The Finding in the Temple--The Fifth Joyful Mystery
As we approach Christmas, I am writing about each of the Five Joyful Mysteries. You can read about the First Joyful Mystery--The Annunciation here, and the Second Joyful Mystery--The Visitation here, and the Third Joyful Mystery--The Nativity here, and the Fourth Joyful Mystery--The Presentation here.
The Fifth Joyful Mystery is the Finding in the Temple. This is when Jesus was twelve years old and was found in the Temple amongst the teachers of the law asking questions.
My boys love to watch Home Alone during Christmas. There is a scene when Kevin's mom realizes that she forgot her 8-year-old son and left him back in Chicago home alone while the family flew to Paris. She laments, "What kind of mother am I?" Of course Kevin's mom feels terrible, but she is in good company. Mary the Mother of Jesus left her son, the Messiah, in Jerusalem.
Jesus had accompanied Mary and Joseph and their extended family to Jerusalem for the Passover. On the way back they thought Jesus was with some of their other relatives, but realized that He was not when they stopped for the night. Any parent who has ever lost their child even for just a few minutes at the store can sympathize with Mary and Joseph. When he was 7 my oldest son got separated from us at Disney World's Animal Kingdom for only a couple of minutes, but it was a terrifying couple of minutes.
Mary and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem and found Jesus in the Temple questioning the teachers of the law. Mary reacted the way I suspect most mothers would react saying to Jesus (in my own updated translation), "Why did you do this to us? Your father and I have been scared to death!"
Jesus responded by asking, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?" That is the key. If you want to find Jesus, go to wherever God is at work and you will find Christ there.
Other translations say, "Did you not know that I would be in my father's house?" but the sentiment is the same. Christ is wherever God abides.
You will find Christ in the hearts of children, in the tears of mourners, in the sorrow of the poor, in the actions of the just, in the cries of the persecuted, in the desperation of the hungry, and in the blood of the martyrs. Search for Him. Find Him. Then join Him in His Father's business.
That concludes the Five Joyful Mysteries. If you missed the others, you can start from the First Joyful Mystery--The Annunciation here.
Merry Christmas to you all!
R.C. VanLandingham lives in Florida with his wife and kids. Get his Christian fantasy book Peter Puckett & The Amulet of Eternity FREE Here!