February 11

Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business.

Luke ii. 1f.

CHRIST came to be a pattern to us in all the relationships of life, which he filled. Hence it is recorded, when Joseph and Mary found him in the temple, that he went down to Nazareth, and was subject to them, No doubt his early life, was one spotless copy of affectionate obedience. His reply however to his mother, who asked, "why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold thy Father and I have sought thee sorrowing," is deserving of especial notice. "Wist ye not, said he, that I must be about my Father's business." He did not reject the authority which they exercised, but he sweetly reminded her, that he had another Father, and that his business, was of supreme importance. And how completely did all his life embody the sentiment thus expressed. It was for this he left the high abodes of bliss, and became an inhabitant of our world. For this, that he assumed a servant's form, and took a servant's place, that he might execute his Father's business. For what did the Redeemer live; wherefore was he subjected to toil, and poverty, and suffering, and reproach? was it not that he might accomplish his Father's business? And after he entered upon his great official engagements; he never wearied, he never once turned aside from this great work. It was his meat and drink to do his Father's will; the zeal of his engagements absorbed all his soul, employed all his energies, engrossed all his time. By the sea shore, in the desert, on the summit of the mountain, when passing on the common roads of Judea, in the humble village, or in the streets of the city of Jewish solemnities, he was ever about his Father's business. At last the active department of that work was completed, and he satisfactorily exclaimed, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." (John 17:3.) And shortly afterwards he ended all he had engaged to bear and to suffer; and closed his work and life together, crying with a loud voice, "It is finished," and thus yielded up the Ghost. Dear reader, in this, Jesus hath left us an example, that we should follow his steps.