Even at the young age of twelve, Jesus was setting an example for us.  I sometimes wish that we had more information about Jesus as a child.  It is interesting to wonder how Jesus lived and spent His days as an adolescent, but the Bible does not give us too much information about that.  We do, however, have a record of one memorable time that took place during the preteen years of Jesus.  It was a time when Jesus was lost (Luke 2:41-52). 

When Jesus was twelve years old, Joseph and Mary attended the Passover feast in Jerusalem, something they did every year.  When the eight days of the Passover feast were over, and Joseph and Mary began the trip home, Jesus stayed behind.  It took them a day to realize that Jesus was not with them because it was not unusual for Him to be with other family and friends in the caravan that was heading home.  When they realized that Jesus stayed behind, Joseph and Mary rushed back to Jerusalem to get Him, but looking everywhere, they could not find Him.  Jesus was lost.

After three days, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the temple.  They were amazed to find Him sitting among the teachers, asking them questions (Luke 2:46).  Even more amazing were the answers that Jesus gave the teachers (ver. 47).  When Joseph and Mary questioned Jesus about His actions, and told Him how much distress He had caused them, He said to them, “Why did you seek Me?  Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

During the whole duration of our Lord’s life here on earth, this never changed.  From start to finish, He was about the Father’s business.  In fact, Jesus is still about the Father’s business, only now He works largely through us.  So, are you about the Father’s business?  This is an area of Jesus’ life that we should imitate.

What is the Father’s business?  Well, if Jesus is about the Father’s business, what is the primary work of our Lord?  Is it not the saving of souls?  Jesus said, “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  This is the Father’s business.  It has been His business from the beginning.  The first prophecy of God sending a Savior into the world to defeat the devil is found way back in Genesis 3:15.  This Savior would crush the head of the old serpent, bringing salvation to man.  This is why the Son came into the world.

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)
¹⁴  Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

Jesus paid the price for sin on the cross, but the key that opens the door to the kingdom for individuals is the gospel of Christ (Matthew 16:19).  This key was first used by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41).  He was doing the Father’s business.  The apostles continued to use this key to save souls, and so did the rest of the church (Acts 8:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:8).  They were doing the Father’s business.

Saving the lost continues to be the primary business of God.  It was first accomplished by Jesus, Whose food was to do the will of God and accomplish His work (John 4:34).  He passed the torch to the apostles, who have, in turn, passed it to us (Matthew 28:19-20).   Are we about the Father’s business?  If we are imitating Christ, we will be. 

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.