Luke 2:41-52: Where Else But Home
by Daniel Burton
The majority of the Gospels focus on the adult ministry of Jesus Christ immediately after discussing the birth. It is easy to forgot that Jesus was a child and went through the development as we all did. Although he was fully God, he was fully human as well. At around the age of 12, Jesus went with his parents to Jerusalem to attend the festival of passover. When it came time to go, his parents, and the community with them, all headed back to their home. Yet when Mary and Joseph looked for Jesus, they couldn’t find him. He had gone missing. For all their searching, they found Him, on the third day, in the temple, discussing the law and the scriptures with the Pharisees and Sadducees.
“When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’”
– Luke 2:48-49, NIV
Luke writes with major foreshadowing of the time that would be coming. For Jesus seemingly went missing and was found on the third day. Furthermore, He was found keeping about the business of His heavenly Father and proclaiming the good news to all who would receive it. This is the same thing with His crucifixion. For Mary, this was a difficult time fearing she had not only lost her son but had lost the Son of Man. For Jesus, however, when he noticed that His community had left Him, He knew to seek solace in the house of His Heavenly Father.
Jesus Has The Authority
Even at the outset of life, as Jesus was coming into the age of accountability, His ability to understand and discuss the scriptures was unparalleled. Where most in His position would have sat above the proceedings or rest on his laurels of position, Jesus never lost sight of His mission. He taught. He engaged in the mission of bringing the meaning of the Gospel to those who needed it. Furthermore, people began to notice the difference in His teaching.
God presents Himself in many forms throughout the course of history. Sometimes it has been from those who trained and studied their entire lives. In this came, it came in the form of a 12-year old man who had just passed the age of accountability. Even from an early age, Jesus showed that he could be trusted and knew the scriptures. It was evident that’s this young man was worth following. Whatever form the authority of God presents itself, it would do us well to heed and obey. Furthermore, when the authority of God has been given to us, we can stand against any opposition because our feet rest on the firm foundation of the truth of God.
Running To God When Feeling Lost
When Mary posed the question of where Jesus had been, the answer to Him seemed obvious. Of course he would be at His Father’s house. There was no question. There is always the ability to run home and find safety in the presence of God. 
For Jesus, and the special relationship He held with the Father, the choice was obvious; run home. For us, when we feel lost, we have been granted that same access to the fullness of God through our identification with Jesus Christ. We too can run home.
For whatever reason, we try and might and strength our way out of things. Whenever you get lost, the only way out is to first get your bearings. You cannot know which way to go unless you are at a place where you know where it is. God is our unchanging and immovable foundation. Whenever we are lost, we can always regain our bearings by first taking the time to sit in his presence and hear from His word. The choice for us should be as obvious as it was to Jesus. We run to the unchanging, solid rock and know that for however lost we may feel, we have a home.
Talk It Out
Read Luke 2:41-52
- Where do you see the connection between what occurred here and what would occur in His future ministry?
- Where do you tend to go when you feel emotionally or spiritually lost? What things do you turn to?
- Do you feel safe bringing your lostness and your sin to God? To the church? Why or why not?
- Fear is the antithesis of love. What has gone done to pave a way home for you through His love?
- At the end of this passage, it mentions that Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and men. Based on what you have read, how do you thing he accomplished this? Where are you working to grow in wisdom and stature with God and men?
