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This week's focus: Faith

My favorite Christmas decoration is my 12-piece nativity set. While admiring it last year, I panicked when I noticed the empty manger and realized that baby Jesus was missing. It's one thing to lose a porcelain Jesus, but can you imagine how Mary must have felt when she thought she had lost the Son of God? Luke 2:41-50 tells us that Jesus went missing for three days when we read;

"Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You." And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?"

As a parent, I can only imagine the fear, panic, sorrow, and helplessness that must have consumed Mary and Joseph while they searched for their Son. I can also feel the joy and gratitude when they finally saw Him—despair vanished when they found Jesus.

As we walk through this broken world, there may be times when we wonder where Jesus is. When this happens, we must remember that He is never lost. Mary and Joseph may have thought He was missing, but even as a boy, He was right where He was supposed to be.

As for me, after a more thorough examination of my nativity set, I found Jesus. It turns out that He had been there all along, not in the manger but placed on the back of the donkey by two-year-old Sloane. I laughed, thinking what a biblical scholar she was!

“...behold your king is coming to you, gentle and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden” (Zechariah 9:9).

King Jesus entered our world as a suffering servant sent to seek and save the lost. When He rode into Jerusalem the first time, it was on the back of a donkey. When He returns, it will be as a conquering King on a white horse bringing judgment, just as He promised. On that day, there will be regret and remorse for those who rejected the sacrifice He made on the cross.

This season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, don’t let this be said of you. If you are missing Jesus, be assured that He is close, right where He is supposed to be—waiting for (and urging you) to seek Him.

The greatest gift in the world is only a prayer away.

by Jennifer McAlister for My Faith Votes