About The Father's Business Series

About The Father’s Business

Luke 2:39-52

Introduction

On this first Sunday of a new year, we continue our study of Luke’s Gospel. Luke gives us more insight into the young childhood of Jesus than the other Gospel writers.His key message seems to be the growth of Jesus. Jesus Grew (vs 39-40; 51-52)

Luke 2:39-40, 51-52 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. ... Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

One of the stories he tells is a time when Jesus not only was amazing to his parents, the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna … but by the time he is twelve he is amazing the religious teachers in the Temple!

Tell the story and/or Read it.

Luke 2:41-50 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, 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. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 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?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

-The family of Jesus were practicing Jews - pious, committed, faithful (41-42)

-Parent Panic - every parent understands this! Why was it that they did not notice he was with them? (Traveling with a company… it didn’t occur to them that he would stay behind … other reasons?) They didn’t find him for THREE DAYS!

- Jesus: sitting among the teachers, listening, asking questions - amazing the religious teachers with his understanding and answers.

Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s House? (49)

NKJV: And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Being Busy in the Father’s House…

-Might mean that we are not going to be able to go with the crowd - to be ok with being different from the world around us.

-Certainly implies that there is ultimate value in understanding God’s word and thinking about what God is currently doing in our lives.

-Orienting our lives to the Father’s will.

MUST! He also says that he “must” be doing this work. That could also be translated “it is necessary for me to be doing the things of my Father.” Several times in Luke’s Gospel, he has Jesus saying that he must do things. This means these things are part of God’s eternal plan.

- Later, Jesus will say that he had to preach the gospel (Luke 4:43)

- That he had to suffer, die, and be raised (Luke 9:22; 17:25; 24:7, 26)

- That he had to do this in Jerusalem (Luke 13:33)

- That he had to stay with Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5)

- That he had to be numbered among the transgressors (Luke 22:37)

- That it was necessary that Scripture about him be fulfilled (Luke 24:44).

There were certain things that Jesus had to do, tasks that his Father gave him. And Jesus did them. He was perfectly obedient to the Father.

As followers of Christ, the example is clear, that we also have things that “are necessary for us to be doing for God”. Because Jesus was so in tune with the will of his father in heaven, he was able to fulfill his purpose- yes it was salvation, but it was also necessary that he fulfill the prophecies of scripture. And so in following this example, we see Jesus submitting completely to the will of God, and likewise, we should strive to do the same.

Are we in tune with God’s will for our lives, or does it seem too strange and too difficult? I think this is pertinent advice, which is restated in Luke 11, and in the other gospels when Jesus tells us how to pray, address and acknowledge the holiness of God, step 1, and then step 2, Your will be done, your kingdom come.