Be Involved In The Father’s Business Series

The apostle Paul once declared, “When I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16, NIV). For Paul, the most important thing in life, second only to worshipping Christ, was preaching the gospel. He stated that he was “compelled” to preach, meaning that he was driven by an irresistible influence on his life.(1) In Romans chapter 10, he gave his reason for preaching as this:

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:14-15, NKJV).

Paul actually felt compelled to do the very thing that Jesus was led to do Himself, which is to be involved in the Father’s business of preaching and teaching “glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15), or rather, sharing the “good news” of the gospel. He did not make the matter complicated either, by adding feel-good messages or elaborate church programs. He testified,

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

Paul shared only the simple message of Jesus Christ (his life and miracles), and Him crucified (His death and atonement on the cross, and His resurrection). In our message today, we will see how Jesus personally demonstrated the primary task that is expected of all believers, which is share the clear, unembellished message of the salvation found in the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Joseph and Mary Upheld the Customs (vv. 41-44)

41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

In the book of Luke we find the only account within the Bible depicting Jesus during His childhood; specifically at the age of twelve. We read here that His parents went to the Passover feast held in Jerusalem, taking Jesus along; and when they departed there, Jesus decided that He was not going with them (vv. 41-43). His parents went an entire day’s journey before they even realized that He was missing (v. 44); and if we look ahead to verse 46, we see that it was actually three days before they finally located Him in the temple.

Luke testified, “His parents went to Jerusalem every year” (v. 41) and “they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast” (v. 42). These statements hint of custom and tradition. A. T. Robertson says that all Jewish males were once expected to attend every celebration, such as Passover, Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles; however, this tradition changed after the Dispersion. Robertson elaborates, “But pious Palestinian Jews made a point of going at least to the Passover. Mary went with Joseph as a pious habit, though not required by law to go.”(2)

Luke said, “When they had finished . . . they returned” (v. 43). They followed the same routine each and every year. They went and they left. There was no “dilly dallying” around; no time for play, no time for chit chat, and no time to stick around for the Father’s business. How many churches operate like this; establishing and maintaining certain programs primarily for traditions’ sake, and allowing no room for flexibility to meet a need outside the parameters of the program? Jesus understood that the Father’s business entails more than ritual; more than routine; and so much more than tradition.

Next, Luke said, “And Joseph and His mother . . . supposing Him to have been in the company” (vv. 43-44). His parents thought He would follow the exact same program as they did, joining the yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and sticking with their own particular group of travelers. Their annual trek, however, was not really about obedience, but rather upholding a “pious habit,” as Robertson earlier stated; and following the ways of their own family unit.

They sought Jesus where? “Among their relatives and acquaintances” (v. 44). Joseph and Mary stuck with their own family and friends, and the expectation was that Jesus should have done the same. How many times do we fail to be involved in the Father’s business, because our priority is to stick with our own group, and maintain our group’s traditions? If we’re not careful, we can become inward focused and fail to look beyond the church walls to where the lost are actually located.