Thoughts from Luke: "Wist Ye Not That I Must Be About My Father's Business?"

Note: I know I already focused on Jesus' childhood, but I wanted to share this thought.

Joseph and Mary had gone up to Jerusalem with Jesus to observe the Passover (Luke 2:41-42). After the feast, they began the journey home—but without Jesus. After traveling for a day, they discovered that He wasn't with their "kinsfolk and acquaintance." (see vv. 43-45). "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." (vv. 45-46).

Even though they were "astonished at His understanding and answers," they couldn't forget the grief they had felt while looking for Him. "And His mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." (vv. 47-48).

"And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (v. 49).

Mary felt as though Jesus had left her and Joseph; but in reality, it was they who had left Him. They had become so caught up in what they were doing that they had failed to notice He wasn't with them anymore. They hadn't kept Him in sight, and as a consequence they lost Him for three days. It is the same with us. If we don't take the time to make sure Jesus is with us, we will lose Him too. We will feel as though God has left us. We will feel sad and discontented. And why should that surprise us? David wrote, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11). We can't expect anything else when we leave behind the only Source of life and joy.

The question is how to find Him again. Jesus is always about His Father's business. That hasn't changed with the passage of time. If we seek to do God's will, we will find the Saviour. Any time we decide to do something besides this, we wander away from Him; but as long as we are about our Father's business, we will have Jesus' presence. Of that we can be sure.

Blessings,
Jean