I was reflecting (like a shiny pond) on something this week, and I wanted to share it with you. My multi-cultural friends and precious fam.

I was reading over the story where Mary and Joseph had went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover feast.
After the celebration was over, the group departed to go back to Nazareth. [Their 'hood].
They traveled a full day without realizing that they had left their Son, Jesus, in the city.

I usually think "Okay...it's easy to lose a kid in a crowd."
But in one of those eye-opening-bright-light-shining-realization moments, where the angels sing in the background, I realized that the little story in Luke went so much further than that!

In those days, the women and men traveled in separate groups. The men were probably leading the caravan, talking about getting back home in time for the game.
The women- well, they were being women. Talking about how wonderful the food was, what a great couple Martha and Peter would probably make, and dissin' those "backsliders" who didn't make it up to the Holy City for the Passover Conference '0012.

In the midst of their chatter, Mary realized that Jesus wasn't with them. Awww, shoot.
That they had, in reality, lost the Savior of the World.

He was back in the temple, where they had left Him.

As I was mulling over this, I had to stop and think. Where did the Body of Christ leave Jesus? Where did I lose the Lover of my soul?

When did we get so caught up in doing things "for Him" and getting things from Him, that we forgot where He was? Sure, He loves it when I prosper. But that's not the only reason He came.

He came to bring life to the dead.
He came to take back what belonged to His Father.
He came to show us how to love without limitation.
He came to bring healing to the broken.
He came to oppose the kingdom of this world.

Jesus of Nazareth was a force to be reckoned with. He was neither neat, tidy, or in a box.

He didn't come to be polite, or stroke my ego to make me feel better, or just to bring me a house worthy of MTV Cribs. [Though He came to give us abundant life]. He came to challenge the force of my flesh, and give me the equipment to rise to the place in which He walks.

In 2008, I must face the question- What have I done with the Messiah? Did we leave Him back in the Temple like Mary and Joseph while we have our conversations and conferences? Do we think that He's with us, but we've moved on without Him?
Have we toned Him down so that He'd be "seeker-friendly" and dulled His power so it fits into a non-threatening 25 minute sermon?

Did we trade the Jesus who came to clean up the mess in my soul and your private sin for The Edited Savior that can be discussed politely in a coffee shop?
That's the real deal. I'm no longer interested in taking a counterfeit Jesus along on my journey. I'm asking myself and those around me- do I love who He loves and hate what He hates???

This year, I'm going back to look for Him. It's gonna be an awesome journey.

Buckle your seatbelts, and put your tray tables in an upright position.