's plan to test us or strengthen us or to prepare us for the next step he has in mind  for us. In the end we have to admit that being "lost" for awhile was necessary to experience the need to ponder, trust, and experience the joy of being found.

Bro Rene