Jesus Obeyed His Mom

Day 2 – Jesus Obeyed His Mom – So Should Kids!  

“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

Luke 2:51, ESV

If you’re a mom and struggling to get your kids to obey, you might remind them of the story in Luke’s gospel. We learn that Jesus, at the age of 12, joins his parents, relatives, friends, and family for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover (an important Jewish festival celebrating Israel’s redemption from Egypt). This trip would take up to 4-5 days on foot. And it was uphill; they would climb over 1,400 feet in elevation to get there. By the time they would get there, Jesus was off to the temple. Little did the parents know, Jesus wouldn’t want to leave! Caught up with the festivities, family, and friends, Mary and Joseph left! The family and friends all pack up and head back home. They load the donkey and hit the trail. They are having a great time! One full day goes by, and that night they notice something… Jesus is NOT with them?  Not good - Mary and Joseph lose Jesus! How do you lose God? Ha ha! Well, if you’re a parent, you’ve probably had a moment when your kid wandered off. That’s why you see those kids in large crowds with a leash on! It’s one thing to have your toddler wander off, and it’s another to lose a twelve-year-old boy, and worse Jesus!  To say the least, his parents freak out, race back to Jerusalem, and look for him for three days. They find him… and where is he? He’s at the temple, with teachers, scribes, and Pharisees, just doing a little teaching himself!!!

His parents are floored! Their kid is teaching the teachers! They confront him, his mom says... come on Jesus … what are you doing, we left days ago… and you’re here? Jesus responds by saying, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” His parents had to be like, huh? After some back and forth, the gospel writes Luke 2:51 – “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”  

The lesson here is two-fold. One for the kids and teenagers. Realize this. If Jesus, who is God, obeyed his earthly mother and father… shouldn’t other kids obey their parents? Jesus always our example! When it comes to honoring our parents, and in light of Mother’s Day, it’s important to realize the incredible role a mother has in the life of kids. Even Jesus, the Savior of the world, submitted and obeyed his mom!

Secondly, for the moms of the world. Realize that God intended this story to captured in scripture to elevate the role you play. Your voice isn’t simply valuable; it crucial. God has commanded your kids to honor you, and that comes first in the form of obedience.