Jesus as a Young Person : Lesson #3

Do His Father’s Business (Luke 2:46-52)

In this lesson we are going to look at how Jesus Christ as a young person was concerned about his father’s business. When we refer to his father’s business we are not at all talking about Joseph we are talking about almighty God. Jesus’ earthly ministry did not start until he was about 30 years of age (Luke 3:23), but he still concerned himself with the things of God as a young person. We would be so much better off if young people today would concern themselves with the things of God at an early age.

In the passage before us we see the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of twelve go up to Jerusalem with his parents and they accidentally leave him behind. Now when they find him after 3 days he is sitting in the temple listening and asking questions. Note his response to his mother when she tells him that she and Joseph have sought him sorrowing.

Verse 49 “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business.”

When we look at this statement at first glance it almost looks like Jesus is getting smart or being sarcastic with his mother, but we know better than that. What he is actually doing is making a bold statement to the ones gathered in the temple about the fact that he is the son of God and Joseph is not his father. The ones gathered in the temple would have thought that Joseph was his literal father so when he said that he must be about his father’s business they would think about him being a carpenter. But by saying that he is about his father’s business in the temple then he is actually saying that God is his father. Therefore this is actually a great verse on the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here are a few others; (John 1:1 with John 1:14 ; John 3:13 ; John 8:58) and when we get to the end of the book of John we will actually see that the reason John wrote his gospel was to prove that Jesus was the son of God and that by believing we might have life through his name.

What are some things that we can learn from the example of Jesus being about his father’s business ? 

The first thing is to realize that you have a spiritual father. Whether you are saved or lost you have an earthly father and a spiritual father. If you are saved then God is your spiritual father (John 1:12-13). If you are lost then Satan is your spiritual father (John 8:44).

The second thing that we see from the example of the Jesus is that no matter how young someone is they can still be concerned with doing something for God. Many kids and teenagers think that they cannot really serve God until they are older, and while it is true that they may not have ministries like adults do there is plenty of work they can do for the Lord. Like preparing for what God would have them to do later in life by reading and studying his word daily. Also teen can witness to their friends at school and be active in serving and helping out in their local church.

Many times you will hear young people say that they want to find God’s will for their life and many times they are impatient on waiting for God to reveal it to them. So many ask what do I do until God reveals exactly what he wants me to do. Simple you do the things that the word of God tells you to do.  There are some things that are the will of God for every saved person so do those things and he will eventually show you exactly what he wants you do.

Some things that are the will of God for every saved person :

1)  Give thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

• This is a very hard thing to do sometimes especially when we are suffering or enduring persecution. But if we can learn to give thanks in all things early on in life it will make it a lot easier when more serious trials come our way.
• God honors thankfulness and people today have a real problem with thankfulness. Many people want more in the way of ministry and the truth is if they were thankful for what they all ready had God would probably give them more. Just something to think about.

2)  Abstain from Fornication and keep your vessel a vessel of Honor (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)

• Fornication is a real problem amongst teenagers as well as adults today. It is a sin that is against the body (1 Corinthians 6:18).
• As children of God we are to keep our vessel clean and ready to be used. Sex outside of marriage is a sin against our bodies and sometimes it can hinder us the rest of our lives.
• Other things are mentioned also in the text in regards to keeping your vessel a vessel of honor. Like not walking in the lust of concupiscence as the world walks and being honest in our dealings with others.
• If you sincerely want to be used of God later in life you need to do what this passage is telling and God will honor you for it.

3)   Submit to those who are over you in authority (1 Peter 2:13-15)

• This is just as hard for adults as it is teenagers. It is in our nature to not like authority. Whether it is the authority of the husband over the wife, the parent over the teen, or the pastor over the church member. We even have trouble with the policeman who pulls us over and gives us a ticket sometimes.
• God has established authorities in our lives and it is will for us to submit to the authorities he has placed in our lives. If we want to find out the will of God for our lives we will have to submit to find it, remember if we will not submit to the authorities that God has placed in our lives how are we going to submit to God and his word as an authority in our lives.

4)  Cease from sin (1 Peter 4:1-2)

• Now this does not mean that we will quit sinning altogether. We are still in the flesh but what the passage is talking about is the fact that if we are going to serve God we are going to have to get some sin out of our life. If we are successful in getting sin out of our life we are going to suffer for it.
• Many times to do God’s will we have to set our will aside therefore setting aside the lust of our flesh so that we can live in the will of God. This is hard because no one likes to suffer but if we get this mind set early that we are going to serve God first and ourselves last it will be a lot easier down the road.

These are four things where the word of God specifically talks about the will of God for our lives. This is why Jesus said that if you love him you will keep his word (John 14:23).

The last thing we see from this is that it is never too early to start serving God. Because one day we will not have the energy or the physical ability like a person does when they are young (Ecclesiastes 12:1). SO SEREVE GOD WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG AND DON’T WAIT TO GET STARTED. DO THE LITTLE THINGS NOW AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE BIG THINGS LATER.

Jesus as a Young Person : Lesson #3 Handout

Do His Father’s Business (Luke 2:46-52)

1)  What is Jesus declaring by saying that he was about his fathers’ business?

2)  Give references for showing Jesus is the Son of God.

3)  If you are not saved who is your spiritual father? Give a reference for your answer.

4)  Give a chain reference for things that we can do that we know would be doing the will of God for our lives.

5)  Why should we serve God as soon as possible in our life? Give a reference for this.