My Father's Business Series

I Must Be About My Father’s Business

Luke 2:41-52

As we begin a new year on our journey to eternity, I’m sure that many of us have spent some time contemplating how we can make 2021 a better year. Some things are out of our control, but some areas we can grow within.

Today’s text is the last account of stories from the childhood of Jesus. The Bible does not offer much information about childhood of any of it’s characters. Charles Swindoll: “While the Gospels don’t tell us all we would like to

know about the childhood of Jesus, we actually have more information about his early years than any other person in the Bible.” Following the accounts of Anna and Simeon, who both awaited the coming of baby Jesus to the temple, Dr. Luke skips to the 12th year of Jesus’ life. His parents have taken him to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. Jewish law only required men to make the journey to Jerusalem for Passover. Families often made the journey together (3-4 days from Galilee). Craddock: Jesus was a true Israelite, from birth brought up in the moral and ritual life of Judaism. Home, temple, and synagogue formed him." Traveling in large caravans protected the pilgrims from robbery during it their journey and surely added to the joy of the celebration.

This festival is over and verse 43 tells us that “while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day.”

It’s not hard to see that traveling with hundreds of other pilgrims, including dozens of friends and extended relatives - Joseph and Mary discovered that Jesus had not come along with them. The search for Jesus took them back to Jerusalem.

Luke 2:46-50 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 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.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[ or be about My Father’s business?” ].

I’m sure that was a surprising response - but a needed one - to remind Mary and Joseph that God was his father. Verse 50 says they didn’t understand, but Jesus had clear perspective on his mission and path in life, even if he did not know everything his future held at this moment.

As we enter into a new year of following Jesus, His initial statement about his life’s goal should encourage us to Be About Our Father’s Business. It’s too easy to be distracted by the million details of life. We are very identified by our careers, our recreation, our lifestyles, our families -but we are to be identified by one thing above all: Our Father’s Business!

Recently our elders and deacons met with Bob Turner to help identify a visio and mission for Forsythe Church of Christ going forward into the new year. Bob consults churches across the nation in a professional capacity to help them in this same way. Many great ideas were shared. Later the elders met and settled on a vision statement to identify what we want our church to be:

A Family that grows, serves, and loves together.

It’s hard to imagine a clearer idea of what it means to be about our Father’s business. You are going to hear that statement more often, as it is used to guide the hearts, hands, and minds of our work together in this community.

What does a church about the Father’s business look like?

1. A Family.

That the church is a Family of Believers gives us insight into God’s purpose and plan for the church. Notice that the church is a family… Into which we must be born - born again of water and spirit. Through which we have brothers and sisters and a Father. Which encourages support, unity, strength, and identity. Requires grace and forgiveness as we are made up of prodigals and elder brothers, those who are stronger and weaker, younger and older. God doesn’t just call us into a church, he calls us into His Family.

1 Peter 2:17 ...love the family of believers

Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.

So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who