Welcome to Church of the City's 2024 Advent Devotional.

Beginning December 2nd and ending December 30th,

we invite you to further explore this year's theme of,

To Us, the Sun is Given, through our weekly Advent devotionals written by members of our community. December 27th, The Obedient Son.

Today's reading comes from Luke 2, 39 to 52.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee to their own town of

Nazareth, and the child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Every year, Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. When he was 12 years old,

they went up to the festival according to the custom. After the festival was over,

while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were

unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking

for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem

to look for him.

After three days, they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them

and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him,

Son, why have you treated us like this? Your

father and I have been anxiously searching for you. Why were you searching for me? He asked,

didn't you know I had to be in my father's house? But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them, but his mother

treasureed all these things in her heart, and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and

...