Refocusing on Christ: Lessons from the Childhood of Jesus

At Noel United Methodist Church in Santa Claus, IN, Pastor Cory Gieselman recently delivered a sermon reflecting on the Gospel of Luke, specifically Luke 2:41-52, where we read about the young Jesus at the temple. This passage offers us profound insights about our own spiritual journeys, especially in the busy aftermath of the Christmas season.

The Story of Jesus in the Temple

Each year, Mary and Joseph made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, a vital part of their faith and customs. When Jesus was twelve, they went as usual, but on the return journey, they realized that Jesus was missing. After searching for him among their relatives and friends, they returned to Jerusalem and found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Everyone was amazed at his understanding and his responses.

When Mary and Joseph found him, they were astonished. Mary asked, “Why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” Jesus responded with a question of his own: “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). Though Mary and Joseph didn’t fully understand, Jesus’ response points to his deeper sense of purpose at a young age.

This moment in Jesus’ childhood invites us to reflect on our own spiritual focus and where we place our attention—especially after the whirlwind of Christmas celebrations.

The Importance of Reflection After the Festivities

Christmas Eve often finds us in awe, reflecting on the birth of Jesus, the light that shines into our lives. We sing “Silent Night,” light candles, and take in the beauty of the season. However, as soon as Christmas Day arrives, we can become absorbed in the busyness of holiday traditions, wrapping paper, gifts, and family gatherings. While these are all good and joyful things, they can sometimes overshadow the deeper reflection on the significance of Christ’s birth.

Pastor Gieselman reminded us that it’s easy to become distracted by the demands of Christmas Day. As we enjoy family time and traditions, it’s important to ask ourselves: Did we also take time to ponder the true meaning of the season? Did we reflect on what it means for Christ to be born to us, and how we can carry that meaning into our lives throughout the year?

Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have their place, Pastor Gieselman notes. There is joy in the celebration of family traditions and in seeing the excitement of children unwrapping gifts. Yet, just as Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem to be in his Father’s house, we are called to find moments of intentional focus on our faith amidst the holiday busyness.

Lessons from Jesus’ Focused Intentions

When we consider the actions of young Jesus, we see that he did not follow the crowd or get distracted by the festival’s activities. Instead, he went directly to the temple, seeking out a deeper understanding of his Father’s will. Even at twelve years old, Jesus showed intentionality in pursuing the work of his Father. This is a powerful reminder for us as we move beyond Christmas celebrations.

How often do we find ourselves distracted by life’s busyness, even when we know we should be refocusing on our spiritual journey? As Pastor Gieselman pointed out, we cannot change the past. We can’t undo moments where we lost focus or missed opportunities to deepen our relationship with Christ. However, we can reflect on those moments and make intentional choices to restore our focus moving forward.

The Challenge of Refocusing

Just like Mary and Joseph, we may find ourselves off course in our spiritual journeys. As they sought Jesus after realizing he was missing, we, too, are called to earnestly seek Christ when we lose our way. The search may not always be easy or immediate, but it is worth the effort.

Pastor Gieselman also referenced the movie Back to the Future, where Marty McFly travels back in time to correct mistakes and restore the timeline. While we may wish we could travel back and fix our past spiritual missteps, the reality is that we can only move forward. The challenge is to identify where we’ve lost focus and to intentionally seek Christ in those areas.

We can’t change the past, but we can examine our current walk with Christ. Have we been consistent in our faith? Have we spent time in prayer, Scripture study, and worship? Just as Mary and Joseph consistently traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover, we are called to consistently nurture our relationship with God.

Seeking Christ with Purpose

Pastor Gieselman urged us to take time to evaluate our spiritual lives and ask ourselves where we’ve lost focus. Are we as intentional as young Jesus was about being in God’s presence? Are we earnestly seeking Christ in the midst of our busy lives?

The passage from Luke challenges us to prioritize our relationship with God, just as Jesus prioritized being in his Father’s house. As we reflect on 2024, we may ask ourselves, “Have I been as intentional in my spiritual journey as I would like to be?” This is a question worth pondering as we approach the new year.

Conclusion: A Call to Spiritual Intentionality

As we step into 2025, let us commit to being more intentional about our spiritual lives. The story of the young Jesus at the temple calls us to focus on what truly matters: our relationship with God. Just as Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus, we are called to seek him earnestly, to find him in the places where we may have lost focus, and to restore our course with purpose.

In this new year, let us strive to follow Jesus’ example of intentionality and commitment to his Father’s work. By doing so, we can deepen our faith and grow in wisdom, just as Jesus did. Let us make the effort to ensure that, no matter the busyness of life, we continue to seek Christ with the same dedication he showed as a child in the temple.

May our spiritual journeys in 2025 be marked by purpose, focus, and an unwavering desire to be in the presence of God, just as Jesus was in his Father’s house.