Do you remember when you were 12 years old? The final year before you became a bona-fide teenager, eager to be closer to the time you could drive. To be honest, I don't remember being 12. I know I spent lots of time playing sports and never truly having any hardship. Most of my earlier memories are pleasant ones, but it all seems like a blur. I didn't have many responsibilities placed upon me; basically I had to go to school, stay out of trouble, and enjoy life. I luckily wasn't asked to work or forced to drop out as some 12-year-olds unfortunately are. I had parents who loved me and a wonderful church family. I had not a care in the world, just growing up as healthfully, spiritually and mentally, as a 12-year-old should. At that age, it's too young to worry about career, future spouse, and future children; anyhow, at 12, you still think girls are the enemy. Ah, to be 12 again, some would say, to be free from major responsibility; that's the way it should be, especially at 12. But imagine with me a different scenario.

Imagine being 12 again, but with a different set of circumstances. Imagine having to begin tending to your father's business. A business that deals with saving the souls of men, a burden that hangs upon your shoulders. Imagine knowing that in your life hangs the destiny of all humankind. Realizing that if you should falter, all of humanity is lost and God will be proven to be a liar. Furthermore, you understand that your life will end in a horrible death and you will be betrayed by one whom you have chosen to be part of your inner circle. You know all of this at the age of 12, because you know you are on a mission to fulfill your father's business.

In today's "parents have no right to parent world," God the Father would have had His Son taken away and put in the custody of foster parents for laying such a burden, at so young an age, upon His Son. The truth is that at 12 years of age Jesus knew that He was born to die. His life would pay for your sins. At 12, Jesus knew that He was target No. 1 for the devil Jesus' entire life was lived under the microscope of the entire universe. Every move he would make, every word uttered, was under investigation. His free time, His play time, His school time, His time with His earthly parents was watched closely. If Jesus committed just one sin, His life would have been in vain. Can you imagine the pressure you would feel at 12, knowing that the universe rested upon your shoulders? Despite this enormous weight on the shoulders of a 12-year-old, Jesus did not complain. His joy was to be in His Father's house.

"When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. ... 'Why were you searching for me?' he asked. 'Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?'"

(Luke 2:42, 49)

The Story goes on to say in Verse 50 that they didn't understand His statement. How sad. ...

I pray that you can understand what Jesus meant, that in life all that matters is doing the Father's will. He was born to die so that you, who are dead in your sins, will live. He knew His life would lead to death. Our problem is that we think we are alive but do not know we are truly dead if we do not have Jesus. Follow Christ and live.

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Gio Marin is an author, currently working on a master of divinity degree at Andrews Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, with a dual emphasis on systematic theology and church growth & evangelism. Visit For His Glory, the blog, and send an email to {email GioMarinColumn@aol.com}GioMarinColumn@ aol.com{/email}. © Copyright 2007 by Gio Marin.