From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Parents,
The Bible says in Luke 2:51 that Jesus was subject unto His parents: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” The setting of this statement takes place when Jesus was 12 years old. Jesus’ family made their annual trip to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the religious feasts; and at the end of the time, Joseph and Mary returned north to Galilee, and Jesus tarried in Jerusalem at the temple: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Jesus was ultimately submissive to God, but that did not negate His submission to His earthly authority. Our verse states that He was subject unto them.
The word subject has the idea of putting under authority; of submitting to; of placing or arranging under one’s control. We know that Jesus was both God and man. As God, He knows everything, but as man He chose to learn. As God, He is perfect in every way, but as man He chose to grow and develop. As God, He has all power, but as man He chose to submit to human authority. As a child, He submitted to His parents, which means that He obeyed what His parents said, putting Himself under their authority. He was under their arrangement for His life.
This example helps us to understand the role of both parents and children. Parents are the authority; children are the subordinates. Parents determine the schedule of their children; children submit to those plans. Parents establish the structure of their children’s life; children cooperate with that purpose. Parents make the rules; children obey those rules. In every way, parents are in charge. Children are to obey and to honor. This was the life of Jesus as He related to His parents, Joseph and Mary.
However, this is not always the way that it goes. In our society for at least a generation, parents have been taught that their children have “rights.” They should be free to choose their behavior, to freely express their opinion, and to contribute to the plan for their day. If they choose to eat different food than their parents provide, Mom and Dad can’t make them eat differently. If they want to wear different clothes than their parents wish, their parents should not exert their authority to change the apparel. If a teen wants to “go out” with his friends, the parents cannot say otherwise. This is not how it was with Jesus. He subjected Himself to His parents; He did what they wanted. It is not about what the children want; it is about what the parents know is best.
Too often as parents we become overly concerned with how our children feel. More than anything else, we can want our children’s happiness. So we cater to their desires at the time, rather than lead them to do what we know is right. But, children must be led, they must be restrained, and they must be taught. If we leave them to their own devices, they will not turn out right, and we will be sorely disappointed. We as parents must take charge, and our children must submit to that authority.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton
Dear Parents,
The Bible says in Luke 2:51 that Jesus was subject unto His parents: “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.” The setting of this statement takes place when Jesus was 12 years old. Jesus’ family made their annual trip to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the religious feasts; and at the end of the time, Joseph and Mary returned north to Galilee, and Jesus tarried in Jerusalem at the temple: “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Jesus was ultimately submissive to God, but that did not negate His submission to His earthly authority. Our verse states that He was subject unto them.
The word subject has the idea of putting under authority; of submitting to; of placing or arranging under one’s control. We know that Jesus was both God and man. As God, He knows everything, but as man He chose to learn. As God, He is perfect in every way, but as man He chose to grow and develop. As God, He has all power, but as man He chose to submit to human authority. As a child, He submitted to His parents, which means that He obeyed what His parents said, putting Himself under their authority. He was under their arrangement for His life.
This example helps us to understand the role of both parents and children. Parents are the authority; children are the subordinates. Parents determine the schedule of their children; children submit to those plans. Parents establish the structure of their children’s life; children cooperate with that purpose. Parents make the rules; children obey those rules. In every way, parents are in charge. Children are to obey and to honor. This was the life of Jesus as He related to His parents, Joseph and Mary.
However, this is not always the way that it goes. In our society for at least a generation, parents have been taught that their children have “rights.” They should be free to choose their behavior, to freely express their opinion, and to contribute to the plan for their day. If they choose to eat different food than their parents provide, Mom and Dad can’t make them eat differently. If they want to wear different clothes than their parents wish, their parents should not exert their authority to change the apparel. If a teen wants to “go out” with his friends, the parents cannot say otherwise. This is not how it was with Jesus. He subjected Himself to His parents; He did what they wanted. It is not about what the children want; it is about what the parents know is best.
Too often as parents we become overly concerned with how our children feel. More than anything else, we can want our children’s happiness. So we cater to their desires at the time, rather than lead them to do what we know is right. But, children must be led, they must be restrained, and they must be taught. If we leave them to their own devices, they will not turn out right, and we will be sorely disappointed. We as parents must take charge, and our children must submit to that authority.
Sincerely,
Pastor Sutton