Jesus About His Father’s Business

Jesus gave this answer to His anxious mother.

Every year He travelled with His parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Everything in the house of His Father pointed to Him. Especially the Passover lamb pointed to the Lamb of God, which was known before, separated, and foreshadowed. That Passover Lamb would fully satisfy the righteousness of the Father. Jesus saw Himself in that Passover lamb. Is He not, after all, the great contents of the gospel promise? His zeal of love burned to be about His Father’s business. From eternity He was busy in those things. In time that was the unceasing delight of His soul. The honor of God and the salvation of sinners were connected to this.

The question, “Wist ye not?” put Joseph and Mary to shame, and also does this to us. They had heard much from the angel Gabriel and from Simeon and Anna, but had understood little. If they understood it, they would not have had so much anxiety in seeking. Joseph and Mary needed the enlightenment of the Spirit. They were indeed born again by the Spirit, but continuing enlightenment was necessary.

The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. They are foolishness unto him. God’s children need to learn to know and to follow on to know the Teacher of righteousness by heavenly instruction. That works deep humiliation before God and causes one to know his own foolishness.

Jesus was about His Father’s business. At the age of twelve years He was sitting in the midst of the doctors. As Surety it was the perfect delight of His soul. With this He has also left an example for us. The question is also to you, young people; in what things are you busy?

Put that question between God and your soul. Our hearts, our desires, and our deeds are by nature in the things of the world. The things of God’s Kingdom do not interest us. We sit under God’s Word, we go to catechism class, and for many that is it. To be busy in the things of eternity is so necessary. The instruction in the catechism class should be a pleasant instruction. If the Lord grants us the fear of God, those things are more valuable than the things of the world. Is there a yearning for the doctrine of salvation and the application of it in our hearts? Then there is prayer for him who must give instruction and for ourself that the Lord will bless it. With the giving of catechetical instruction the Lord can show His favor wondrously. There can be deep impressions of God’s highness and majesty, and of our sinfulness and worthiness of damnation, but also the necessity of true conversion. Jesus, as Surely and Mediator, could say, “Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”

If one asks us, “What are you busy doing?” - if parents or friends ask this when you withdraw to a place alone, what is your answer? Is it with you, as it is with so many, that it concerns temporal things? Even in the hearts of those who fear the Lord in truth there can be so much concern about things which are nothing else but loss and decay. Jesus said to Martha, “Thou art careful and troubled about many things.” But one thing is needful, namely, to sit at His feet as Mary did.

Oh young people, may the things of the Spirit of God keep your hearts busy, and that the prayer from your hearts may arise on high:

O let Thy Spirit be my constant aid, That all my ways may ever be directed To keep Thy statutes, so to be obeyed, That from all error I may be protected.

Rev. A. Hoogerland formerly served congregations in the Netherlands, and is the author of the book, “Making Confession, and Then...?” He died in 1986.

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