MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Time with Jesus - Friday, 31 August 2012

Hi all,

The story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus going to the temple in Jerusalem has puzzled people for many years. For today’s meditation, I’ve put the entire story into perspective and explained the circumstances surrounding this. Jesus the boy went to Jerusalem for His Bar Mitzvah where He would officially change from boyhood into manhood. It’s a fascinating story.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 31 August 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	MY FATHER’S BUSINESS
Apart from His birth in Bethlehem, we know almost nothing about Jesus as a child and growing up. The one incident we know was the trip to Jerusalem He took with Mary and Joseph. The occasion was, in all probability, for His Bar Mitzvah. After this ceremony a boy was considered a man. The man would automatically become a part of his father’s business. I can think of no other reason why they would all have gone from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Which means Jesus was ±12 years old and was about to become a man! It was a long journey of about 150km; about 3 or 4 days on foot. In those days, the custom was for the women and children to leave first. They would get to the place where they would spend the night. There, the women would pitch the tents and get everything ready for the evening meal. The men would arrive in time for supper with them all. Until His Bar Mitzvah, Jesus would have been regarded as a child and would have travelled with the women.  After His Bar mitzvah the same thing would be repeated on the return to Nazareth. Mary must have left with the women and children, leaving Jesus to return with Joseph. When it was time for the men to leave, Joseph would assume that, since Jesus was not there, He must have been with Mary! It would be late in the day before they realised He was not with either of them! They would have to go back to Jerusalem to find Him. But where would they look? When in Jerusalem, they hunted everywhere without success. Finally, they went to the temple. There they found Jesus! He was talking to the priests. The Priests would not chat with a child, so they were talking to Him as a man. In their discussions with Jesus, they were astonished at His knowledge. It would have been normal back then for every young boy to memorise the Torah! (Genesis to end of Deuteronomy) So Jesus must have known far more than that to astonish the priests. But Jesus had more or less “written” all of it before coming to earth. So it’s not surprising He had all the answers to their questions. The apostle Peter put it this way: 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 TNIV The amazing part of all of this was that His parents couldn’t find Him. After all, He was about His Father’s business! Since His real Father was God, where else should they have been looking for Him? Note, Jesus stated God was His Father at this young age! I’ve often wondered at what age He knew for certain who He was. Did He know it when He was born? You tell me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.' Luke 19:13 NLT 34 "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Mark 13:34 NLT 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another and one bag of silver to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Matthew 25:15 NLT 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4 TNIV 49 Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you realize that I had to be in my Father's house?" Luke 2:49 GW 21 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 1 Peter 2:21 MSG 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT 13 But each person's work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good everyone's work is. 1 Corinthians 3:13 NIrV 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT	For every Jewish boy, before gets to be a man, There is a ceremony, which long ago began. They call it the Bar Mitzvah, where he reads from the law. He is the child no longer, he used to be before. This very special date and in a very special place, The youngster had to go and look his manhood in the face. We know when Jesus did it; we know the place He went. The temple in Jerusalem. We’ve heard of the event. They went up for this purpose. The women went ahead, To set up camp and pitch the tents and make the daily bread. Jesus went with Mary, for He was still a kid. The men arrived much later, as usually they did. There within the Temple He did what was desired. It was His “rite of passage” as Jewish law required. From this day on in history, He wasn’t just a lad, But working as “partner”, in the business of His Dad! All this was very normal, until they left for home. His mother with the women and children on their own. The menfolk followed later. Eventually they met. “Where’s Jesus?” Mary asked him. “Did you perhaps forget, That He would travel with the men; I thought He was with you? We’ll have to go and look for Him. It’s all that we can do.” They set off very early and went back to the town. Even if they had to turn the whole place upside down, They had to keep on looking and searching with their eyes. Then in the Temple precincts, they got a big surprise. There was Jesus talking, with many gathered priests, About the Jewish Torah and of their many feasts. He seemed to be so young to know so much about the Law. They wondered how He got it and what He got it for. Then Joseph said to Jesus, “Tell me please my son, Why you didn’t come with us? We’ve both been on the run. Both of us were worried. We thought you’d come to harm. But Jesus looked at both of them and with a voice so calm, He said, “Did you forget that I have now become a man? I must look and see the way His “business” has been ran. Surely this is what My Father’s wanting now of Me. For in My Father’s business is where I have to be.” Jim Strickland Written 31st August 2012