TEXT: Luke 2:40-52

SUBJECT: Studies in the Nativity #9

Today's story is bracketed by two summary statements that tell us about the early life of our Lord Jesus.

He was born, of course, in Bethlehem, and lived for a time in Egypt. But most of His childhood was spent in "Nazareth", a village in Galilee, about eighty miles north of Jerusalem.

There He grew up in body and soul. About the latter, Luke says He "Became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him".

Did others notice? Yes they did. His gifts and graces commanded the respect of all who knew Him. Including God, with Whom He found a special "favor".

That's the summary. But Luke doesn't leave it there. He goes on to tell a story that epitomizes our Lord's childhood.

The story is well known, of course, and needn't be labored. It occurred when He was twelve years old. His family went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When the holiday was over, they packed up and went home. About twenty miles into the trip, Mary and Joseph discovered, "Our son is not with us!"

Needless to say, they were very upset. What to do? Go back of course! They first day the scoured the roadside. But He wasn't there. The next day, they went through Jerusalem with a fine tooth comb. But again, nothing. At last, it occurred to them: "Maybe He's in the Temple".

Why didn't they think of this sooner? Because their Boy was lost and they were panic-stricken! When they get to the Temple--there He is, discussing the Law of God with the scholars of Israel. Nicodemus may have been there; Gamaliel too.

The learned men had met precocious boys before. But no one like this one. In the give-and-take of Rabbinical studies, the young man "amazes" everyone with His wisdom.

Well, not quite everyone. His parents are "amazed" too--but at His folly. "Son--chided His mother--"Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have sought You anxiously!"

Now, the Lord is "amazed"! "Why is it that you have sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"

Is He "talking back" to His parents? No, He isn't. He's genuinely surprised they "don't get it". He doesn't belong to them! He honors them, of course, He loves them, and He "submits" to them. But He came--not to do Mary and Jospeh's will--but "the will of Him who sent Me".

His parents don't understand at the moment. But Mary "keeps these things in her heart".

As for Jesus? He has finished His "Father's business" and goes home to His parents, where He is "subject to them". Though "Lord and God", He obeys His father and mother--from the heart.

That's the story. Now, what does it mean?

Before I develop the theme, I want to say something to the children here--especially the teenagers.

Your parents don't know everything. We often make mistakes. Like Mary and Joseph, we accuse you without knowing the full story; we embarrass you in front of other people; we act unjustly and harshly. We're sorry for acting so foolishly. Forgive us for "provoking you to wrath".

Even though we're not what we ought to be, it's still your duty to respect and obey us. Not because we're always right, but because we're your parents. And to you, God has said,

"Honor your father and mother".

That's an important lesson to learn. But not the one directly taught here.

The Meaning.

The passage--you see--isn't about angry parents and innocent children; it's about Jesus Christ. It tells us something about Him--something worth knowing.

What is it? This: Jesus Christ knows who He is and what He's here for.

Who is He? Most people thought He was Joseph's son. Even His mother thought so--for a moment. "Your father and I have sought you anxiously". But our Lord knows better. "Why did you seek Me? Didn't you know I must be about My Father's business?" Our Lord is not the son of Joseph; He's the Son of God.

He says so Himself. Here. And many other places, too. But it's not only He who says so. The angel said the same thing: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God".

John the Baptist: "I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God".

The Early Church believed the same thing. A sampling: Nathanael--"Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the king of Israel". John--"No man has seen God at any time; the Only-Begotten of the Father, He has declared Him". Mark--"The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God". Paul--"Straightway he preached Christ in the synagogue, that He is the Son of God". And Peter, of course: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God".

These were all His disciples, of course, and so you'd expect them to say good things about Him. But it is not only His friends who said so. The devils were not friends, yet they called Him, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God". The Roman Soldiers had no love for Him, yet they concluded, "Truly this was the Son of God".

And what about the resurrection? Doesn't it say something? It sure does: "He is declared to be the Son of God with power through the resurrection of the dead". And His enthronement at God's Right Hand? Who sat to the right of a King? His Son and Heir--that's who.

If you read Church History, you'll find the Lord's people--everywhere and always confessing their faith in

"God the Father Almighty,

Maker of Heaven and earth

And In His Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord".

And so, our Lord knows Who is He. From childhood. But that's not all He knows. He's also aware of what He's here for.

What's that? To "do My Father's business". And what is that? It is to redeem sinners.

About twenty years after His first visit to Jerusalem, our Lord paid that city another call. This one, though, wasn't so pleasant for Him. It was, though, more profitable for us. For He went to Jerusalem to die. The Rulers obliged Him by falsely accusing Him of capital crimes, by coercing Pilate to do what He knew was wrong, and by nailing Him to a cross.

On the cross, our Lord became our substitute--dying "the just for the unjust". Did He do it reluctantly? He didn't. He was as eager to go to the cross then as He was to stay in the Temple years before.

Our Lord did His Father's business. And He didn't leave it half-done. "It is finished" means the salvation of every believer is secure. Not because our faith is perfect--it isn't. But because our Savior is perfect!

The Applications.

This means you can place your entire trust in Jesus Christ. His business was God's business. He did it so well, He earned a reward for Himself and everyone who believes in Him. This means--for Christ's sake--you can be as acceptable to God as He is. Believers aren't "tolerated" by God; they're "accepted in the Beloved".

Find peace with God today through Jesus Christ our Lord.

One final word: Our Lord is primarily our Savior. But that's not all He is: He is also our Example. Was He "about His Father's business"? He was--from His youth up. Thus, we should be too. We have many things to do. But in all our doing, let's "keep first things first". And the "first thing" we ought to be doing is God's "Business".

Pursue it at home, at school, at work, at play. Everywhere. Put His "business" ahead of your own--in time, in energy, in money.

You won't be sorry. You were made for God's business. And you'll never feel peace and satisfaction till you're up and doing it.

"Whatever you do, do it heartily

Unto the Lord and not to men;

Knowing that of the Lord

you shall receive the reward of

the inheritance."