Living in Liberty

A Ministry of Bryce Lowance

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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My Father's Business

3 May 2014

“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. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 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.” (Luke 2:48-51)

A few year's ago there was a popular bumper sticker that read, "My boss is a Jewish carpenter." That statement is false. It implies that Jesus was the son of Joseph and was employed in his father's trade.

Jesus in this exchange reminds His mother and us Who His true Father is.

Joseph and Mary were amazed at where they found Jesus because typically a twelve year old boy would be playing games in the streets of Jerusalem not sitting with the wisest in Israel in the temple!

Mary does not attack Jesus. She explains to Him that she and Joseph were worried about Him and had been looking for Him for two days.

Jesus seems to chide them or put them in remembrance that He does not have an earthly father. This is proof that Jesus did not need to learn about being the Messiah. He knew all along who He was and had to remind others on occasion. Jesus was not asking Mary “why were you looking for me?” He was asking, “why were so worried when you were looking for me?” He reminds her that she should be trusting in the providence of God for his care.

The “business” He was conducting in the temple was not the work of redemption but of beginning to set the record straight about the law and the prophets.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Just as any son would properly do, Jesus was following in His true Father's path. Even at a very young age, He showed His prophetic ministry.

Mary and Joseph did not understand what business Jesus would have in the Temple. they were reminded of His relationship to His Father but they did not understand what was going on. Mary once again keeps these things in her heart. She did not speak out or argue. She did not brag to others about what her son had done. She was not ashamed but amazed! All these things that she has kept in her heart will come to the surface when she sees her firstborn son hanging on the cross.

Showing that He is not disrespecting Mary and Joseph's earthly parental authority, Jesus subjected Himself to their careonce again. We are to obey parents and be subject only to them unless God has instructed us otherwise.

And lest we think that we can do things without telling our parents, we must also remember that this was God the Son not telling His earthly parents what He was doing.

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Tags: famliy, harmony_of_the_gospels, jesus, joseph, luke, mary, sanhedrin

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.