A couple of weeks ago I noticed that Jesus’ first words in Luke are “Why were you looking for me?” and that got me to wondering what each of the Gospel writers captured as Jesus’ first quotes. 
Like I said, in Luke, Jesus asks his parents, “Why were you looking for me?” and follows it up with “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” In Matthew, He tells his cousin, John the Baptist, “let it be so for now for this is fitting” in response to John’s question about why Jesus isn’t baptizing HIM instead of the other way around. In Mark, Jesus comes on the scene with an urgent statement that “the time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand.” Lastly, in John, Jesus asks Andrew and some other guy, “What are you seeking?”
Each of the evangelists had a number of Jesus quotes that could have been first, but I think it’s interesting to think about what lines each of them chose as His first words in their records of His life. Two of the first lines are questions, one is an answer, and the other is a declaration. Two deal with who Jesus is, and two deal with things He came to do. One line is said to people in general, the rest are said in relationship.
In some ways, the first words mirror the specific flavor of the Gospel. Luke’s Gospel shows that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king – therefore it makes sense that He would assume that His parents get what He is there to do and how that has to be in the temple (the temple that He takes up residence in just before His death as well). Matthew’s Gospel shows how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament so that He can hand the kingdom over to the whole world through the Gentiles, so it makes sense that His first words are about fulfilling a law. Mark’s Gospel is a brusque rush to the Cross to bring God’s Kingdom to bear, and so is Mark’s first quote. John’s Gospel shows a Jesus who wants to show you that His presence in your life is probably deeper than you have imagined thus far, so His “sounding” question as a first line gets you to consider what it is that you’re really looking for (and how He will blow the doors off of that).
Each of the quotes also reveal a hope that we have in Jesus. “Why were you looking for me?” reveals a hope that Jesus is worth seeking out. “Let it be so for now,” reveals a hope that Jesus is the final sacrifice for our sin. “The time is fulfilled,” reveals a hope that the wait for a Savior is over and we are living in the time of God’s Kingdom. Finally, “What are you seeking?” reveals a hope for a God who comes to us with care for our perspective and needs.
Spend some time getting know Jesus this week by looking at His words. Maybe look at His last words, or just flip open to a random spot in the Gospels. Consider what Jesus said then, how He is still saying it to you, and what hope that might bring you even today.