The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Luke 2:48-52, “And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.’

49 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?’

50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

51 And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”

This is a very human experience for both the mother and the Child. Why Mary and Joseph should have neglected searching for Him for a full day, and then finding Him, talk about having being anxious for His whereabouts, is interesting, to say the least.

Does it seem strange to you that Mary is doing the talking here? It is Mary who has from before Jesus’ birth “pondered all these things in her heart.” But it would seem that she has forgotten that the Heavenly Father was ever caring for His Son. Mary includes Joseph in the anxiety over the Boy’s absence from the family group. She speaks of Joseph as being Jesus’ father, which, of course, he was not –not the physical, birth-father. Yet, it was within the culture for her to speak in this way. Joseph, for all intents-and-purposes was Jesus’ guiding formative father, as the LORD had intended.

Jesus’ reply to His mother was both respectful and informative. At the age of 12, He was keenly aware of His purpose on Earth. “Did you not know that I had to be (involved) in My Father’s work?” Sometimes parents overlook how intelligent their children really are. They look and wonder at what their children will ultimately become in life, but are astonished when they discover the children are already on course for what they are to do in life. Still, Mary is not to be scolded for her words to her Son. She had merely, momentarily forgotten His ultimate purpose on Earth.

In the end, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth and continued to obey them. Doubtlessly, Mary often shook her head in wonder and amazement, as she surveyed her own life from the time of the angel’s visit telling her that the Christ –the Messiah of Almighty God—would be born of her.

As for Jesus, He kept “increasing in wisdom and stature,” and was the shining Light of His Heavenly Father and a favorite of all who knew Him. Isn’t that what the Father wants of us? Doesn’t He want us to be like His “only begotten Son”? Yet, how far removed we are from what our Father desires. Why is wisdom so removed from us? Could it be that our focus is too worldly? Could it be that what is transpiring in the world-at-large commands our attention more than what God has given us in His Word?

At dinner the other night, I heard a woman at an adjoining table say, “I think the LORD is coming soon.” Is that not the focus that should obsess and drive our daily lives? I think it is. May the Holy Spirit help us to realign our thinking that we may be ready for His Coming!

Lovingly and prayerfully yours,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”