In Luke 2:41-52, we see a rare glimpse of Jesus as a boy—a moment that speaks volumes about who He is and what He came to do.

Jesus Goes Missing

At twelve years old, Jesus traveled with His parents to Jerusalem for Passover, a sacred tradition for Jewish families. After the festival, Mary and Joseph began the journey home, assuming Jesus was somewhere among relatives and friends in the caravan. But He wasn’t. They had unknowingly left Him behind in the bustling city.

Can you imagine the panic? A full day's journey later, they realized Jesus was missing, and they rushed back to find Him. They searched everywhere—their lodgings, the markets, the crowded streets—before finally checking the temple. And there He was, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions.

A Reminder of Priorities

When Mary and Joseph found Him, relief quickly turned to confusion. “Son, why have You done this to us?” Mary asked. Jesus’ response was simple yet profound:

“Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49)

Jesus wasn’t lost. He was exactly where He belonged—about His Father’s business. Even at twelve, He knew His mission: to glorify His Father and pursue His divine calling.

What About Us?

This passage raises an important question: Have we, like Mary and Joseph, unknowingly left Jesus behind?

• Do we go about our lives, assuming He’s with us, only to realize we’ve lost sight of Him?

• Do we leave church services thinking we’ve encountered Him, but our hearts are far from Him?

When we feel distant from Christ, the best thing to do is go back to where we last saw Him—back to the Word, back to prayer, back to worship. He hasn’t moved. We have.

Living Like Jesus

The story ends with Jesus returning home to Nazareth, submitting to His earthly parents, and continuing to grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people (Luke 2:52).

Students, if Jesus—the Son of God—submitted to His parents, how much more should you honor yours?

For all of us, this story reminds us that our greatest motivation in life isn’t internal or external—it’s eternal. We are here for a purpose: to be about our Father’s business.

So, let’s ask ourselves:
Are we walking in step with Jesus? Are we keeping the eternal in view?

Because the healthiest church, the healthiest believer, is the one striving to be more like Christ every day.