Amber Alert – Jesus Is Missing! – 010

Ever since the abduction, abuse and subsequent murder of Amber Fry, the United States has recognized the ability, value and importance of alerting the local community when there is evidence that a child has been abducted. Such alerts have already saved the lives of many children as citizens spot the suspect vehicle and call the police.

They didn’t have amber alerts in Jesus’ day. They very likely seldom had child abduction because people held to a higher code of ethics and respect than what is found today. However, I am reminded of one situation that would certainly warranted an amber alert concerning Jesus Himself.

When Jesus was 12 years old, the trip to Jerusalem for the annual Passover Feast took on a different understanding. Though He had gone with His parents to Jerusalem every year before, now He was more of a participant than a spectator. Jesus was now a man by Jewish Law, instead of a child as before. His interest in things about God took on a whole new perspective! Dr. Luke tells about it in Luke 2:41-52. Let’s see what happens!

Responsible Parent’s Make Mistakes Too – Luke 2:41-44
After the Feast of the Passover is over, Joseph, Mary and Jesus’ brothers and sisters leave with a large caravan of fellow Jews to travel down the Jericho Road on their way back to Nazareth. There will be several hundred, if not over a thousand, people traveling back home from the feast and since there is safety in numbers. That is the preferred way of travel when it is available. Knowing how children like to run and play, Joseph and Mary presume that Jesus is with the brothers, sisters and many of the other children running ahead or catching up from behind, but traveling along with the crowd. It never occurred to them that He might stay behind or get lost.
Some of you have been there, so you will identify with Joseph and Mary in a very strong way! You have accidentally left a child in a bathroom when on a family trip and had to drive hours back to the place to redeem the lost child! You can understand the anxiety, coupled with the fact that this is GOD’S SON that is missing and they are responsible for His care and protection!

(I wonder if Joseph and Mary engage in any “finger pointing” and blaming on their way back to Jerusalem or if they put that aside and simply concentrated on the task of finding their missing son? So many of us would say, “It’s your fault” to the spouse and blame instead of concentrating on the solution to the problem. It doesn’t really matter whose fault it is when such a crisis occurs. The only issue is to do what is necessary to solve the immediate problem – retrieve the missing child! I would like to hope that Joseph and Mary didn’t blame, but worked together in love and harmony to find Jesus and get back home as a family.)

Parents Work Together To Solve Problems – Luke 2:45-46
Joseph and Mary have traveled all day (day 1) and are setting up camp for the night before realizing that Jesus isn’t with the others. It is too late and too dangerous to travel back UP the Jericho Road (especially at night with robbers abounding) and they are too tired from a day of travel as it is. Joseph and Mary get a good night’s rest and then travel back to Jerusalem the following day (day 2) to try to find their missing son. The road to Jerusalem is uphill all the way and that journey will also be very exhausting. It takes them a full day to return and by the time they arrive, again, it is late and they are very tired. They rest for the night and begin the search early on the next day (day 3). Somewhere during the course of the day, they get to the Temple and notice a crowd gathered around and intently listening to someone. They may have approached the crowd to inquire if anyone had seen their son, but soon recognize that Jesus is the center of attention!

Today, we can be grateful for modern technology that can help us search for missing children. However, it still has to be a traumatic experience when your child is missing. How do we find him? How do we get him or her back? What kind of parents are we to leave our only child behind and not miss him for a whole day? As God trusted Joseph and Mary, in spite of their imperfections, He can trust you with your faults. Don’t waste time criticizing and condemning, but work on solving and building towards solutions. Parenting is a practice, not a science.

Children Can be Taught to Make Good Choices – Luke 2:47-50
Jesus was so interested in the teachings of the Law and Prophets that He had engaged the religious leaders in a deep conversation. His understanding was so profound that He is teaching them as much, if not more, than they are teaching Him.

CANCEL THE AMBER ALERT – JESUS HAS BEEN FOUND SAFE AND SOUND IN THE TEMPLE WHERE HE WAS LEARNING MORE ABOUT HIS REAL FATHER! Joseph and Mary interrupt this conversation to express their deep concern for Jesus not being with them. His reply to them is as profound as the conversation with the elders, priests and scribes. He was merely discussing His REAL Father! Joseph and Mary are left without much to say because they know who the Father of their Son is!

When you teach your children about God and about being responsible, you shouldn’t be surprised when they take their responsibilities seriously. Jesus understood that He needed to know more about the Law and had spent the last few days talking to the priests and Scribes. Joseph and Mary didn’t find Him goofing off or being selfish. He wasn’t rebellious or defiant. He was simply pursuing what He understood He was to do. That is a positive reflection on His parents. What do your children reflect about your parenting?

Children Can be Taught to Make Good Choices – Luke 2:51-52
We see here that Joseph and Mary had taught Jesus well. He was a trustworthy and responsible son. That’s why they didn’t think to worry about whether Jesus was with them on the way home. Now He returns home with them and continues to grow as a man of God.

What a relief to find that your child is safe, has not been molested or killed or in any real danger! Can you imagine Joseph and Mary’s relief? If you left a child behind or had a child disappear or get lost, you will have an idea how Joseph and Mary felt when they found Jesus alive and well after being missing from them for three days.

God bless you and have a great week!