“THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND!”

Luke 2:48-52                                  (ESV)

“48 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."

49 And HE said to them, "Why were you looking for ME? Did you not know that I must be in MY FATHER’S house?"

50 And “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND” the saying that HE spoke to them.

51 And HE went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And HIS mother “treasured up all these things in her heart”.”

The writer of the song entitled “Mary did you know” says that Mary KNEW better than anyone that she was a virgin and was carrying the SON OF GOD in her womb.  But when JESUS was twelve years old (Luke 2:42), Mary must not have remembered that conversation with Gabriel (Luke 1:26-38)?  She said in Luke 2:40, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."  Apparently, in the hustle and bustle of “this world”, she forgot that ALMIGHTY GOD had blessed her with her CHILD, not Joseph.  

Joseph too must have been accustomed to having JESUS under his tutelage.  When JESUS responded “Why were you looking for ME? Did you not know that I must be in MY FATHER’S house?", Scripture says “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND”!  How could they forget a message both had plainly been given by angels?  (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26-38).   But don’t be too critical of Joseph and Mary, we do the same thing in our lives!  

We become so comfortable with our schedules and demands for our time that we live a large portion of our lives outside of the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT.  “The enemy” tries to get us to add to what GOD has said, or take away from what HE has said, anything to get the TRUTH skewed in our minds and cause confusion.  At least twice in the book of Luke the earthly mother of JESUS “treasured up all these things in her heart”!  She had to keep her mouth shut until GOD opened her heart to grasp the TRUTH!

We might be wise to learn a lesson from Mary.  There are many times that we need to “treasure up all these things in our hearts” and let GOD work like only HE can!  When “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND”, it might be because GOD doesn’t want us to understand AT THAT TIME!!!  HE doesn’t need my help in being GOD.  Even though GOD has given me a desire to help people in need, HE is the only ONE WHO can give them the help they really need.  “THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND” was said about the earthly father and mother of JESUS.  Sometimes GOD may WANT me to not understand???