Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

My Father’s Business #16

Monday, January 20, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). The Lord Jesus Christ knew exactly (!!) what His Father was doing as touching His earthly ministry. He did not wonder or guess: having a clear understanding of His Father’s will for Israel, He worked with His Father to accomplish it. At the end of that ministry, He prayed to His Father: “I have glorified thee on the earth: I (!) have (!) finished (!) the (!) work (!) which (!) thou (!) gavest (!) me (!) to (!) do (!)” (John 17:5). What was that “work” exactly? Keep reading.

“I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word” (verse 6). Christ’s earthly ministry was designed to overpower spiritual darkness in Israel, expel Satan’s influence from Palestine: “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is spring up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:16,17,23).

For three years, Christ tirelessly taught, preached, and performed miracles in Israel’s land. While most of Israel preferred to remain in their ignorance, a believing remnant was nonetheless formed. These saints—headed by the 12 Apostles (with Matthias instead of Judas Iscariot)—are the “men” to whom Jesus gave the Father’s words. “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me: and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me” (John 17:8).

Dear friends, if we are to be about “our Father’s business” today, we have to know what “our Father’s business” today even is….

NOTE: Happy 40th spiritual birthday to my Mom, who will be reading this. We joy in our Lord Jesus Christ, He who used you to interest in me “our Father’s business” nearly a quarter-century ago!

My Father’s Business #15

Sunday, January 19, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

Friends, provided we are willing to set aside our preconceived ideas and church traditions (which most refuse to do), Scripture will become ever so clear. Passages commonly seen as “contradictions” and “mistakes” are simply changes in program. Looking at the Bible timeline, Genesis through Revelation, we can easily see how God changes “stewards,” managers, or “house-distributors” (“oikonomous”) because He changes “dispensations,” administrations, or “house rules” (“oikonomia”). What is true today in the “but now” is not necessarily true in “time past” (and vice versa)—both differing from “the ages to come.”

For example, Moses was (!) God’s spokesman to the nation Israel: through Moses, JEHOVAH God gave Israel the Law at Mount Sinai. The Law was issued so Israel would understand God’s purpose and plan for her (see Deuteronomy 4:1-10, for instance). Those were God’s instructions—that was His “business”—at the time. Christ’s earthly ministry was designed to bring Israel back to that Word of God from which she had drifted centuries prior. Of course, that is the Dispensation of Law, sitting contradistinction to the Dispensation of Grace given to the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 3:1-11).

It would be wholly inappropriate to say to the master of the house, “But, you used to govern your house this way, and I want to go back to those former administrative rules.” Yet, people today boldly tell this to the God of the Bible when they rebel against dispensational Bible study: “I do not follow Paul, I follow Jesus. I do not follow Paul, I follow Moses.” (Seemingly impressive, utterly meaningless!) They are appealing to house rules that no longer apply!!! Jesus’ earthly ministry, Matthew through John, is not what God is doing today. Moses’ writings, Genesis through Deuteronomy, are not what God is currently doing either. They are Scripture, they are God’s Word, but they are not pertinent to us in this the Dispensation of Grace.

The resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ spoke 13 epistles through the Apostle Paul, Romans through Philemon. Paul is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13)….

My Father’s Business #12

Thursday, January 16, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

In “time past,” the nation Israel was spiritually advantaged. Given God’s Word (Romans 3:1,2), they were to then believe it, accept their King (Jesus), and ultimately teach the Gentiles in His kingdom. Alas, Israel refused Jesus, demanding His crucifixion on Calvary’s cross. Her religious leaders shouted, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15)! Christ died the death of the worst criminal—but then resurrected victoriously! He returned to His Father in the third heaven as a rejected exile. The Holy Spirit descended and empowered the 12 Apostles (Matthias being Judas Iscariot’s replacement) to preach and call Israel to repentance. Israel ardently declined to change her mind: even now, she would not have Jesus.

Unfortunately, Israel’s unbelief culminated with her stoning the Prophet Stephen in Acts chapter 7. Stephen’s sermon was her final chance to turn to JEHOVAH God in faith so she could do her “Father’s business.” Alas, she fell, losing her spiritual position before God. Leading Israel’s rebellion against Jesus Christ was a religious leader named Saul of Tarsus. As unbelieving Saul was en route to arrest fellow Jews for believing on Jesus as Messiah; the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ intercepted him in grace, mercy, and peace (Acts chapter 9). Saul, having now believed on Christ, is commissioned as the Apostle Paul. The Lord orders Paul to go to the Gentiles with a new Gospel message.

The Holy Spirit moved Paul to pen in Romans chapter 11: “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.” Here is our “Father’s business….”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “When Paul says ‘there is no difference,’ is he referring to people outside the Body of Christ, or in it?”

My Father’s Business #11

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

The Lord Jesus Christ knew His nation Israel was spiritually powerless. Consequently, during His earthly ministry, He worked in His “Father’s business” to expel Satan’s influence and spiritual ignorance. “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matthew 9:35). Father God wanted His people to learn His Word, and His Son faithfully taught them. Once Israel understood she was God’s earthly people, Jews trusting Jesus as their Messiah, Israel would become God’s kingdom of priests to the nations/Gentiles (see Luke 1:46-55,67-79).

God creating Israel as His earthly people is “the prophetic program.” The Apostle Peter preached in Acts chapter 3: “[19] Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. [20] And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: [21] Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” Since God placed Adam on the Earth, He had been sending spokesmen to declare His will for Earth: prophetic truth is that “which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”

The Apostle Paul’s ministry, however, involves “the mystery program.” Romans chapter 16 says: “[25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:….” Here is mystery truth, that “which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest [through Paul’s ministry].” While God was forming Israel, He was keeping a secret that He would one day create a heavenly people, the Church the Body of Christ….

My Father’s Business #8

Sunday, January 12, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

The Lord Jesus had a thorough knowledge of precisely what Father God wanted Him to do on the Earth. By faith, He worked in accordance with those verses (Luke 4:16-21 cf. Isaiah 61:1,2): He was spiritually mature, able to make decisions His Heavenly Father approved. Sadly, however, millions of today’s Christians are utterly clueless concerning God’s will for their life. They wander aimlessly, wondering exactly what God is doing and exactly what He would have them do. It is not God’s fault. He has given them the Holy Bible, and He has imparted His Holy Spirit to those who have trusted Jesus Christ alone as their personal Saviour, but they have still wound up in spiritual darkness!

Friends, dispensational Bible study is how we understand where we are in the purpose and program of God. Jesus Christ Himself was a dispensationalist as demonstrated in Luke chapter 4. He stopped reading the Old Testament passage to precisely match God’s plan at that time. It was not time for God’s vengeance—that would be at His Second Coming—so He did not read it as fulfilled at His First Coming. He understood the “dispensational boundaries” that divide the Scriptures. For example, He did not go to Genesis chapter 6 and build an ark as though God had told Him to do that. He understood that was God’s instructions to Noah. Like Christ, we also understand that not all the Bible is true at the same time. We do not grab just anything from anywhere in Scripture and follow it as though it were God’s Word to and about us.

The only verse in the King James Bible that commands us to “study” the Scriptures also tells us how to do it: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). When we “rightly divide the word of truth,” we recognize the differences that God has already delineated in His Word. In doing so, we as Christians can honestly claim, “I must be about my Father’s business….”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “How can the King James Bible say horses are “in” the chariots of Zechariah 6:2-3?

My Father’s Business #7

Saturday, January 11, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

Luke chapter 4 contains the Lord Jesus Christ’s first sermon: “[16] And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. [17] And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, [18] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, [19] To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. [20] And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. [21] And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

After years of Bible study, Christ ultimately recognized Isaiah chapter 61 applied directly to Him: “[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Notice how Christ handled Isaiah, breaking off reading the passage exactly where it aligned with God’s current operations in Israel! He knew what His Heavenly Father was doing, and He was working in perfect tandem with Him….

My Father’s Business #6

Friday, January 10, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

While 12-year-old Jesus listens to Judaism’s teachers speak, and marking their replies to His questions, He better perceives their spiritual darkness. My, how extremely far have His people drifted from His Father’s words to them! These Israeli religious teachers—these “leaders”—are nothing but “blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:14)! How bewildered they are to hear this little boy speak such weighty truths about spiritual matters (Luke 2:47)! Their surprise testifies to their spiritual ignorance: had they really been listening to and believing the very Old Testament Scriptures they possessed and read/heard, they would have already known the very truths young Jesus was articulating to them!

The lad Jesus asks His stepfather and mother in today’s Scripture, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Looking beyond His earthly guardians, He centers on His Heavenly Father and the occupation in which He is employed. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17). “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” (John 7:16). “I speak that which I have seen with my Father…” (John 8:38). Jesus Christ has come to teach Israel His Father’s words—the very words they have rejected for several centuries!!

Luke chapter 2 closes with, “[50] And they [Joseph and Mary] understood not the saying which he spake unto them. [51] And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. [52] And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” The Bible is now silent about Jesus for another two decades, Him spiritually and physically maturing during that time. He reappears in chapter 3—now approximately age 30 (verse 23)—to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and formally begin His earthly ministry. Let us see the Lord Jesus, now an adult with greater spiritual understanding, work with His Father in the family business….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Does Israel’s Little Flock have a hope in Heaven?”

My Father’s Business #5

Thursday, January 9, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

Joseph and Mary are understandably heartbroken to have accidentally left young Jesus behind. Just a boy of 12 years, He is “lost” among the crowds of millions of Jews in and departing Jerusalem. En route back home to northern Israel (Galilee), Joseph and Mary turn around and begin to frantically search for Him among their relatives. Eventually, they re-trace their steps to Jerusalem, where—after searching for Him for three days—they are surprised to find Him in the Temple having that religious seminar with Israel’s “doctors” (Mosaic Law scholars).

Read today’s Scripture within its immediate context: “[48] And when they [Joseph and Mary] 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. [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? [50] And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.”

Friend, did you notice how Jesus actually mildly rebuked His mother Mary here? She told Him, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” The dear lady was sincere—she was a caring mother—but Mary uttered one inappropriate word that caused Jesus to adversely react with, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Basically, He asked both her and Joseph: “Why have you hunted Me down? Have you not applied wisdom here, understanding that I need to be working with My Father here?” Mary called Joseph Jesus’ “father,” but Jesus shifted the focus from a mere man to Father God. “Mom and stepdad, I deliberately chose to stay behind here at the Jerusalem Temple. My Heavenly Father has something far more important for Me to do than follow you back home!” Being human, sin prevents Joseph and Mary from grasping such profound truths (verse 50)….

My Father’s Business #4

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

Luke chapter 2 provides two marvelous truths concerning young Jesus—one before and the other after His theological discussion with Israel’s elders. Verse 40 states, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” Now, verse 52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Here is Christ’s humanity, the very theme of Luke’s Gospel Record. Almighty God, because He is God, cannot “increase in wisdom and stature.” Yet, the God-Man, because He is just as much Man as He is God, can mature spiritually and physically (like we do)! Between these two “bookend verses,” we find Him sitting in the midst of the doctors of Judaism.

As every Jewish boy of His day, Jesus was educated in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). His stepfather Joseph and mother Mary were influential here. Yet, read: “The Lord GOD [Father God] hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (Isaiah 50:4,5). Messiah is speaking, 700 years before His earthly ministry (check verse 6). In contrast to other Jewish lads though, the Lord Jesus diligently studied and always obeyed His Father’s Word.

By the time of age 12, Jesus could therefore discuss Jewish religion with those elders in Jerusalem. Verses 46 and 47 of Luke chapter 2 again: “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.” His questions were doubtless posed to evaluate just where His nation’s leaders were in their spiritual understanding. Remember, Christ was learning, better grasping Israel’s ignorance and thereby enabling Him to see how to correct it….

My Father’s Business #3

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

“And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49 KJV).

And, just what is the Lord Jesus’ Father’s “business?”

Luke chapter 2 (verses 41-50) shows the Lord Jesus, now in Palestine, at 12 years old. Israel should pay close attention to His behavior here, for 12 in Scripture is Israel’s number. The Mosaic Law commanded all Jewish males to travel thrice a year to the Jerusalem Temple to observe Judaism’s three major feasts—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Exodus 23:14-17; Exodus 34:22,23; Deuteronomy 16:16).

Joseph, Mary, Jesus, and their family and friends have come to worship at Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 2:41). However, when it is time to go back home to Nazareth (northern Israel), young Jesus is accidentally left behind at the Temple. When Mary and Joseph return to the Temple, they are relieved to find Him conversing with the “doctors” (Jewish religious scholars—like possessors of a “Th.D.,” or “doctor of theology” degree). To say the least, it is certainly bizarre to find a little 12-year-old boy sitting at the center of an assembly of “grandfathers” and considering profound religious ideas with them!

Again, Luke relays the account: “[46] 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. [47] And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. [48] And 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. [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?”

Young Jesus listens intently to what His nation’s religious leaders have to say. Also, He poses a series of ensuing queries to probe their knowledge further. “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (verse 47). Joseph and Mary are “amazed” to behold such a sight. Onlookers realize this is no ordinary 12-year-old! Despite His adolescence, Jesus is “about [His] Father’s business….”