Must!

Luke 2:49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” ^ESV

These are the first recorded words of Jesus. He is only 12 years old but already on a mission! Already there is a burning, a passion, a compulsion about His life and ministry. Even though He won’t make His public appearance for about another 18 years, His life has one focus - my Father’s business Literally, in the things of my Father. Living for His Father, gloryfying Him and enjoying Him are His priority.

There is a must (δεῖ) – “it is necessary, or it behoves. A word often used by Jesus concerning his own appointed work, and expressing both the inevitable fulfilment of the divine counsels and the absolute constraint of the principle of duty upon himself.”

This must stayed with Him for the rest of His life - See:

Mt 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ^ESV

Mt 26:54 But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?” ^ESV

Mk 8:31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. ^ESV

Lk 4:43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” ^ESV

Lk 9:22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” ^ESV

Lk 13:33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ ^ESV

Lk 24:7 ⁷that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ^ESV

Lk 24:26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ^ESV

Lk 24:46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ^ESV

Jn 3:14 ¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ^ESV

Jn 4:4 And he had to pass through Samaria. ^ESV

Jn 12:34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” ^ESV

So, I ask myself today – is there a must in my life? A passion, a compulsion in my living for God – a sense of mission that I am tied up with something great – that my chief end is indeed to glorify God and enjoy Him forever?

(Greek info from: Vincent, M. R. (2002). Word studies in the New Testament (1:279). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)