“So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 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.” Luke 2:41-47 NKJV
Father God,
As only a few people had witnessed to Jesus being someone special from You, God, it it not surprising that there is little known about Your Son’s childhood. And we read that Mary his mother pondered things in her heart (Luke 2:19), she did not talk about it. Who would have believed her except her husband and some shepherds she probably never met again! Sometimes giving our testimony seems unbelievable. Saying we too have met Jesus, experienced Him in our lives and asked Him to live in us. But now we have Your Holy Spirit with us, helping to convince our hearers of Your truth.
Jesus went to the Temple at about 12 years old. The age of a boy becoming a man for the Israelites. We are given a brief insight, a small cameo, displaying what was most important to Jesus. Over everything He took His relationship with You as the most important centre of His life. He took it seriously and at the cusp of adulthood chose the way he would continue to go. In hindsight we know it would not be easy, trouble or pain free. As he went he called others to follow Him and they too would have trouble. But the rewards are beyond all we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 13th October 2026
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns;
Our mortal songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
Joy, unspeakable joy,
an overflowing well, no tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy,
Rises in my soul never lets me go
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
Joy, unspeakable joy,
an overflowing well, no tongue can tell
Joy, unspeakable joy,
Rises in my soul never lets me go
Lyrics: Isaac Watts 1719
Additional chorus: Chris Tomlin Ed Cash (2009)