Joash hardly played with his friends the next day after Jesus went missing. Zebina gave him a hug. “I’m concerned about Jesus, too. We must trust that God will help Mary and Joseph find him. We’ll be home soon and you and Papa will be back at work. I’m sure Jesus will come find you after he gets back.”

Sure enough, a few days after Joash and his family had been home, here came Mary and Jesus down the path. Mary had a half smile as she slowly shook her head.

Joash saw them from the field and came running. He gasped for each breath after his run. “I was so worried (gasp) about you, Jesus. (gasp) Where were you?” 

“I’m sorry I upset you, Joash. Let’s take a walk and I’ll tell you about it.”

Zebina hugged Mary. “Joash has been so worried about his best friend. I tried to assure him that his special friend is also special to God and He would take care of him, but Joash felt guilty that he failed to alert you earlier about not seeing Jesus anywhere in the crowd.”

“Oh, Zebina,” Mary sighed. “It certainly was not Joash’s fault. And you’re absolutely right, Jesus is special to our Lord God. I should have had more faith than I did that our heavenly Father would take care of him. I’m afraid I not only fretted myself to death, I also became angry when I saw him.”

“Where did you find him?”

“At the Temple, talking to the teachers and Scribes and Pharisees of all things.”

“Why?”

“My question, too. And, why didn’t he tell us he wanted to stay back?”

“What did they talk about?”

“Apparently, he asked good, thought-provoking questions and then amazed them with his answers. Still, he had not been considerate of us.”

“Did he understand that?”

“I think so, because he willingly came back with us, but he said, ‘Didn’t you know that I had to be about my Father’s business?’ He is twelve years old now and I have told him about his birth and the angel speaking to me. I think he’s trying to put it all together.”

(Meanwhile, in the field🙂 Joash frowned with deep wrinkles in his forehead. “But why would you want to talk to the teachers and Pharisees?”

“I had many questions. Questions about our ancient Scripture and the promise of the Messiah. Then they asked me questions and seemed to like my answers.”

“Why didn’t you tell you’re parents you wanted to stay? We were all so worried about you.”

Jesus stared at the ground. “I know. I should have told them. I guess I was too anxious and once I started talking to the elders, I forgot about everything else. I’m sorry they were upset and that I worried you as well.”

Wanting to get everything back to normal, Joash suggested, “Maybe we can pack a lunch tomorrow and go over to the sea.”

“I’m sorry. Tomorrow I’m going with my papa to another town to help construct new stone houses. We’ll be gone about two weeks.”

More days without his friend. Joash’s shoulders sagged, his face fell. Here they had just been reunited, only to be separated again.  When they departed, Joash found a bit of solace in his mother’s company. She reminded him again that Jesus was special to God and God had future things for Jesus to do.

(Unfortunately, more sad news is yet to come for Joash while his friend is away—news that Zebina will not like either.) 

~ Joyce ~