Christmas Sunday 2021

Translation

His parents went out each year to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. When he was twelve, they went up as usual for the feast. As the days of the feast were finished, when they returned the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem and his parents did not know. Now, believing him to be with the caravan, they went a days journey and then began searching for him among their companions and family. Not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days had passed they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed over his understanding and answers.

Seeing him, they were astounded, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done this to us? Look! Your father and I were greatly distressed looking for you!” He said to them, “Why did you search for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in the house of my Father?”

They did not understand the words he spoke to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart. Jesus advanced in wisdom, maturity, and in divine and human favor.

Jesus was a Child

Not many stories of Child Jesus

Again, this story asserts the Christmas mystery: Christ was a human, but also the Son of God

Christ is Emmanuel, God with us

Where is Jesus?

Jesus does something here, however, that is rather shocking

We may wonder why Jesus would act in such a way

Like Mary and Joseph, we too may lose Jesus in the hustle and bustle of life

It is distressing to look up one day and wonder, “Where is Jesus?”

The Obvious Answer

Why did Jesus stay behind? He must be in his Father’s house

As Jesus stayed behind, he drew Mary and Joseph unexpectedly into the house of God

The house of God is a place of teaching and of worship

Jesus “remained” or “endured” in Jerusalem (ὑπέμεινεν)

He never stopped celebrating Passover, the worship of the feast continued for Jesus

When we lose sight of Jesus, the obvious place to look is in his Father’s house

Worship as Direction