CURFEW

-CONNECT- Do you have a curfew? In many cities, both daytime and an evening curfew are enforced. These cities require that youth 18 and under be off the streets and in a private residence by 11 p.m. (give or take an hour) Anyone still out after that gets escorted home by the police and is at risk for criminal charges. So much for late night fun! More and more cities are adding the curfew policy to their laws to reduce crime and affirm better time management habits for youth.

-REFLECT- Read Luke chapter 2
Key verses: 41-50

In this story, 12 year old Jesus has broken his curfew so to speak. His parents had begun a long journey and Jesus was nowhere to be found. They searched everywhere for him and finally (3 days later!) they find him listening to all the teachers in the temple and asking all sorts of questions. They must have been pretty angry to think that Jesus didn’t even seem to notice that he had them going crazy with panic for three whole days…he was just happy to be doing what he wanted to. Finally he decided it was time to do what he was told and listen to his parents, so he left the temple and traveled with them. Needless to say, he had done a little bit more than break curfew! But the story doesn’t really say that he was punished or anything…while most of us would be. (grounded for life.)

-DIRECT- If Jesus himself didn’t get in major trouble for missing curfew by three days, then why is it that the rest of us get the cell phones and computers taken away for missing curfew by 20 minutes? Maybe it’s because our response is not usually as good as Jesus’: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v.49)

Jesus was at church…who could be mad about that? He was desperate to learn all about God and to question the teachers, and for that reason he knew he had done no wrong. The truth of the matter is that for most of us, we aren’t missing curfew to pray for a sick friend or attend a worship service…. instead we are doing what makes us feel good, look cool, and whatever entertains us. Maybe if we were spending more time learning about the things of God, our parents would give us a little grace and trust that we are safe. The more responsible we are, the more freedom we can be given. Jesus was only 12 and he already knew that…perhaps we can prioritize properly and we will be granted the same freedom.