Do you know Where to Find your Children?

The NET Bible (Second Edition) (Chapter 2)

Now Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day’s journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find him, they returned 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. And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” But he replied, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Jesus’ Parents

JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF MARY (PERSON) [Gk Iōsēph (Ἰωσηφ)]. The supposed father of Jesus and husband of Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 3:23; Matt 1:16).

There are several important issues to discuss regarding Joseph, the husband of Mary. First, Joseph is mentioned in Matthew, Luke, and John but does not appear in Mark, except indirectly at Mark 6:3 in a few manuscripts (see NovTG26), which read “the son of the carpenter.” Apart from John 1:45; 6:42, where Jesus is twice referred to as the “son of Joseph” (see Sproston 1985), Joseph is only mentioned in the birth and childhood stories about Jesus. Matthew gives the most detailed information, recounting that when Mary was betrothed to Joseph (Matthew 1:18), she was found to be pregnant, and Joseph, being a “just man and unwilling to put her to shame,” was going to divorce her (Matthew 1:19), when an angel appeared and told him that the child was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). When Joseph awoke, he took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). After the visit of the wise men, Joseph was again warned in a dream about a plot by Herod against his child and was commanded to take him to Egypt (Matthew 2:13), where the parents and child remained until after Herod’s death (Matthew 2:19). Luke also mentions that Mary was betrothed to Joseph when she was told that she would conceive a son, recording that Joseph went up from Galilee with Mary to Bethlehem, “because he was of the house and lineage of David” (Luke 2:4), during Quirinius’ enrollment, where the family was later visited by shepherds after the birth of the child (Luke 2:16).

Mary

The story of Mary’s life opens with a shocking event: Without warning or invitation, the angel Gabriel suddenly appears to Mary and announces that she will be the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26–33). Mary responds with “let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38) Thus begins the dramatic story of Mary, mother of Jesus. While the subsequent steps of her journey do not get easier (imagine raising the Son of God!), her story teaches us a profound lesson: the life of faith is made up of a series of steps that bring us closer to the fulfillment of God’s will, but not necessarily farther from the challenges and struggles involved with moving ahead.

Looking at the “steps” that make up the lives of people like Mary is one way to engage with the story of the Bible. This is the approach taken by the Studies in Faithful Living series. In this volume, we examine the life of an ordinary young woman who received an extraordinary call from God, drawing out the lessons her faithful response provides for us. Studying the Bible in this way teaches us to model the exceptional characters of Scripture and grow in our efforts to imitate Christ. In doing so, we enter deeper into the story the Bible narrates for us: God’s redemption of creation—a story that continues in the lives of those who respond to Him today.

The family custom

Jesus returns 21 years later to complete his earthly mission.

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