“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” (Luke 2:43).
You may be thinking if Jesus was twelve why couldn’t He have kept up with His parents? The Passover was always attended by a throng of people. It would have been just as easy for an adult to end up lost in the masses. Depending on the person’s size they might have even gotten hurt in that big of a crowd. Mary wasn’t just trying to keep track of Jesus but she had several other children to consider. Mary and Joseph didn’t hit the panic button the first day. They thought Jesus was off with other relatives or acquaintances. When that day turned into another day and no sign of Jesus, His parents felt they better retrace their steps. It started to hit them that Jesus was missing. Can you imagine the thoughts running through Mary’s mind? You may have been in a similar situation and felt so distraught. Mary’s feelings were no different. What is she going to do? She has lost Jesus!
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Women Active for Christ know God is the answer for our problems, but do the youth of our nation fully understand this concept? Ask God to help you convey this truth to the young people in your life.
