In the Book of Luke we find the powerful story (and a vivid reminder to what we are to be) of Jesus at age 12 in the temple teaching the teachers.  By my count Joseph and Mary had missed Jesus for five days.  A one day walk from Jerusalem and another day back to Jerusalem, then three days of looking for Him in Jerusalem. Then on the third day in Jerusalem they find Jesus calmly talking with the teachers, “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.”  (Luke 2:47-48)

While living in Stuttgart Karen purchased a wonderful very old huge painting we got from a Catholic Rectory in Wurzburg, Germany that captures this scene perfectly. The painting is so good you can imagine (from the faces and bodies on the painting) the teachers in great amazement, their eyes are widened, their hands are stroking their beards, and some have tilted their heads, but the greatest expression of amazement is the satisfied look on all of their faces.  But not only were the teachers amazed, but the Bible says in verse 48, “when they  (Joseph and Mary) saw him, they were amazed:”  I do not know about you, but if I would have lost my child for five days I think I would have been more than amazed. It looks like Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father) and Mary were almost in tears and exhausted when they finally found Him. I am sure their emotions ran the complete gambit of fear, sadness, loss, and all the rest emotions we feel at times like these. I remember one Wednesday night my parents forgot me at church and raced back to find me asleep on the pew where they left me.  But instead of saying dad and mom I love and missed you all so much or thanks for loving me enough to come back for me Jesus says, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.” (Luke 2:49-50)  Not only did Joseph and Mary not understand what Jesus was saying, but the teachers, the transcriber of the KJV (from Greek to Latin), and most Christians in the church of today did not understand what Jesus at age 12 was saying.  If you look at the Greek version of the Bible you will not find the word, “business” it does not appear in Luke 2:49, the verse ends with the word “Father.” The word “business” was added during translation to complete the thought and to make sense. If you look at any Bible program that uses Strong’s numbering system you will find the word “business” and “Father” is the same Strong’s word #3962. Unfortunately, it was added to finish a thought that Jesus was not making and has blurred our thinking from a very vital principle we must understand and adopt into our every day life.  If Jesus was talking about His father’s business Jesus would have been talking with carpenters since Joseph was a carpenter.  When we read the Scriptures we must pay very close attention to capital letters and pronouns. These little letters make a big difference between talking about THE God or a god. Also please know some Bible translations do not capitalize, please take heed my friend to what Bible you use. I have always found the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible to be the best for teaching and studying; Strong’s numbering system and other study tools is based on the KJV and the relationship between the Greek and KJV to me seem to be more compatible and complete. Today I carry the New King James Version, not because it is better, but because my Mother gave it to me in 1994.  Now please notice the Holy Spirit used the word “Father” not “father,” big “F” which means the Bible is talking about Jesus’ Heavenly Father and not His earthly father. We Americans must learn again as most of the world already knows words do matter and so do letters. We seem to say what we think and if wrong oh well no problem, well my friend the rest of the world does not see things the same way as us Americans.  Over the years God has taught me to measure my words with regards to promising to do things for people.  God has taught me to take heed when I speak with people in authority.  Minding my words during a border crossing could be the difference between passing on in peace or spending some time in jail. Now Jesus was not even talking about being about His “Father’s” business.  Oh no, Jesus was talking about something more important and something more critical for us to understand and become.  Remember, our wondrous walk with the Lord is not about working and doing, but is about becoming.  In verse 49, Jesus said, “ . . . I must be about my Father.” (Luke 2:49 (Greek)) or I must be about becoming something and not about doing or working.  Jesus was not talking about working He was talking about becoming like something. So too in our lives we must be about becoming something in God. And what we must be about becoming is the same thing Jesus desired to be about becoming like, His Father. Jesus was saying, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father?Jesus was saying He must be about becoming like His Father.  All of His earthly existence this was His one and only desire; to look and act like His Father.  Everything Jesus did was to look like His Father. Jesus only said and did the things His Father told Him to say and do.  What a perfect expression of the Father (like Jesus) when we too say and do only the things the Father tells us to say and do.  Jesus and the Father were so complete in this unity of purpose around 20 years later Jesus gladly proclaimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” (John 14:6-10)  The disciples still did not understand was Jesus was saying just like His parents when Jesus was 12 years old,  “And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.” (Luke 2:50)
       Jesus, the Son of Man, did not come to start a business, He came to seek and save (Luke 19:10) that which is lost.  Jesus came so that we could have the life of God (John 10:10) not so that we can open Christian Book Stores that sell everything from Bibles to furniture to stickers, costume jewelry,  candy bars, and anything else that will turn a profit.  What have we done to the Gospel message?  Why Christian singers have their own awards program on TV. One is called the Dove Awards and the statue represents the precious Holy Spirit.  How could we stoop so low to insult and grieve the Holy Spirit so? Is this the best the church can do with the Holy Spirit? They act and look like the world and suffer from the same drug problems as worldly singers do, maybe they are still of the world? Like the world they have amassed millions of dollars living in big fancy houses just like the Christian TV celebrities. TV religion is a multi-billion dollar a year business. Just watch the TV celebrities on TBN and the rest of the Christian programming around the world selling their DVDs, CDs, Bibles with their names on it, latest self-help book, or their special offer of the month. And if you know the right spin doctor (who knows how to manipulate people, the key) big and even local churches can get involved in a piece of the action. What have we done to the Gospel message?  My friend the Gospel is not for sale. Jesus paid dearly for the Gospel message, He paid with His life. With each drop of His blood, His sweat, and His tears Jesus paid for our salvation. And now we are selling the Gospel message as fast as we can print Bibles and make DVDs, CDs, toys, robes, license plates, and anything else that will turn a profit.  What have we done to the Gospel message?
     The Bibles warns us, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23)  Now the word “Buy” in this verse has nothing to do with our concept of merchandizing for a profit, but is Strong’s #7069, to get, acquire, create, or possess.  For example: of God originating, creating, redeeming His people or of acquiring knowledge, wisdom.  And the word “sell” is Strong’s #4376, to sell for earthly profit or to sell for money.  Here in this verse the Bible is telling us NOT to sell truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding.  It is the same concept we see in Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  (Proverbs 4:7)  Here “therefore get” is Strong’s #7069, the same word for “Buy” in Proverbs 23:23.
      My friend Jesus did not come to feed people and make sure everybody has a full belly and something to drink. As much as we would like to think that because that is all we hear from the pulpits today that is not true. Jesus did not come to address the political and social issues of the day.  Jesus never got involved with the hot button issues of the day like slavery, genocide, maltreatment of women, killing babies still in the womb, and the rule of the government over the people.  I guess it is true “ . . . there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)  Jesus did not come to make us all happy, rich, or famous. For the truth to be known the Father is not really as concerned about our happiness as much as we think He is. God’s number one concern in our lives is for us to allow Him to conform us into the image (icon) of His precious and wonderful Son Jesus Christ.  Jesus did not come to take us all to heaven some day.  The Bible says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”  (Matthew 24:35) I wonder what all of those Christians who are into heaven are going to do when heaven passes away?  Now please do not worry I am planning on going to heaven and I hope I see you there, but I am not into heaven my friend I am into Him, Jesus the word (John 1:1) of life that “shall not pass away.”      My friend we must be (like Jesus even at age 12) about being like our Heavenly Father.  We must (like Jesus) be able to become the expressed image of the Father by speaking only those things the Father tells us to say.  By doing only the things the Father tells us to do.  This is God’s intention and desire for our lives. This was Jesus’ prayer and hope for us, the church the Body of Christ, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:” (John 17:21-22) We will never be able to be “one” (unity) with the Father as Jesus was.  We will never be able to receive the glory the Father gave Jesus and now Jesus desires to give to us, if the “business” of the Gospel continues to take precedence in our heart and lives.  “Buy the truth, and sell it not;” if you desire the life of God.