Hi Pastor John,
The verses below tell about when Jesus was 12-years-old and he stayed in Jerusalem and his parents couldn’t find him and went looking for him. I do not understand where he was coming from when he responded with what he said in verse 49, about him being ‘about my Father’s business?’ At that young age, years before he was baptized in the Jordan by John and the spirit came on him, and he became the Christ, how was he able to say what he said?
- And the child grew and became strong in spirit, full of wisdom, and God’s grace was upon him.
- Now, every year, his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover.
- And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, as was the custom for the feast,
- and the days being completed, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem when they started back, and Joseph and his mother did not know it,
- but assuming him to be among those traveling with them, they went a day’s journey, and then began searching for him among their relatives and acquaintances.
- And when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.
- And after three days, it came to pass that they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
- And when they saw him, they were overwhelmed, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you done us like this? Behold, your father and I have been in anguish, looking for you!”
- And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s business?”
- But they did not understand what he said to them.
Thank you,
Anna D.
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Hi Anna.
That is good question, one that most of us have pondered over. The answer is either that Mary had told Jesus about how he was conceived of the holy Spiirt (thus making God his real father), or the boy Jesus just felt a special kinship with God . . . or both!
That’s the best I can do with that question. Thanks you for asking.
Pastor John