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Jun 19, 2023 18:30pm

The Best Place

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“Where is he?”

We were trying to get an early start and get everything moved into the new house and I knew we would run out of time.

My husband isn’t the best about keeping a schedule. He kind of has his own time zone – Merrell Standard Time. He thinks he can get an entire list of things done in 2 hours, and it’s impossible!

I was feeling frustrated.

Didn’t he know we had to get this done?

His truck was still out front and the van too, so I knew he was somewhere.

I looked in the kennel, he wasn’t there.

I looked in the shop, he wasn’t there.

Maybe he took the UTV out to the river! No, it was still parked.

Ugh! I was tired and hungry, and we all know what happens when I get hungry! It’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It’s out of control.

Okay, one last place to look and then I’m done.

As I stepped out onto the porch, I saw him sitting there staring off into the distance. Anger rose up and I thought, “How can you be out here sitting when there is all of this work to be done?!”

Then, he turned to me, smiled and called me over to him. He simply said, ”Look”.

My eyes moved to where his were fixated and I saw it. In fact, in that moment I realized I had been a fool not to be here too.

“This is why we moved here. Look at that sunrise over the hills. The woods, the valley… and it’s ours.”

He had been in the very best place.

“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
Luke 2:41-49

You may take one look at this and think, “How could they lose him? He was their son! Were they not watching over him? And did Jesus disobey His parents?”

This wasn’t just a trip for Jesus and His family. All males had to make the trip to Jerusalem 3 times a year for the great festivals. Of course, that meant their families were with them. The journey would include many miles of walking and they were susceptible to robbers along the way. So, they traveled in a caravan, many times with the women and children in front and the men in the back.

Jesus was 12 years old. He would have been considered almost an adult then. He wouldn’t have been with them the entire time at the festival. When it was time to go, they all gathered and left. Mary probably assumed he was back with the men. Joseph may have assumed Jesus was with the other children. But apparently, they had never actually said to Jesus, “It’s time to go, walk with us.” There hadn’t been any type of direction to disobey, so no, Jesus did not sin.

When they searched for Him amongst their family and the traveling party, they didn’t find Him. They knew they had to return to Jerusalem.

Can you imagine how they must have felt? What would you do if your 12 year old was left behind? Especially since He was the Messiah, the Son of God, and you had been entrusted to raise Him?

So, yeah, Mary had reason to be a little frantic. They searched 3 days for Him in Jerusalem. Let’s not miss that point. Where were they looking?

Finally, they found Him in the temple. Imagine you are His mother and you just found Him after 3 days of searching… Sure, you’re relieved, but on top of that are you frantic? Frustrated? Angry?

But here is Jesus’s reply. He isn’t disrespectful at all, He simply asks a reasonable question and states a fact.

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
Luke 2:49 (NIV)

Why would they have searched anywhere else? Jesus had been in the best place.

He was busy about His Father’s (God’s) business. Are we?

We rush, rush, rush, cramming our schedules so much that there is little remaining at the end of the day. We are exhausted, stressed, anxious and worried. While work, sports, the gym, the lake, etc. aren’t bad things to enjoy, we have to remember, the best place to be found is to be busy about the Father’s business. To be with the Lord, to be serving Him, to worship Him, to demonstrate His love to others, there’s no better place.

You’re missing out. Find the spot, open the Word, and let His light shine upon you!