SEEKING JESUS
Jack French
Wichita, Kansas
Luke 2:41-52 - “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 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. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
We learn that Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem every year for Passover. Jesus being 12 years old and according to Jewish law, a lad that age was able to go to the Feast of Passover. They stayed the full time of the festival, then we read that Jesus stayed behind in the temple. The company traveled a day’s journey. When they could not find Jesus, they went back, arriving at Jerusalem, they went about SEEKING Jesus.
We read in Matthew 6:33, “seek ye first the kingdom of GOD; and His righteousness…”.
After three days they found Jesus in the temple, sitting, hearing and asking questions. Jesus said to his parents, How is it that ye sought me? Or in other words with uneasiness and distress, not trusting in GOD to care for him; especially in all the other places except the temple. “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
Psalm 40:7-8, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Malachi 3:1, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” John. 4:34, (Jesus words red letter, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” John 5:17, “”My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”
We know Jesus came to preach the Gospel, Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Referring to Isaiah 61:1-2, 10. Those who sought Jesus in sorrow find Him in great JOY (Lk. 5:18-26).
When we read of all that Jesus did just in the Gospels, with great clearness, with so much concerns for the souls of men, arid (dry or barren) with great awfulness; in which Jesus took great delight; many, many miracles. But the main and principal part was to provide Salvation, making reconciliation and atonement for all sin, by His blood obtaining ETERNAL REDEMPTION, and it was JOY.
Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This He called HIS FATHER’S business; because HE (the Father) assigned it to Him, called Him to it. John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” God enjoined it to Him (Jesus) as man and mediator. Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession.” II Peter 1:17, “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Thus we know that Christ was and is about His Father’s business, and is engaged to do it, throughout Eternity -Eph. 4:7-10. So let’s seek Christ first above and before all things, giving thanks always in prayer, and do not yield to the old creation, but to that new creation life of Christ in us, unto the Praise and Glory of our beloved Father!
