A Mom's Heart

In reading Luke 2:48, there is an interesting passage that caught my attention;

: 48 “And when they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Child, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”
: 49 and He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Father’s house? (lit: affairs; in the things of My Father)
: 50 And they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

His parents were troubled and worried because they had not found Jesus after three days of looking for Him. When they did find Him, the scripture says that they were “astonished” perhaps that here He was, sitting with the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

After finding Him safe and well (I wonder where He spent the night or who He had eaten with, if  He had eaten at all?) they asked Him, “Why have you treated us this way?” They were relieved yet perhaps a little angry and frustrated at His seemingly inconsideration and irresponsibility for not letting them know what He was going to do and where He would be. (would they have understood that?) All they could think of was the fear and anxiety they had as they sought Him for three days. Three days is a long time.

Mary had been told by the angel that she would conceive through the power of the Holy Spirit and that the child would be the Son of God. Yet it had been more than twelve years and they had raised Him among His other siblings, so perhaps for those days of His being “missing”, her heart knew Him more as her first born son rather than His real identity, the Son of God. We know that Jesus was perfect, therefore the type of behavior that this seemed to be was totally out of character of their responsible first-born.

"Why have you treated us”…also speaks to me of the hurt Mary felt that He would do such a thing and worry them so.

Their reaction was totally human and from our standpoint, understandable. But God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.” (Is 55:8)

But Jesus answered them first with questions, “Why are you looking for me? Did you not know…? Jesus had never forgotten who He was, who His real Father was, and His business here on this earth. He was not apologetic in anyway. He had expected them to know He was tending to the affairs of  His Father God. He expected them to trust in knowing this and therefore not be alarmed. His attitude was totally divine. This is how he thought… in the reality of God’s will all the time.

This is also a rebuke to them for not understanding; for perhaps seeing Him as only their human son. Mary had conceived Him by the power of the Holy Spirit and had been told He was the Son of God. But in her mom’s heart he was her son to be cared for and watched over.

This mainly reminded me of believer’s relationships with their families, especially parents. Sometimes we tend to our human family at times when the Father is calling us to do something else. It can cause misunderstandings and hurt on the family’s part. Yet God will provide the grace necessary to do His will
when we ask for it. Our priority must be His will even at the cost of family relationships.

Matt 10:37 He who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Matt 19:29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.

In this last verse he includes houses and farms. To me that means any thing or possession that could hold us back by hesitating or not doing His will.

We are very human and our Father knows it. Just like Mary, we have our human heart and emotions and He knows that too. I am so grateful to you Father, that You see our human hearts and love us where we are.

What a wonderful, marvelous, and awesome Father you are to us!