The Boy in the Temple

Every year in winter break my family get together in Florida spend Christmas and New Year. That's the only time where everybody in my family (10 adults and 8 children) is able to get together and have a wonderful and fun time. My dad bought a small condo in Florida about 15 years ago so that whenever he comes to America,he has a place to stay and a place where his children can get together couple of times year. Back then it was just his unmarried children but now.... you know the number! To make a long story short, this year we've decided to have all the fathers and their children sleep in the living room and moms (me and my two sisters) sleep in a second bedroom. I have a nephew who just turned 4 years old protested to sleep with his mom so we gave him the privilege to stay with us. However it turned out to be our blessing to have him with us in the small room. This little boy prayed out loud every night before the bed voluntarily. His prayers touched our hearts. His prayers like pure, sincere, and innocent. He prayed to God as if he talked to his dad. We can sense my nephew knows Jesus as much as 4 year old can understands but without any doubt we can see that Jesus is in very special place in my nephew's heart.
By reflecting on today's reading, even at age 12, Jesus longed to be in the Father's house and reached out to people with the Word of God. Luke 2:41-52 is only passage that mentioned about Jesus' childhood in the entire Bible. Like the author conveyed to the reader, Jesus was clearly aware of who he was and what his mission and purpose was. However, what intriguing me the most was actually in the later verses; "The he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people." Luke 2: 51-52
Since I am a mom, I put myself in Mary's shoes and imagined what was like for Mary to have a first born son who was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Imagine a mother frantically looking for her son for I don't know how many hours. Can you imagine what kinds of thoughts come across in her mind? Did someone kidnap my child? Is my son scared, hungry, hurt?
When she finally found him in the Temple, I am certain that she was relieved and rejoiced, at the same time, she was disappointed and even angry at Jesus that he didn't tell her where he was and made her worry. I as a mom would react the same as Mary did. However Jesus said in verse 49," But why did you need to search?..... didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?" According to the Bible, Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant.
I think Mary and Joseph didn't understand what he meant at that time because they probably started to breath by then . They had been frantically searching for their son and found him at the temple teaching the Word of God. However Mary and Joseph had a plenty of time reflecting on the incident and what Jesus said when he was found during the long journey back to their home. I am most certain that both of them were reminded of the message of the angel who appeared to Mary. Before Jesus is their first born son, He is the Savior, the Messiah, and the Son of God. In verse 51, Jesus continued to fulfill his duty as a son to his earthly parents by being obedient to them. For Mary and Joseph, I believe that what happened in Jerusalem was turning point for them to never forget the fact that their baby is the truly Son of God who came to this earth to deli ever people from the darkness. He, too, is their messiah and Savior!