WHERE IS JESUS?

Something happened in Luke 2:41-52 that I want to draw our attention in this write up. So many people are guilty of that incidence. Mary and Joseph, the parent of Jesus, knew how important Jesus is in their lives. This is someone that Angel has to come with good news before He was conceived and given birth to. They knew Jesus is the savior of the world (Matthew 1:20-23, Luke 1:30-33). But now they have that Jesus, they see Him every day; they became too familiar with Jesus.

Then in Luke 2:41-44, they went for a festival: a Passover festival. The Passover festival supposes to be a spiritual exercise when the Israelites remember how they were saved from the kingdom of darkness, slavery, oppression and suppression. It is an event to remember their salvation experience, and how God transformed them into freemen. Unfortunately, they turned such experience to a normal event, a custom festival (Luke 2:42); a usual, a normal tradition. In the midst of the festival they never knew when Jesus left them. The bible says that they assumed that Jesus was still with them for a whole day.

Thank God they discovered on time. What about you? There are many people that Jesus has left, but they are not aware of it. So many ministries, Jesus has left, but they are still assuming they are with Jesus. Jesus has left so many homes, families, vocations, businesses, marriages, callings, etc. But the danger is that they are still thinking and assuming that they are with Jesus. The parent of Jesus assumed that for a whole day journey.

I want us to reconsider our lives, reconsider your gifting and calling, reconsider your ministry, reconsider your life generally and see if Jesus is still with you or it is a mere assumption? Let’s reconsider our services, music, prayers; etc is it not turning to mere traditions and customs? Is Jesus really there? So many people come to church, not to serve God, but to be entertained. Some that even want to serve God are doing it because they need something from Him (a selfish service). Let us return to the Lord, let us amend our ways, let’s reconcile back to God (2Corithian 5:20).

Thank God Jesus parent later retraced their steps when they realized their mistakes. But the question is, ‘Are you willing to retrace your step back?’ The bibles says that the condition for eating the good of the land is WILLINGNESS AND OBEDIENCE (Isaiah 1:19). There are so many magical prayers we pray in the church today that will not work. The kinds of Christians we have today are those looking for magic from God; they are the types that are not willing to obey God but want God to fulfill His promises. That is the major cause of problems and afflictions in the church today, despite the intensified prayers. God is not a deaf God; His hands are not too short to save (Isaiah 59:1-2). We are the ones at fault (Proverb 19:3). Let us go back to where we have left Jesus, let us go back to true worship and service. Let’s forget the jamboree, the traditional worship, and the magic prayers. Let us do the needful (Deuteronomy 28:1, Isaiah 1:18-19). Let us go looking for the Jesus we have abandoned behind. Let’s go find Jesus. No matter how far and long we have left Jesus, we can still find Him, if only we are willing to retrace our steps. As you seek after Jesus season, it is my prayer that you will find Him.

Wonderful Joseph Onochojare