March 17

Child in the Temple
Luke 2:41-52

There is a measure of the devoutness of Mary and Joseph in this passage.  It tells us that every year they went up for Passover.  This was a long journey from Nazareth.  Only the males were required to make it, but the devout women were permitted as well.  Mary and Joseph made it annually.

  • Do we take our children to worship, even worship that they might not yet be old enough to understand?  Do we show them by our example that the worship of God is something extremely important?  Or is it just something that we do when we can fit it in?  And then only if the sermon topic looks interesting?
  • When we do go, do we look like the Psalmist who said, "I was glad when they said to me let us go up to the House of the Lord?"  Do we appear to be glad, or are we rushed, harried and worried?  Is it a joy, or a chore?
Each of us naturally desires that our children will be well behaved and polite.  But zeal for the Lord is another matter!
  • Do our children have the zeal for the Lord that is shown here?  Does the name of Jesus enter into their conversation often?  Do you hear them at prayer?
  • How do we react when we encounter zeal in our children?  If your child comes home and announces that his junior high class will be fasting for 24 hours, do you smirk?  Or do you praise your child for caring?
Christ, in this only story of his childhood, shows us the example of one who must be obedient to God above all else.  The ties of family, however precious, cannot precede the love of God.  Thus our Lord must be in his Father's house.  But note that after his parents came for him, he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.  The example of their devoutness could not have been missed.  As the Suffering Servant, our Lord submitted to the rule of his earthly parents.  Could this have been done if they had been disobedient to God?
Parents must remember that our example will be seen, and often followed, by our children.  What is your example to your children?  Do they see one who loves the Lord and worships Him, or one who views worship as painful duty?