Jesus Goes to Jerusalem

Dear Boys and Girls,

I wonder how many of you at some time have been lost! You know, Jesus was once lost–at least, Mary and Joseph thought that he was lost!

It all happened when Jesus was twelve years old. He went with his parents up to Jerusalem to pay the taxes along with lots of other people from Nazareth. What a wonderful week that must have been for Him. All the services in the Temple, all the crowds in the streets, and the Roman soldiers marching past. All the marvellous sights to be seen, but, at last it was time to go home.

When they were all ready to start, Jesus was nowhere to be seen; but, as they were to march in a long procession with their friends and neighbours, Mary and Joseph just thought that he was with some of them, and went on their way. When it came near evening, they began to wonder why he stayed so long and so they went up and down among their friends asking if anyone had seen Jesus, (Just the same as your mummies and daddies sometimes look for you when it is tea-time).

But, no! No one had seen Jesus all day, and so, they realised that he must have been left behind in Jerusalem. What a shock for Mary and Joseph. Immediately they started off back to Jerusalem–and there they found him. Not at the fairground or at the “sweetie” stalls, or watching the soldiers! But, in the Temple–in church–listening to the ministers and asking them questions. His parents were amazed and asked him why he had not gone with the others; this is what Jesus said: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” Now, of course, he didn't mean Joseph, who was his earthly father; he meant God, for Jesus was God's Son.

The Bible tells us that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”. That means that as he was growing up from a boy into a man he sought always the ways of God, and was also good and kind to those around him. What a lot Jesus can teach us, even yet, if each one of us, boy or girl–and grown-up too, just trusts in Him to be our Saviour and Guide and Friend.