Bible Reading: Luke 2:41-51
How did Jesus treat His earthly parents when He disagreed with them?
Jesus did disagree with His parents now and then. (If you don’t believe me, read Luke 2:41-52
and John 2:1-12.) When those times came, however, Jesus realized who was in charge.
For example, today’s Bible tells us about a time when Jesus and His parents went to Jerusalem. When the time came to leave, Mary and Joseph had to go looking for Jesus. Though His parents thought Jesus was with their traveling group, Jesus had been left behind. When the found Jesus, verse 51 tells us Jesus “went down to Nazareth with them [his parents] and was obedient to them.” Jesus knew that His Heavenly Father expected Him to respect and obey His earthly mother and father.
Jesus also knew that in order to live a sinless life here on earth, He had to set aside what He wanted and do what His Heavenly Father wanted. That meant that even if He didn’t agree with His earthly parents or didn’t like what they wanted Him to do, He obeyed them.
We should follow Jesus’ example. We should be obedient to anyone God has chosen to put in authority over us.
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.” Hebrews 13:17
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be obedient to You and to those You have placed in authority over me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.