When the 12-year old Jesus stayed behind at the temple, Mary and Joseph found him 3 days later. Jesus knew how much grief it would cause them, so why didn’t he just tell them he was planning to stay behind? Yet, he asked, “Why did you search for me?” And then another mysterious question: “Know ye not that I must be about My Father's business?” “They understood not the saying which He spake unto them.”
Sometimes we learn more when we don’t have an immediate and perfect understanding. Sometimes the truth means more to us when we must search for it, pray about it, and maybe even beg God to deepen our understanding, and strengthen our faith.
Jesus created the perfect teaching moment by staying behind. As important as our earthly relationships are, God comes first. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Jesus was in the one place they should have known he would be: in the temple. He was hearing and teaching the one thing needful: the Word of God.
Almost 2000 years later this story still baffles the wisdom of man because we think in earthly terms. We too forget that he wasn’t only their son. More importantly, he is the only-begotten Son of God. Above all, he came to obey his Heavenly Father’s will for us. “Know ye not that I must be about My Father's business?” “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected…and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
- Pastor Wyatt Rosebrock