Waypoints: Jesus in the temple

If you are someone or know someone who owns their own business I would venture to guess that one of the most valuable assets that they could have would be a prestigious and knowledgeable business partner. Someone who has the same drive and passion as they do, someone who knows the ins and outs and inner workings of what goes on in the day-to-day happenings of that organization, someone who has a clearly defined purpose for what should be done to help ensure ultimate success for that corporation. A good business partner helps ensure trust, helps get the job done, and helps reach more and more people with their need for that particular product.
 
The God that we serve has such a business partner (He actually has two). God is in the business of saving the lives and souls of people lost and broken by sin. His drive and passion is that all would come to a saving knowledge of who He is and what He has done for them. His defined purpose is that all would hear of His amazing love for them.
 
This week, we are looking at two accounts of Jesus as a young boy in the Jewish Temple found in Luke 2:22-52.
 
The second account tells us of the time that Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem unbeknownst to His parents as a 12-year-old. After several days of frantically searching for Him, Joseph and Mary find Jesus in the Temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Mary questions why he had made them worry so much by their search for Him and Jesus provides an interesting and puzzling response. He says, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” His parents were confused by what he meant – they did not understand. Other English translations have translated this Greek statement by Jesus as saying, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be about my Father’s business?” Jesus was carrying on the work and business of His Heavenly Father and that business was about the salvation of souls – yours and mine. He shared in His Father’s passion to call us His children and grant us a place in His family. He shared in His Father’s purpose to reveal humanity’s need for His salvation. He shared in His Father’s work. And the best news about this account is the reality that Jesus is still about His Father’s business. He is still seeking to save those who are lost, He is still seeking to give purpose and hope to those who have none, and He continues to provide a way through life’s hardships by pointing us to a God who is bigger than anything we may face here on Earth.
 
Pastor Ben