After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.
(Luke 2:43-46 NLT)
Mary, Joseph and Jesus joined many other Jews on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the annual celebration of Passover. When they returned home, Mary and Joseph were shocked to discover that Jesus was gone! We may shake our head at Mary and Joseph’s parental neglect, but we’re no different. In his thought-provoking devotional, “Going Without Jesus,” Os Hillman shows how we, too, can become so busy that we continue to operate not realizing that Jesus is no longer with us. If we’re not fellowshipping with Him, Hillman argues, then we’ll also wake up one day and not find Him with us in our endeavours. However, the good news is that like Mary and Joseph, we’ll find Him when we look for Him. Jesus’ disappearance gave Mary and Joseph quite a scare, and it’s bound to do the same for us. Don’t go a day without Him!
Maintain daily fellowship with Jesus.
Rising with the Son 