THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND
Luke 2:48-51 NKJV
48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
This is the conclusion of the story of Jesus being separated from his parents during the Passover Feast in Jerusalem.
Jesus was raised by excellent parents who were diligent about keeping the Jewish feasts and the scriptures. Every year, they would go to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When Jesus was 12, He stayed behind when His parents left to go back to Nazareth. Evidently, Mary and Joseph were not overly protective as parents. Of course, they were living in a different day, and the concept of friends and relatives watching over the children was more of a reality. But still, it took them a full day to realize that Jesus was not with them, and they returned to Jerusalem to find Him. Another amazing thing is the fact that it took them three days after returning to the city to find Jesus. By this time, the anxiety level must be running high.
And what about a 12-year-old who is so focused that he is by himself for three days with everyone gone? Jesus surely had to have been conscious of being apart from His family. But there was another consciousness growing in Jesus. He was becoming acutely aware of being God's Son and His place on the earth. So much so that when His stressed parents admonished Him, Jesus responded with questions. "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
But His parents did not understand the statement. This is rather curious. Maybe it was because that after His miraculous birth and the very significant time during His circumcision that life had returned to normal. After 12 years, did His parents lose sight of who their son was? Maybe His parents did not understand that God being His Father was not simply a religious phrase but an actual spiritual fact. Regardless, what young Jesus shared went past them. Mary did not understand but did hold onto His words in her heart. And later it was Mary who was the first of His family to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
Even though Jesus was way ahead of His parents at a young age, He was subject to them. He placed Himself under their authority until He became a man.
APPLICATION
We have to constantly remind ourselves of the things God has done for us or it's easy to lose sight of them. Thanking God for our salvation, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, for who we have become as new creations in Christ is important. It's way too easy to forget and for spiritual realities to become indistinct.
But if we keep them in our heart and keep them in our mouth these important spiritual truths stay fresh. This is the hidden benefit in giving thanks and rejoicing in the Lord. We want our understanding of spiritual things to grow and become more real, not fade with time.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for what You have done for me. You have made me a new creation and filled me with your Holy Spirit. You have given me a marvelous inheritance and wonderful promises. I am truly blessed because of You.