Christ "Grew In Knowledge" Going About His Father's Business

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Christ "Grew In Knowledge" Going About His Father's Business

Today's Text: Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2:49

The Message:      Every year His parents went to the city of Jerusalem to attend the feast of the Passover, and in His twelfth year Jesus went with them to the city. When the feast was over, the parents, forgetting all about Jesus, started on their road home with some of their relations, and did not know that Jesus was not with them. They supposed that He was in the company, and went a whole day's journey before they found out that He was not there. Frightened as to what had become of Him, they turned back to the city....      Jesus knew that God had given Him this opportunity to give light to those who were in darkness, and He sought to do all in His power to open the truth to the rabbis and teachers. He led these men to speak about different verses in the Bible telling about the Messiah whom they expected to come. They thought that Christ was to come to the world in great glory at this time, and make the Jewish nation the greatest nation on the earth. But Jesus asked them what the Scriptures meant when they spoke of the humble life, the suffering and sorrow, the rejection and death, of the Son of God. Though Christ seemed like a child that was seeking help from those who knew a great deal more than He did, He was bringing light to their minds in every word He spoke....      While Christ was teaching others, He Himself was receiving light and knowledge about His own work and mission in the world, for it is plainly stated that Christ "grew in knowledge." What a lesson there is in this for all the youth of our day! They may be like Christ, and by studying the Word of God, by receiving the light that the Holy Spirit can give them, they will be able to give light to others....      The wise men were surprised at the questions that the child Jesus asked.... When there was a pause, Mary, the mother of Jesus, came up to her son and asked, "Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." Then a divine light shone from Jesus' face, as He lifted His hand and said, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?"... They did not know what He really meant by these words, but they knew He was a true son, who would be submissive to their commands. Though He was the Son of God, He went down to Nazareth and was subject to His parents.-Youth's Instructor, November 28, 1895.

Commentary: My friend, as followers of Christ, we must follow after the example that is set before us in Jesus Christ.  Praying to His Father, Jesus said "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3).   Though He was the Son of God, as a human He grew in knowledge by searching the Scriptures and communion with God.  So too are we to grow in knowledge as we search the Scriptures and commune with God through His Son. There are many in the church today that only have a superficial knowledge of the Scriptures and are not daily looking into them that they may know more of God's will for them.  They are satisfied with the knowledge that they have and do not seek to know more.  One of the steps in our progression towards Christlikeness found in Matthew 5 is to hunger and thirst after righteousness.  As we come to Jesus with a broken and contrite heart, comparing our lives with His, we will recognize that our righteousness is as filthy rags, and we will desire to be cleansed from the filthiness of our sins.  The nominal Christian seeks only enough of Christ that they may be forgiven of their sins, but neglect to go further that they may be cleansed from all unrighteousness. There are too many today that are satisfied with a form of godliness, while they deny the power of God to give them complete victory over sin.  They neglect to put on the whole armor of God which is the righteousness of Christ.  To these the Faithful and True Witness says "...thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:... As many as I love I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent." (Revelation 3:17,19). My friend, it is not enough to just be forgiven of our sins, we must also be cleansed from all unrighteousness.  That cleansing is to wash away the defilement that sin has done in our lives.  This work cannot be done by any effort on our part, but is done only through the work of Christ living with in our hearts.  He can only do this if we submit ourselves wholly to Him, daily learning of Him in His word that we may, day by day, be transformed into His lovely image. My prayer for you today is that you may grow in grace by your connection to Jesus Christ the righteous today. God bless,

Video of the Week From Anti-Trinitarian to the Alpha of Deadly Heresies - Dustin Butler Part 5 of 6, A response to the trinitarian symposium held in the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.