Communicate

Luke 2:45, So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

You know the story – Jesus was lost – Mary lost Jesus!  What?  Give her a job and she fumbles the ball!  She has only one kid and can’t keep Him in tow.  OK – only kidding!  But it does make for a story.  The mother of God’s choosing loses her only child!  Mary loses God!  Yikes!

The truth is that Jesus stayed behind.  On the backside of the annual trek to Jerusalem for Passover, the group of family and friends from Nazareth set off for the Jordan and the first night’s camp – about 20 miles.  It was probably understood between parents and children that they would rendezvous at a certain place and travel together as there was some danger in the journey [Luke 10:30, Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.].  As Jesus had never disobeyed before and had been told to meet with the group and connect with them at the first camp, they had no reason to think that He was not in the group.

But then the fright!  Dear Mary!  To have a child missing is nearly the worst feeling one can have!  Imagine the frantic trip back to Jerusalem – a significant climb from 700 below sea level to about 2600 feet above in less than 20 miles.  And then where-oh-where in all of Jerusalem!  Oh, the fright!  And finally to find Him with the temple leadership engaged in significant conversation. “Yeah!” and “What were You thinking!?”

What caught my attention in this passage, however, were five points:

1. Jesus was listening
2. Jesus was asking
3. Jesus was talking – they heard Him
4. Jesus was answering

Four important ingredients for healthy conversations and relationships.

> Jesus was sitting with older adults listening to their takes on Scripture, maybe the government, and possibly the economics of Jerusalem from the Bible’s perspective.

> And, Jesus was prolonging the conversation as He was asking questions.  He invited adults to talk as He wanted to learn and understand.  How often do we do that?  How often do we find young people wanting to learn from old people?  Not often!  Generally, we are all about spewing forth our own wisdom or we find old people uninformed and not worth listening to.  NOT Jesus!

> And Jesus was sharing – giving His take.  He was heard.  He knew how to speak well, timely, coherently, and to important issues.  He was conversant.

> Also, He was answering.  When He was questioned, He responded.  He heard and He answered.

What great points to teach our children and put into practice ourselves!

AND…

5. Jesus was focused on God even as a twelve year old: “About My Father’s business!” It is one thing to be at Jerusalem for Passover, another to be there for His bar mitzvah and then to even have a hearing with the upper crust, but through it all, to have God clearly in focus.  In all of life’s events – even the very special and big events – one needs to keep God in focus.

Good relationships need good communication skills:  listen, ask, talk, and answer!