Tuesday January 3, 2012

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. After the Feast was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.

Good Tuesday Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is a cold morning here at the Southern Location of the North Pole, but still no snow. In fact, the only snow we have had this season came way back on October 29, 2011. That works for me, I have my snow plow on and it stands ready, and I would be happy to not need to use it. AMEN. I did go out and purchase one of those light weight plastic snow shovels, so as it would not be so heavy for Dolores to shovel snow. (Just Kidding, folks.)

Praise Report. Marie came home from the hospital yesterday and her husband Glenn comes home from rehab today.

Please pray for the families of Pearl, Armond, Curtis and Helen, all recalled by their maker between Christmas day and New Years day.

Please keep this line in your prayers... Also pray for Burt who had a bad fall and also Dolores, would you believe that her third new right knee looks like it has failed, her leg is back in pain and it is turning out again.

The Journey Moves on: Luke 2:41 - Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43 After the Feast was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. (NIV)

Note: Annual attendance at three feasts by all adult males was commanded in the law. Most often their families went with them, but sometimes the distance prevented them from attending all three. Most all Jews would try and make them.

I like to look at some scriptures and look at them as if the same thing would happen today and this is one of them. Now let's set some facts down, the Bible tells us that Jesus was twelve, and this is a great time to pick up on the life of Jesus. Up till now, we heard only about His being placed in the womb, His simple birth and then Him being circumcised on the eighth day after His birth and then we just sort of don't hear about Jesus much till He was twelve. I will talk some this week about His escape. What escape? Stay tuned!!

Anyway, let me just think about how we were between the ages of, well a few weeks and about twelve. What would we have been doing? As far back as I can remember I would be playing with my toys, most often toy cars, trucks, buses and trains, and well, that never changed, just got bigger. I would spend time with my parents and I was taken to Sunday School and Church, and often sat in on Bible studies. We all had friends, of course, or maybe cousins. Now let's look at Jesus, what might have Jesus done?

Well, we do know that the Jesus' earthly father was a carpenter and worked with wood. I would think that Jesus while growing up would spend some time with His relation John, as in John The Baptist who was about six months older than Jesus. I would think that Jesus would have had some toys made in the wood shop, but gosh, no cars, buses or trucks back then. I would also think that Jesus would have had to help His parents, maybe cleaning up after the donkey and other animals, and helping to feed them. I would think they also would help gather food and store it for the animals and knowing how I like helping my mamma, I would think Jesus also would spend time with His mother. I think you can see a tad of what it must have been like when we look at our Amish folks and see how they live and how their children work the fields and help with the housekeeping.

I think today, all kids, well, all folks, should turn off all the electric things like TV, Cell Phones, Game Boys, etc.,  and at least learn some of what it might have been like back then. Once in a while we get a taste of it, when the power goes out, and most people are going nuts within a few hours.

Now let's take a look at these verses. Luke 2:43 - After the Feast was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking He was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends.

So let's look at this today, we pack up the old car, and we leave town to return home and we forgot our 12 year old son, and then we don't miss him for a day, thinking, well, he got in a car with his uncle or aunt. So after a day we start looking for him... Oh my gosh, call children and youth, for it is child abuse. Think about it, folks, and let me ask this question, just how good were the parents of Jesus? I will give my opinion on that one tomorrow. Also coming tomorrow, did Jesus ever "talk back" or "sass" His parents? This answer might surprise you!

Dear Father in Heaven, thanks for the message and thanks for letting my mind work on it again. It sure is different each day as we go forth in this world You made for us. And I know, Lord, it is all in Your plans for You have Your hands on it all. Thanks for Your healing hand on Glenn and Marie, and we ask You be with those who lost loved ones over the holiday period. Please honor all of our prayer requests always according to Your will in our lives... Thanks, Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Now go forth sharing your blessings and knowing Jesus loves you very much and I love ya also... Pastor Dan.