Do you remember the popularity of the ‘Where’s Waldo” drawings. For a time it seemed like we had nothing better to do then to look for the odd looking boy in the striped stocking hat. I wont make you search for him. In my picture he is easy to find. (however if you do not spot him you should turn off your computer and go play outside, your brain is frozen)
Today’s Gospel lesson comes from the Gospel of Luke where we find the great “Where’s Jesus?” account.
Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast 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 men.
Luke 2:41-52 (NIV)
For Many and Joseph it must have been a bit like a living Where’s Waldo. The crowds of people that gathered for Passover where huge. The city of Jerusalem swelled well beyond its true capacity. Even the crowd traveling back to Nazareth was likely a very large group. After a long anxious search of the caravan it is decided they must venture back to Jerusalem.
The anxiety must have been tremendous as they searched for a young Jewish boy among the masses of young Jewish boys. Unlike the painting we are most familiar with, of this event, Jesus does not glow in the dark. It must have been an exhausting search. What a relief it must have been to find him sitting among a crowd listening to the teachers in the temple.
Jesus told Mary that he was “about His Father’s Business.” He was doing the work he was created for. So on this Where’s Jesus Day I need to ponder my doings of the coming year. I need to, perhaps “resolve” to be out my Father’s business. After all I fully believe that we are all hand created by the Father and given certain gifts, abilities and passions to serve and grow His Kingdom.
So if you are ever in the mood for a challenge and want to play “Where’s Craig?” I pray that you will find me about my father’s business no matter what I happen to be doing at the moment. Just for the record I will not be wearing a red and white hat. I will most likely be wearing a cross however!
<>< Craig