Title: How Jesus Treated His Parents And Why

Introduction.

Today we are going to be looking at how Jesus treated his parents. In understanding Jesus’ relationship with his parents, He exemplified what a perfect child should be to His parents.

Despite his divine nature and mission, Jesus demonstrated humility and submission to his parents. Not only that but had a deep respect for them that goes beyond blind obedience. Ultimately, Jesus’ treatment of his parents reflected his perfect love and obedience to God the Father. His actions demonstrated the importance of honouring and respecting one’s parents while fulfilling the higher purpose and calling placed upon one’s life.

Point 1. Jesus transferred His allegiance from His parents to God when He became a man. 

Luke 2:41-52 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Jesus’ family tradition

The family tradition for Jesus and his parents involved visiting the temple yearly. On a particular occasion, Jesus acted differently from previous years. He chose to stay behind in the temple while his parents began their journey back home. The reason behind Jesus’ decision to stay behind in the temple lies in his understanding of his identity and purpose. As the Son of God, Jesus recognized that he had a unique relationship with his heavenly Father and a mission to fulfill.

Why did it take three days for his parents to find him?

Jesus’ parents took three days to locate him because they were searching in the wrong places. They likely assumed he was with their relatives or fellow travellers. 

How did his parents feel about what Jesus had done?

Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, were understandably anxious and concerned when they finally found him in the temple. They expressed their distress, questioning why he had caused them such worry. Jesus, on the other hand, seemed surprised by their anxiety. He asked them why they were searching for him, reminding them that he must be in his Father’s house. It is unclear whether Jesus’ parents fully comprehended why he did what he did. The Scriptures do not explicitly indicate their understanding of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and the significance of his mission.

What was Jesus doing?

Jesus’ action in staying behind in the temple was a demonstration of his recognition that God was his true Father. He was in the place where he recognised his true spiritual home and where he could deepen his understanding about God.

Though Jesus prioritised God, it is important to note that his obedience to his parents in other areas of his life was not compromised. He returned home with them and continued to be obedient in the normal day-to-day aspects of his life.

Putting God first did not mean complete disobedience to his parents. Jesus exemplified the balance of honouring his earthly parents while prioritising his relationship with God and fulfilling his calling as the Son of God.

Point 2. Jesus becomes a mission focussed man.

We pick up the story after Jesus has aged and started preaching the word in his ministry. 

Mark 3:20-21 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

When Jesus preached the gospel, people reacted by wanting to follow him and spend time with him. The crowds grew to such an extent that Jesus and his disciples were not even able to eat, showing the intensity and demands of his ministry.

When Jesus’ family heard about the situation and the extent of his ministry, they felt concerned and believed that he was out of his mind. They felt the need to take charge of him, possibly to protect him or bring him back to a more conventional way of life. Jesus’ family perhaps struggled to comprehend the significance of his mission and impact it was having on his life.

If you were to suddenly start preaching the gospel and your time became consumed by others seeking your attention. How would your parents think of you? 

• They might feel proud of your devotion to spreading the gospel but also concerned about the potential strain it could place on your life and relationships.

How did Jesus handle this situation?

When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived and sent someone to call him, one might have expected Jesus to immediately go to them. However, Jesus used the situation as an opportunity to teach about priorities and the importance of putting God’s will first. He looked at those seated around him and proclaimed that whoever does God’s will is his family.

Jesus’ response may have caused mixed emotions among his family. They might have felt surprised, challenged, or even hurt by his words, as he seemed to prioritise his spiritual family over his biological family.

In this moment we see, Jesus wanted to teach that fulfilling God’s will and following Him should be the ultimate priority in one’s life, even if it meant challenging familial expectations. Jesus did not try to soften the blow or dilute his message. He wanted to convey the importance of spiritual commitment and loyalty to God, even if it meant stirring discomfort within his own family.

In becoming a mission-focused man, Jesus exhibited a radical commitment to fulfilling God’s will and spreading the gospel. His actions and teachings emphasised the importance of prioritising God above all else.

Point 3. Jesus’s teaching on family priorities.

Matthew 10:32-38 "“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me."

In this verse, Jesus is teaching that following Him and living according to God’s will lead to divisions and conflicts within families. He emphasises that allegiance to Him and the kingdom of God should take precedence over familial ties. This is because they challenge and disrupt the status quo even within households. When individuals in a family choose to radically follow Christ, it often brings to light the stark contrast between God’s ways and the ways of the world, causing friction and disagreement.

Parents and family members often desire control over one another rather than surrendering to God’s control. They may prioritise their own desires, reputation, or society’s expectations over seeking and following God’s will. This clash of priorities can lead to tension and divisions within families.

How do family members feel it will reflect on them if you are a radical follower of Christ?

Family members may feel embarrassed if their siblings or even parents become a radical follower of Christ. They might fear being associated with the unconventional beliefs and practices of their relative. They may worry about the judgments and criticisms they could face from society for not conforming to mainstream beliefs or expectations.

Point 4. So does God and Jesus want us to look after our parents or family? 

Mark 7:1-13 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

Yes, God demands we look after our parents.

In the context of Jesus’ teachings, it becomes evident that God places great importance on honouring and caring for our parents. This passage shows the Pharisees and teachers of the law challenging Jesus on his non-conformity to their religious traditions. Jesus challenged the Pharisees and teachers of the law on their neglect of their parents in their old age. They were using the excuse of giving to God as a means to avoid their responsibility of caring for their parents and providing for their needs. Jesus was upset as he saw it as a distortion of their religious duty and a violation of the commandments to honour one’s parents.

According to Jesus’ teachings, we are called to love and care for our parents when they are in need. This includes providing for their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By taking care of our parents, we have a greater chance of helping them become Christians as they witness the love of Christ throughout our lives. Our actions can serve as a powerful testimony and a means to draw them closer to the Christian faith.

Jesus set us the example of how to look after our parents.

John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

During Jesus’ crucifixion, amidst immense physical and emotional pain, he demonstrated remarkable concern for his mother and her well-being.If one of us were being crucified, it would be natural for our thoughts to be consumed by our own suffering or even death. When Jesus saw his mother standing near the cross, he recognised her need for support and care. Despite his own dire situation, his immediate reaction was to ensure that his mother would be taken care of after his death. Jesus turned to his beloved disciple, John, and instructed him to take on the responsibility of caring for his mother. John, having learned to obey God rather than following his own feelings, willingly accepted Jesus’ instruction and took Mary into his home. This obedience to God’s command exemplifies the disciples’ commitment to following Christ’s teachings and imitating his selfless love.

Point 5. Why did Jesus treat His parent, His mother and all of His family this way?

Acts 1:12-14 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

In the room with the apostles, Jesus’ mother and his family were present, praying to Jesus and in active fellowship. Their obedience was now directed towards Jesus’ teachings rather than their previous perception that he was out of his mind. They recognised the truth of his teachings and the significance of following them.

Jesus’ resurrection played a pivotal role in their change of perspective. This undeniable proof now lay the bedrock to their obedience as Jesus’ family continue to preach his message even after his death. An example of this is James, Jesus’ brother, as he became a prominent leader in the early Christian movement. He not only followed Jesus’ teachings but also took on leadership roles within the church, as he later lead the church in Jerusalem.

In helping our families become Christians is crucial as you show your family who your priorities is on: God and not them. By paving the way, they will see your actions and be moved to see how God works powerfully through your life. Ultimately, Jesus’ example highlights the importance of putting God above his family, and not family above God.

Conclusion

Jesus treated His parents and family in a way that may seem unconventional, but it was driven by a greater purpose. As He became a man, Jesus moved His allegiance from His parents to God, embracing His mission and calling. His focus shifted towards fulfilling God’s will putting it above familial ties. Throughout all of this, Jesus never dismissed the significance of caring for parents. Ultimately, Jesus’ treatment of His parents and family was rooted in His mission to save them. Jesus understood that true love for His parents involved leading them towards God, even if it meant temporary challenges and misunderstandings. His actions serve as a reminder that our ultimate goal should be to lead our families to salvation and prioritise God above all else.