In His Father's House | The Wolfe Notes

These notes follow our 7-step rhythm for Bible study. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV) translation.


In His Father's House
(From Luke 2:41-50)

1. Summary

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On their return to Nazareth, Joseph and Mary realize that Jesus is missing. They return to Jerusalem and find Him talking to teachers in the temple who were mesmerized by His level of understanding. Mary chastises Jesus, explaining how tortured they were when they realized He was missing. Jesus returns the chastisement by asking how they did not know that He would be doing His Father's business.

2. N/W/L Statements

  1. I NOTICED that it took one day to notice His absence, one day to return to Jerusalem, and three days to find Him. Supposing Jesus was conducting the same business for the entirety of His absence, Jesus talked to the learned men for five days.  
  2. I WONDER What they talked about.
  3. I think God wants us to LEARN that Jesus was always about His Father's business, and so should we be.

3. Key Verse

Why did you need to look for Me? Didn't you know that I must be working for my Father? Luke 2:49 (VOICE)

This verse reminds me how silly Jesus thought it was that they couldn't find Him; He only has one goal. May the same be said for us. If ever we are lost, may we remember where we are truly found: when we are doing our Father's business.

4. God's Character

  1. God's primary goal is for people to understand who He is. (Jesus wandered away not for selfish and vain pursuits, but to help others understand His Father.)
    1. x Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened? Has a people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived? Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation - by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors - as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes? You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him. Deuteronomy 4:32-35
    2. x You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 
    3. x God our Savior, ... desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:3-4
  2. God uses time wisely. (While Jesus could have stayed safe with His family who already loved Him, His heart longed for people who did not know Him to understand the truth.)
    1. x Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17
    2. x Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6
    3. x O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold!, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Psalm 39:4-5
  3. God acts unexpectedly. (We would consider a child who wanders away to be disobedient, yet Jesus was without sin. Clearly, He did not consider His action as wrong and even defended Himself to His mother.) 
    1. x Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, number Israel and Judah." II Samuel 24:1
    2. x And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"... Behold!, all that [Job] has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Job 1:8, 12
    3. x ...Behold!, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:46-50 (For more, see our Matthew 12 notes.)

5. Pray

Father God, You have a burning desire that we may know who You truly are. That is Your main motivation, and it should be ours, too. Please, Father God, instill in me a desire to understand You better and to help others understand You more, too. Guide my heart toward seeking You and my words toward speaking the truth about You.

6. Act

  • Stay in learner mode; always seek to know God more. Don't fall into the lie that you already know all there is to know.
  • Make the most of every opportunity to show others who He is through what you think, say, and do.
  • Trust Him, even when you don't understand what He's doing.

7. Annotation Notes

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, ! a connection, and italics a referenced source.
  1. ? How many more years would it be before Jesus returns to Jerusalem for Passover and astonishes the authorities in another way? (Luke 2:41 & Luke 22)
  2. ! At twelve, Jesus would be studying the Tanakh. Did He need to study it, being that He is the word? ("E74: Silent Years - Synagogue by BEMA Discipleship Podcast and John 1:1)

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