Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

March 23rd, 2008

 

"Easter Sunday, 2008"

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. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:41-52 NIV).

Have you ever watched the television series “24”? It is a show presented in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the U.S. government as it fights threats on U.S. Soil. The Bible is sometimes like a television show that takes place all in one day, but is watched over a series of weeks. We tend to lose track of timelines, and relationships between people. Today’s reading takes place some twenty-one years before Christ’s death and resurrection, but there are many facets of the story that we may have never connected with what we know today as “passion week”.

First, we see that this story takes place during the same time of year, Passover. Second, it is fascinating to note how long it took for Mary and Joseph to find Jesus – three days. The Bible tells us that after three days Mary and others would seek Jesus at the tomb. He would not be there, for He was raised from the dead. Finally, did you ever stop to consider who Jesus conversed with in the temple? Depending on your Bible translation, they are identified as teachers of the Law, or Rabbis, the members of the Sanhedrin, or Jewish theologians. Jesus may well have been speaking to some noteworthy people - Nicodemus, Caiaphas, Joseph of Arimathea, Gamaliel, and a young student named Saul of Tarsus. While Bible commentators express different opinions of who was actually there that day in the temple, we know that each person would eventually cross paths with Jesus, who is the Christ. Interesting isn't it?

But, what does that have to do with Easter Sunday, 2008? Let me ask you... have you taken time to meet Jesus? Have you received this Savior, who can give you eternal life? We will all meet Jesus. When we meet him, it matters whether it was in this life or the next!