Our Father!

For Tuesday, December 30, 2025:

Luke 2:41 NLT: “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.”

Jesus’ earthly parents had experienced something that most people never see. They were both visited by angels, and I suspect that those encounters left quite an impression on them. An experience like that might cause them to take God and religious things more seriously. So every Passover, they pilgrimaged to Jerusalem. It’s not too far, a smidge under 50 miles, depending on the chosen route. About a week, walking.

When Jesus was 12 years old, they embarked on this annual journey, arrived safely, celebrated, and now it was time to head home. As it turns out, Jesus wasn’t with the entourage, although no one was aware he was missing. It was assumed he was traveling with close friends or relatives.

When Jesus couldn’t be found after a day’s journey, Mary and Joseph reversed course and began searching high and low for the youth. Finding him was no easy task. After three days, he was spotted in the Temple amongst the religious teachers, asking them questions and answering their questions. Amazing! Everyone was impressed with the depth of both Jesus’ questions and the answers he could provide.

Mary and Joseph were bewildered. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”

 "But why did you need to search?” Jesus asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Friends, he’s not talking about Joseph’s house. He’s identifying himself as the Son of the Most High! He was in the Temple of the Lord!

Jesus taught us to pray to, “Our Father in heaven…”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church