Encounter: Teachers at the Temple

Scripture: Luke 2:41-49 NLT

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Prayer:

Your revelation of yourself in human form, as Jesus, is the greatest act of holy love, and I never want to make that ordinary or take it for granted. I have the advantage of seeing with 20/20 hindsight into these human encounters with Jesus, and my desire is to respond to my own divine experiences with the same depth of amazement and astonishment. I pray for faith so overwhelming I stand in awe, and then kneel with humble gratitude.

In your Son’s name,

Amen.

Read all of 40 Days of Prayer at easter.crossings.church.