Jesus and his parents return to Nazareth where Jesus would grow up, and grow up into a man of God (Luke 2:39-40). This spiritual maturity was on display when he was 12 years old.
His parents, ever the obedient servants of God, obeyed the word of God and took an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 2:41). When the feast ends, his parents leave but Jesus remains behind. His parents assumed he was traveling in the caravan but then realized Jesus wasn’t with them and they returned to Jerusalem to find him (Luke 2:42-45). After three days of searching, they finally find Jesus…in the temple teaching!
“Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46).
And all who heard the twelve year old Jesus “were amazed” yet his parents were not amused and let him know how anxiously they looked for him (2:47-48). It is his answer to them that it is the main point of the passage. Jesus replied that they should not have been so anxious and it should have been obvious where he was was and what he was doing. He replied,
“And He said to them, ‘Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?’ ” (Luke 2:49).
Where should any of us be found if anyone were to be looking for us? We should be found engaged in our Father’s work. Not in the work of the world, but in the work of the kingdom. That is our work, that is our calling. Paul declared,
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58)
Gospel Meditations 