By Christopher and Kevaughn Dryden
When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later, they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant.
Luke 2:45-50 NLT
It’s still apparent today. The pride that a father sees when his son follows in his footsteps. If the father is a fisherman, it’s his delight to spend time teaching his son the trade and seeing his son take it on and establish it far beyond his expectations. All that is from the source of the son belonging to the father and the father belonging to the son. It’s his delight to see how belonging shapes belief and behaviour.
As far as Joseph and Mary’s peers were concerned, Jesus belonged to them. You can imagine the worry and shock of discovering he wasn’t where they felt he belonged as they returned home from Jerusalem. Parents can sympathise with the sense of panic when they don’t see him with those they expect him to be with. Finally, finding him safe and sound and behaving calmly and considerate to the point that he questioned them, even being concerned about his welfare, spoke volumes about him. Yet at 12, as He understood it was time to follow in the family business, Jesus knew where He belonged. That level of understanding extended even to his return with Joseph and Mary. He honoured his earthly father and mother, even as He honoured His heavenly Father because where He belonged shaped His beliefs and behaviour.
The basis of the ruling is the relationship. The heart of God’s Kingdom is the Father's relationship with His Son. This relationship defines what it is to rule in humility and honour. This relationship establishes what it is to operate from where we belong. The invitation today for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is to operate from that place of first where we belong. We don’t belong anywhere other than the Father’s house. Indeed, everywhere we go, the grace of God extends His home to others. That happens as our behaviour and beliefs are shaped by belonging to the loving, heavenly Father who gave His Son to show us how to be all we were initially created to be.
Ask: What did Jesus mean when He said He had to be in His Father’s House?
Seek: Reflect on how belonging to the Father shapes your beliefs and behaviour.
Knock: Father God, thank you for your Son who knew where He belonged. Help us to understand where we belong. Help us appreciate that as well, and take great joy and pleasure in belonging to your family, learning from you, and living for you in that loving place of belonging. For the sake of the name of your Son.
