Sometimes we like to give special emphasis to a person’s last words before their passing. As such, we frequently give particular attention to Jesus’ last words on this earth — i.e., the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).
Equally important and even more exciting for parents is to wait to hear their child’s first words. What will be the first thing their child says? “Daddy”? “Mommy”? “Bye-bye”? “Bible”? “Love you”? Many parents listen eagerly for that first recognizable utterance. Then, they write it down in the baby book, call their friends, post it on Facebook, and spend time bragging (if it happened to be their name).
Have you ever wondered what Jesus’ first words must have been? “Father”? “Angels”? “Must be fulfilled”? “Where am I?” We do not know; it is not recorded in Scripture. However, we can give attention to the first words that Scriptures record as coming from His lips.
The Sermon on the Mount is the first sermon recorded, but we have some words from before that. He spoke when tempted by the devil, but we have some words from before that. When He was baptized, He spoke a few words, but we have some words from before that.
The first words that we have recorded from our Lord’s mouth are found in Luke 2, when He was only 12 years old. Could the words from a 12-year-old’s mouth be as exciting as the first words from an infant’s mouth? Well, when we’re talking about Jesus’ words, the answer is obvious! We read only two sentences from Him, but they were enough to hold us for those first 30 years of His life.
When Joseph and Mary finally found Jesus in the temple, after being separated for three days, we hear these words from Him — “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).
Think about this statement. What a tremendous thing for a 12-year-old to say. In fact, it is a tremendous thing for any responsible individual to utter. “I must be about My Father’s business!”
Rather than be embarrassed by our Christian lives, when was the last time we were excited enough by the words of Jesus or doing our Father’s business that we called our friends, posted something on Facebook or spent time bragging about Him “calling our name”?
Throughout His life, even from a young age, Jesus lived by one philosophy — “do my Father’s business!” Do you?