quick thought from this mornings quiet time. Mary and Joseph were returning home to Nazareth which is a 3-4 Day journey. They come to the end of day 1 and where is Jesus. They have probably travelled 40-50 km and they would be tired. They have n choice but to turn around and look for their son. Even if they travel fast, it’s a 4-5 hour journey at night. Great!!!!
3 days later they find Jesus learning from the teachers of the law in the temple. His parents understandably were upset and relieved. Jesus response was interesting – he wanted to be in his fathers house. He wanted to learn and become a disciple. At 12-13 in the Jewish culture you become an adult and he took it upon himself at an early age to enlist himself as a disciple to the best minds of the time. In fact it probably no small coincidence that arguably some of the greatest Jewish mind in regards to the knowledge of the law and god proceeded Jesus and his ministry. They were there to prepare the way for the messiah.
On that very day Mary and Joseph fing Jesus in the temple asking question he may have been there with the great rabbi Hillel whom many of Jesus teachings and parables seemed to be influenced by. This is purely speculation, but I would guess that Jesus may have enlisted himself as a disciple of hillel or certainly spent as much time as he could with him.
The question I ask myself – who is my hillel? Proverbs goes to say it is foolish to not have counsellors and do life on our own. If you would like to pray with me feel free – lord, show me my counsellors, the people who can disciple me. Bring them into my life so they can draw me closer to you. Lord I want to know you more and what is on your heart. Help me to be humble so I can receive them and their words so I can be more like you. Lord, do something amazing in and thru my life. Amen and amen.
