Imagine the heartache Mary must have felt when her twelve-year old Son went missing for three days. When she and Joseph finally found Jesus in the temple, Mary asked why he had treated them that way. Indeed, why did it seem like Jesus gave them the slip? Why didn’t he just tell them he was planning to stay behind at the temple?
Jesus responds with a question of his own. “Know ye not that I must be about My Father's business?” He almost seems disrespectful, yet, that is because we are thinking 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 make all things right between us and God. This was a foretaste of things to come. He would once again leave her side to spend three days in the grave. Jesus went through our death so that we never have to go through it alone. Because he lives, we too will live.
Jesus knew it would break her heart when he stayed behind at the temple. He knew it would break her heart even more when going to the cross. But there is no greater love he could have given her and all people. Going about his Father’s business meant he would give his life for us all. This truly made perfect peace between God and man. No matter how great our sins may be, he that believes in Christ will not perish, but have everlasting life.
- Pastor Wyatt Rosebrock