The Road From Jesus

Luke 2:44-45 "But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him."

How far are people willing to travel without the Lord?

Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem every year after the feast of the passover. The trip was about 89 miles to go from Nazareth to Jerusalem one way. They walked the entire way. You can imagine it took quite a bit of time to make that trip.

Verse 43 "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it." They had fulfilled or completed their journey. In other words they had returned back to Nazareth. The problem was that they had left Jesus behind in Jerusalem. They had forgotten to take Jesus with them.

Many people are doing that today. They go to church...are in His presence in the service...yet they don't even realize it and when they leave the church. They leave Him behind. They forget about Him and have no regard or concern for Him to be with them.

We are critical of Joseph and Mary and wonder how they could do such a thing. But wait...we are no better than they are. Some of us are going to church and forgetting Him and leaving Him behind. You say "shame on them"...I say "shame on us."

Verse 44 "But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance." They supposed Him to be "in the company". Are we supposing Him to be "in the company"? Are you thinking Him to be with you...but you have forgotten Him? Let's go a step further. Do you suppose Him to be in the company of your heart...but you have left Him behind? You profess that He is with you....but in reality He isn't. Are you clinging to your church membership or your baptism? Or are you clinging to Him? Salvation is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ...not in church membership or baptism.

Some are saved. You know He is in the company of your heart but you've forgotten Him in your daily life. Do you recognize Him and acknowledge Him in your daily life? We cannot walk down our daily road of life and forget Him. Maybe I should say we can...but we shouldn't.

Joseph and Mary found Him in the temple. Where have you left Him? Did you leave Him at church? Have you gotten out of church? Did you leave Him in your Bible reading? Have you not been reading your Bible like you should? Did you leave Him in your prayer time? Are you neglecting your prayer time? Search your heart and determine where you left Him at then go back to it to find Him.

The sad thing about Joseph and Mary is that they had gotten far away from God and didn't even know it. Don't get so far away from God that you don't even realize it.