GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
LUKE 2:49
All of the words of Jesus Christ demand our special attention and devotion. They are the words of life; they are truth itself. A special group of sayings of Jesus is the collection of the very first words chosen by the Holy Spirit to be recorded as our introduction to the Savior’s voice in each of the four Gospels. The first words of Christ recorded by Matthew are his assurance to John: “Let it be so now,” (that is, for John to baptize Jesus) “it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Mark records Jesus’ call to repentance: “The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). John’s choice for the first words of Jesus is startling. Jesus turns on two of the Baptist’s former disciples who have been sent to him and asks—almost snaps—“What do you want?” (John 1:38). Each of these statements and questions is worth a great deal of prayer and study. But before us today are Jesus’ first words in the Gospel of Luke, spoken to his parents who had been looking for him for three days:
49 “Why would you be searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know all along that I had to be about my Father’s business?”
By means of a grammatical construction called ellipsis, the Greek phrase ti hoti (τί ὅτι) means “why is it that…?” It occurs only three times in the New Testament, always from Luke’s pen. Here it expresses Jesus’ wonder that Mary and Joseph would be looking for him when they should have known all along where he was and what he was doing.
The final phrase of the verse is indefinite. Jesus says literally, “…that I have to be about the ‘things’ of my Father?” The indirect object is plural, “things,” and is translated “business” by the King James Version and the Evangelical Heritage Version. I have done the same above. The Revised Standard Version dismisses this translation of “things” as “improbable” (Hendricksen) and proposes “my Father’s house.” The NIV follows this, as does the NASB and several other translations. However, Jesus doesn’t ask where they were looking for him, but why. And his plural answer, “my Father’s ‘things,’” tells us that he does not necessarily mean the house of his Father, but the works of his Father. Jesus has to be about his Father’s work, will, and business.
Another possibility suggested by my wife Kathryn is that these ‘things’ of Jesus’ father might be his words. She has a good point. The same plural indefinite object case and pronoun would be used (tois logois, cp. Mark 10:24 “his words”). Normally we would try to use the most obvious item for an unstated noun like this, and so we default to “things.” But in the context of a discussion, “words” is not only possible, it’s quite likely. The business of God is speaking. How many times do we read the words, “God said”? (Eleven just in Genesis chapter 1). God speaks to us. He speaks the law, the gospel; the message of sin and grace, and the promise of our salvation. When we get to the mountain of the transfiguration, the Father is going startle us with something new. Instead of saying, “Listen to me,” he is going to say, “This is my Son… listen to him” (Luke 9:35).
Here we have the Savior’s knowledge and understanding of his role in the plan of salvation. He is entering the arena of God’s business (salvation) and words (the gospel of that salvation). Why would we seek Jesus anyplace else, or for any other reason? Those who look to Jesus only for an example of a good life miss the point of Jesus entirely. He does not call us to social change, but for a change in the heart. He calls us away from sin, doubt, and despair. He calls us to faith, trust, and eternal life.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Archives by Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel: http://www.wlchapel.org/worship/daily-devotion/
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota