Luke 2:48 (ESV)
And when his parents saw him,
they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us
so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”
Jesus’ parents were astonished
and in great distress. The word “astonished” is used thirteen times in the New
Testament and it is always translated as astonished. But I wonder if that is a
strong enough word. The word holds the idea of being struck out of one’s
senses. Dumbfounded might be a good word, but panicked and shocked are also
close to the meaning. Astonished might be the right word, but my mind thinks “surprised”
when I read astonished. They were more than surprised. They were out of their
minds in shock.
The word translated “great
distress” means to be in torment. They had been entrusted with the Son of God
and they had lost him. They were out of their minds in torment, seeking their
twelve-year-old son. Jesus, on the other hand, was having a pleasant
conversation with the teachers in the temple.
Jesus’ parents were out of their
minds with worry while Jesus was completely safe. It makes me wonder how many
times I have been panicked over something while God had it in complete control.
Should they have known where Jesus was? He seems to think so. He said, “Did you
not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they couldn’t see it, and
what they did see sent them into great distress and anxiety. Maybe that is why
Hebrews 12 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. He is the founder and perfecter
of our faith (Heb 12:2 esv). Like Peter walking on the water, when our eyes are
on Jesus we have peace, but when our eyes get focused on what we see around us
we are often filled with great distress.
Hebrews 12:1b-2 (ESV)
. . . let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter
of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
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