(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.

Luke 2:48

Explanation:

Maturity is displayed in our ability to function well in and maintain relationships.  We see this exemplified in Jesus here as he had to respond in his relationships with his parents.  When they finally found Him in the temple, they responded two ways.

First, they responded in amazement.  Were they amazed that he was in the temple?  Were they amazed at what He was doing there?  It was more than likely a little bit of both. 

Second, they responded in exasperation. Mary questioned Jesus as to why he was there and not with them.  “Why hast thou thus dealt with us?”  Her question has an accusatory tone, as if he was doing something to them.  She says that their search had caused them to be “sorrowing”.  The word here translated as sorrowing could also be translated as “in torment.  She uses the word for a deep kind of sorrow.

Jesus, of course, meant no such torment, as his next statement would indicate.  Jesus had the normal human relationships that we have while he was on the earth, and even those in authority over Him sinned against him and questioned His motives.  If anyone should have known that Jesus was not sinful or hurtful in his decision making at this time it should have been Mary and Joseph.

Application:

In today’s text, verse 48, we do not see Jesus respond, yet.  We see him being questioned.  We see him being accused by those who love Him.  A good thought for today is that Jesus has been through what we have been through.  There are times when my motives have been right and yet I have been questioned and accused. There have been times where people have been doing the right thing, and it appeared to me that they were trying to “torment” me.  Jesus has experienced all of this.    Hebrews tells us this about Jesus’ experience while He was on the earth:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.   

Hebrews 4:15

Response:

Is there someone you are assuming is wrong that may be right?

What is the right way to respond when you are falsely accused?