Day 133: Luke 2:48–50

“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” (v. 49).

Mary, understandably hurt that Jesus had chosen to hang back in Jerusalem and leave them to worry about His safety, asked Him a question in verse 48: “Son, why have you treated us like this?” Christ’s response in verse 49 suggests He was as mystified that they’d expect to find Him anywhere else as they were mystified to find Him there: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

The words “had to” come from the Greek word dei, meaning something that is “inevitable in the nature of things.” Likely this word has never been used more literally. After all, the Father and the Son had the same nature. Christ was drawn to God, not as a devout believer, but as an overpowering magnet—as two pieces of the same whole.

Still, the fact remains that Mary had asked a question, and Jesus had given an answer. But verse 50 tells us that she didn’t understand the answer He supplied.

This remains part of our experience today. I believe we are always free to ask Jesus questions. And I believe He is always faithful to answer, even though his answer may not be speedy in coming. But even if it does come immediately, we may not understand the answer until later. Maybe much later.

In my opinion, Christ’s response was quite interesting. I’ve searched every Greek translation I can find, and none of my resources have an original word that directly translates to “house” (niv) or “business” (kjv) in verse 49. From what I can gather, a more precise translation of Christ’s response might be: “Didn’t you know that I had to be about my Father?”

That question implies the desire of my heart more than any other I can imagine. I just want to be about God. Not about ministry. Not about my own agenda. Not about writing Bible studies. Not about me at all. When all is said and done, I would give my life for people to be able to say, “She was just about God.” That would be the ultimate legacy. “Not that I have already obtained all this . . . but I press on” (Phil. 3:12). May we live lives that would cause others to be surprised to find us any other place than to “be found in him” (Phil. 3:9).