“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” — Luke 2:49
These are the first recorded words of Jesus from the Gospel writers. He was only twelve years old at the time and for three days he had been in the Temple courts, sitting among the notable teachers and rabbis, listening intently to them and asking them questions. Everyone one who heard this remarkable youth was amazed at his advanced understanding, as well as his thought provoking answers to their questions (Luke 2:46-47).
His parents, thinking that he was in the group of friends and relatives that were returning to Nazareth after the Passover celebration in Jerusalem, became alarmed when at the end of a days journey it was found that he was not among them. Unknowing to them, Jesus had stayed behind. In desperation they returned to the city to search form him.
When Joseph and Mary found him, they were astonished—and hurt. His mother said to him, “Son, why have your treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you” (Luke 2:48). Jesus’ reply to them as to his whereabouts, which they did not understand, could be taken as disrespectful and even surly, until we remember why he had come into the world and who he was—the Son of God—sent by his heavenly Father on a mission: “to seek and to save and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
“Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” he inquired of his earthly parents. Perhaps this was Jesus’ reminder to them—and to us that his life, even as a young adolescent, had a much greater purpose and a higher calling than being an exceptional and extraordinary wise human son. Jesus spoke of himself as the “light of the world” (John 8:12). He came to bring true life to all mankind.
It’s extremely important to note here that nowhere else in sacred Scripture is such an assertion ever made by anyone, as to God being their Father. In fact, later in our Lord’s ministry this claim was considered reason to kill him by the religious leaders who considered it as “making him equal with God” which was considered an act of blasphemy (John 5:18, 10:33). Adam, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Isaiah . . . no one could make that claim except Jesus. When he called God, “my Father,” he not only proclaimed his deity as the Son of God, but fulfilled a stirring prophecy of King David as well: “He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.’ And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure” (Psalm 89:26-29).
As God’s only begotten Son (John 3:16), Jesus made it possible for you and me to also become one of God’s children (John 1:12) as well, by our adoption into His kingdom by our faith in him (Galatians 4:4-7). For those who confess this faith, all of the riches and glory and blessing of Jesus’ inheritance have also become theirs (Ephesians 1:18). As believers, we can make the same claim as Jesus did, “God is my Father!” Just as adopted children are selected by their earthly parents, so God has chosen us for himself and as his son or daughter, we have an eternal place in God’s family, which no one can ever take away (John 10:28-29).
If you have never made that decision for Jesus Christ, why not begin your search for him today? He is only a prayer away from all open and repentant hearts. If you need help in doing that, just let me know and I’ll walk you through the process from God’s word and prayer. It will be the best decision you have ever made—and an eternal one at that! God bless.
— Pastor Don
