Jul 5

Luke 2:50-51
Memorise Ephesians 6:1-2
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right”

Strictly speaking Jesus only had one biological parent and that was Mary, for he was conceived of the Holy Spirit, as the Bible is careful to distinguish (Luke 2:43 describes them as ‘Joseph and his mother’). Nonetheless in terms of relationship, we know that Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly in honouring them and submitting himself to them. In Luke 2:41-49, we read of how Jesus was brought to Jerusalem by his parents for the feast of the Passover. At the end of the feast, he stayed behind and was perhaps missed because of the huge crowd that would gather at Jerusalem. His parents had actually started on the journey back for a day, assuming he was within the group they had come with, before they realised he was missing. Straightaway, they began to backtrack to look for him, and you can imagine the fear and anxiety that they had knowing that their 12 year old child was missing! They found him three days later in the midst of the temple, listening to the ‘doctors’ (teachers) and asking them questions. When they questioned him, he answered with this profound statement: “how is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). Such a response might seem like a rather rebellious and wilful one at first. Was Jesus being disobedient and irresponsible in leaving his parents and not informing them about his whereabouts? We must understand the unique circumstances of this situation. Jesus when He stayed behind, and then made that statement in Luke 2:49, he was signalling clearly to Joseph and Mary that He was the Son of God, and His purpose on earth was to do His Father’s bidding. He was certainly not disobeying them, but He was obeying a far higher authority and that is God the Father. It is important to note that verse 51 further adds how after all this, Jesus returned with them to Nazareth, and was subject (meaning to be subordinate to, to obey, as how a child would to a parent) to them. This would be for the next 18 years of his life until he began his public ministry.

Likewise for us, our foremost authority in our life would be God and the Word of God. But God has also given us parents to guide us, especially in the early years of our life before we reach adulthood. We are told to obey and honour our parents in the Lord. Some of you may claim lament about generation gaps, or claim that your parents don’t understand you. Yet no matter what, we too must be subject to them, even as Jesus, who though He was God, also obeyed his human parents and was subject to them.

Thought: Is our ‘generation gap’ real? Or just an excuse?
Prayer: Lord, teach me to always love, honour and obey my parents.