Not Understanding Jesus' Words - Luke 2:50

Luke the physician wrote how Joseph and Mary, “went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why have you thus dealt with us? behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that you sought me? did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?”, and in chapter two and verse fifty of his book Luke shared how Joseph and Mary, “understood not the saying which he spake unto them” where we read:

And they understood not the saying which he spoke unto them.

The verse reads, “And they understood not the saying ...” Luke began with the words, “and they understood not” or “and Joseph and Mary did not perceive, discern or comprehend” “the saying” which means “the utterance, declaration, proclamation and question Jesus asked”. Luke shared how Joseph and Mary did not “comprehend” what Jesus meant concerning Him being “about His Father's business”.

The verse goes on to say, “... which he spoke unto them” Luke continued with the words, “which he spoke” or “that Jesus uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” “unto them” or “toward Joseph and Mary”. Luke shared how the “words” Jesus asked His earthly parents were not “understood” by them.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Joseph and Mary were unaware of the full idea of Jesus being about His “Father's business”. Though they were probably the closest people to Him, Joseph and Mary did not know what He meant by His words. God's intentions and knowledge is beyond the ability for any person to fully understand, and as Isaiah the prophet wrote, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (See Isaiah 55:9), and although Jesus knew more than His earthly father and mother in this case, He was aligning with God's idea of “salvation” for mankind. Those who examine these things shall find that God's thought and ways are beyond their own and the wise decision is to yield their life to the One who knows everything concerning mankind.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus, “went down with them, and came to Nazareth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".