NATIVITY By Mike Herron

mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” 49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Jesus’ parents were ‘ struck out’ by what they heard. They had not been aware of the depth of their sons’ giftedness in understanding the Word of God. Mary admits her parental negligence by the choice of her words but reprimands Jesus with her question; why have you treated us like this? Mary addresses Joseph as the father of Jesus; ’Your father and I…’ Jesus’ answer forever switches his full allegiance from Joseph, his earthly legal father, to his heavenly father; “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” These are the first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospels and indicate his lifelong abandonment to God’s will. This passage is also translated by others; ‘…being about my Father’s business/affairs.’ 4 ‘House’ is often synonymous with all the affairs that take place within a persons’ home. Mary and Joseph were not prepared for the dawning of the Messianic awareness in their son. This whole scene is beyond their comprehension. 51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. As the story closes there is a shift in the parental/child relationship. ‘”He” went to Nazareth, accompanied by them…’ 5 Jesus had advanced beyond his parents in religious understanding yet he was still subject to the Law of the fifth Commandment: ‘Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land that Lord your God is giving you.’ (Ex 20:12 NLT) Although Mary did not fully understand the significance of what had just happened, she stored up this information in her