Gone Missing

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” [Luke 2.49]

Every time in the scriptures, when God asks a question, it is not because He does not know the answer. His questions are always His way of telling us, or reminding us, of His Truth.

Jesus is following His Father's example of asking questions to reveal Truth here in the passage above.

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. Jesus knew why his parents needed to search for Him - but they did not. They needed to understand that their searching meant they had (at least temporarily) forgotten the all-important Truth: that He was the Son of God.

So, naturally, Jesus next question above, "Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?" is no surprise. But, for the sake of clarity, Jesus asked this question to further draw upon their remembrance of all that took place up to this time: the angel visits, His birth, the shepherds, the wise men, etc.

But let's go back to, "But why did you need to search?"

Why did Mary and Joseph need to search for Jesus?

First, they took their eyes off Him. He was, after all, twelve years old and, naturally would be allowed to play with other children and make some of his own decisions. However, there is a much more pointed concern here. Mary and Joseph's parental 'release' of Jesus was evidently not well-founded. Why would they search for this child of miraculous birth anywhere but the Temple? Really. Why, with such fanfare for His Advent, would Mary and Joseph look anywhere but the Father's house for Jesus? 

Simple: they had a lapse of memory just like so many of us do. For a moment, they forgot all they knew about their Special Son. And, because they forgot (took their eyes off the Truth), they became alarmed and attempted to hold Him accountable for His actions, much like we try to hold God accountable for events in our lives that don't meet our expectations. We must remember that our expectations do not transcend God and His purpose - ever. We mustn't forget Who God is and what He does.

When God seems to have 'gone missing' in our lives, it is no fault of His, but ours - we have taken our eyes off Him and forgotten all that we know about Him (albeit temporarily).

I know this is right because it smacks me in the head so hard!

Father, I am so grateful for Your questions. They remind me that I know the answers, but have just forgotten.