Whose Child is This?
04/11/07 09:49
Imagine yourself in a church service where there are
a dozen or so theologians, scribes, and lawyers. You
are listening intently to every word hoping for some
insight into something that you have believed for
years. These men are learned. They have doctorates
under their belt and letters behind their names.
Surely if anyone has something to say –these
men would! It’s not the time to fall asleep or
leave church early –it’s an opportunity
to hear wisdom and knowledge. It’s time to
receive something for the soul. And so you wait and
listen and you wait and listen and you wait some more
and you listen some more. But you’ve heard it
before for there is nothing new. Sure, these men are
able to articulate wonderfully. They can capture your
imagination for a few moments with a new twist and a
different spin. Then after a few moments your
attention is drawn to another hope. Maybe this fellow
has something. Maybe that one will share.
Excitement for religion is a rare thing. To share
that excitement is even more rare. To sustain it is
divine!
It doesn’t take long now and your mind begins
to wander to daily chores, planning vacations or
figuring out what it is you just pulled from your
ear. You yawn. You scratch. You stretch and in the
middle of that stretch… a young man steps up
out of the congregation. “I have a
question.” He interrupts.
“Oh, this is going to be good,” you think, “This kid can’t be twelve years old and he has a question for these men of God? What could he possible want to know about? These men will brush him aside. They’ll satisfy his inquiry quickly and move along.” But they don’t. In fact, they stumble and you sit up in your seat. This kid has got your attention. Some of the “teachers” smirk at the young lad and some patronize smugly, yet all have their attention drawn to this single child. For the next few minutes you are on the edge of your seat and when you finally look at your watch again, an hour has passed. What happen? Where did this kid come from? Are these men of God as amazed at him as they appear? How did he become so learned at such an early age? Where did this kid get this stuff? Then, all of a sudden, his parents burst in with the mother leading the way. “Son, we have been looking all over for you,” she says with anguish. Then, just when you thought you couldn’t be any more astonished with this kid than you already are, he says, “Why were you looking for me mother? Did you not know that I would have to be in my Father’s house?” The only question that floods your mind is –“whose child is this?”
The answer to that question is of such great importance –it cannot and should not be ignored. Jesus Christ, at the age of twelve, astounded the temple priest and scribes with His knowledge and understanding of God. But nothing could be more astounding than when He said, “…I must be in my Father’s house.”
“Oh, this is going to be good,” you think, “This kid can’t be twelve years old and he has a question for these men of God? What could he possible want to know about? These men will brush him aside. They’ll satisfy his inquiry quickly and move along.” But they don’t. In fact, they stumble and you sit up in your seat. This kid has got your attention. Some of the “teachers” smirk at the young lad and some patronize smugly, yet all have their attention drawn to this single child. For the next few minutes you are on the edge of your seat and when you finally look at your watch again, an hour has passed. What happen? Where did this kid come from? Are these men of God as amazed at him as they appear? How did he become so learned at such an early age? Where did this kid get this stuff? Then, all of a sudden, his parents burst in with the mother leading the way. “Son, we have been looking all over for you,” she says with anguish. Then, just when you thought you couldn’t be any more astonished with this kid than you already are, he says, “Why were you looking for me mother? Did you not know that I would have to be in my Father’s house?” The only question that floods your mind is –“whose child is this?”
The answer to that question is of such great importance –it cannot and should not be ignored. Jesus Christ, at the age of twelve, astounded the temple priest and scribes with His knowledge and understanding of God. But nothing could be more astounding than when He said, “…I must be in my Father’s house.”
|