ST97: The Bible's Guide to Finding Jesus (When You Lost Him)
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In this episode of Slow Theology, hosts A.J. Swoboda and Nije Gupta explore the story of Jesus at age 12, left behind in the temple in Jerusalem, as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual experience of losing God. Drawing from Luke 2:41–52, they reflect on how Mary and Joseph’s journey to find Jesus—searching among known community members, retracing their steps to the last place they saw him, persisting for three days, and ultimately finding him—offers a blueprint for believers who feel distant from God. The hosts emphasize that losing Jesus isn’t a sign of failure but an invitation to active faith: to seek, to return to spiritual touchstones, and to re-engage with communities that know Christ. They highlight the profound truth that Jesus never leaves us—our wandering is the issue—and that God delights in being sought, not just found. The episode concludes with a hopeful call to pursue God with tenacity, knowing that the one who is lost is always ready to be found.
When you feel like you've lost Jesus, go to people who know Him—those in your faith community who have walked with Christ.
Retrace your spiritual steps: return to the places, songs, sermons, or practices where you last felt close to God.
Persistence matters: searching for Jesus is part of God’s will, even when the path is hard or counter-cultural.
God is not lost—only we are. Jesus remains present, waiting to be found by those who seek with all their heart.
Active faith means pursuing God, not waiting for Him to come to us—seeking is how we grow in intimacy with Him.
Introduction: The Story of a Lost Jesus
The hosts introduce the episode, reflecting on their previous study of the Beatitudes and setting up a new theme: the experience of losing Jesus. They share a personal anecdote about their daughter mistaking a snow-covered statue for Jesus being buried, which leads into a deeper discussion about spiritual absence.
The Unseen Years: Jesus in Obscurity
A.J. reflects on the significance of the fact that the Gospels offer only one story from Jesus’ teenage years—his time in the temple at age 12. He contrasts this with modern culture’s obsession with documenting childhood and adolescence, highlighting the sacredness of Jesus’ quiet, formative years.
The Lost Boy: A Story of Spiritual Disconnection
The hosts read and reflect on Luke 2:41–52, focusing on how Mary and Joseph unknowingly leave Jesus behind. They explore the emotional weight of this moment—how they assumed He was with them, yet were unaware for a full day—mirroring how believers can lose touch with God without realizing it.
Four Actions When You’ve Lost Jesus
“We don’t stop looking until we find Him. That’s the discipline of tenacity.”
The Cost of Reconnection: Going Against the Flow
The hosts discuss the difficulty of returning to places of past spiritual encounter—like Jerusalem during Passover, packed with 200,000 people. They draw a parallel to modern life: re-engaging with faith often means going against the grain, facing discomfort, traffic, and emotional resistance.
“God loves being investigated by humans.”
“We don’t stop looking until we find Him. That’s the discipline of tenacity.”
“The first miracle is not a supernatural act—it’s God listening to us.”
Hosts
Jesus
person
A.J. Swoboda
person
Nije Gupta
person
Luke 2
other
Mary and Joseph
person
Temple in Jerusalem
place
Passover
other
Deuteronomy
other
Mark
other
The Loft
media
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