Young Jesus’ family went to Jerusalem for the Passover every year, Luke 2:41. As a twelve-year-old, Jesus purposefully stayed behind as the family left Jerusalem. Scripture states that His family went a day’s journey from Jerusalem not knowing He had stayed behind. They were thinking He was with the group.
They returned to Jerusalem searching for Him, and after three days, they found Him at the temple. He was sitting among the teachers and asking them questions. Here’s Luke 2:48: And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
Jesus told them, verse 49: And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Here’s verse 49 again, this time in the NKJV: And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
Are we about our Father’s business? Yes or No.
What Is Our Father’s Business?
Here’s one aspect. Our Father’s business is saving souls. Jesus came to save souls, Luke 19:10. After His resurrection, He collected the apostles in Jerusalem and told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel, Matthew 28:19. Make disciples, He told them. He directed them to baptize people in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus follows those directions with this in Matthew 28:20: “Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
“Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” What did He command them? To go out and teach. That’s our Father’s business. He’s in the soul-saving business; by Jesus’ command, we are in the same business.
The Gospel Spread
Colossians 1:23 has this: “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” The Epistle to the Colossians was written about 61 AD. That was almost 30 years after Jesus’ crucifixion. How did the gospel get preached everywhere in 30 years? No TV, radio, podcasts, or broadcasting could have been done.
Christians of that day followed Jesus’ command of Matthew 28:19-20. Christians fled Jerusalem after Stephen was killed for his sermon to the Sanhedrin, Acts 6:12 and Acts 7:57-60. In Acts 8:1-4, Christians began spreading the gospel. They must have done much to get the gospel preached everywhere in 30 years.
Are We About Our Father’s Business?
I’m afraid to say, “It doesn’t appear so.” I know there are Christians worldwide who actively teach the gospel, but I don’t know how many “Christians” are following Jesus’ command in the States. I get the feeling that not that many are sharing the gospel. Even so, more could be done.
You are filled with faith and power, Acts 6:8. Remember, the power is in the word, Romans 10:17. Like Stephen, we can do great wonders and signs – not by miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, but by the power of the word.
How many people these days are being baptized to wash away sins? If you’re a Christian worshipping at your local church of Christ, how many were baptized into Christ in the last year?
We need to be about our Father’s business. Don’t you think?
Conclusion
How will we be judged for doing little or nothing to spread the gospel? It’s a serious matter. You don’t want to stand next to someone in Judgment who says, “You never mentioned Him to me.”
Garland Van Dyke
mailto:garland.churchofchrist@gmail.com?subject=Our Father’s Business