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.” And He said to them, “Why
did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48-49 )
Get the picture: a large entourage is
leaving Jerusalem —camels in a caravan, aunts, uncles,
cousins and in-laws have made the pilgrimage to Passover observance and now returning
to Nazareth
There is a scolding tone implied in
Mary’s words to Him (and I paraphrase)—“Your father and I have been frantic!” Jesus isn’t disrespectful, but He does set the
record straight—“My father? Don’t you recall who
My Father is—and I have to carry out His assignment.”
Jesus knew who He was. Already at the age of twelve, He had a
consciousness of His Sonship.
Although Joseph had an earthly
responsibility as an adoptive father, Jehovah had an eternal relationship as
the Almighty Father. Being the virgin-born
Son—the only Begotten Son—God was the Father of Jesus in a
unique way. But, we who have had a
second, spiritual birth can now claim to be God's children also. “But as many as received Him, to
them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His
name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 )
Jesus understood that His
relationship came with both resources and responsibilities. He had authority from His Father and
accountability to His Father.
So do all God’s children!
As we cultivate this consciousness of
our sonship we will be led to exert our authority and exercise our
responsibility. We will be about our
Father’s business—the business of being dealers in hope—letting others know that they too can
become the children of God.
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