The Young Jesus in the Temple
Luke 2:41-52
Every year there was a big feast called the Passover in Jerusalem. Every Jew would always try to get to Jerusalem for the Feast because God had told them that they were to celebrate the Passover every year. Jesus’ parents went every year to the Feast and, when Jesus was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem as usual. When the Feast was over, his parents started off for home unaware that Jesus had stayed behind in Jerusalem. They thought he was with some of their friends in the group for, in those days, people travelled between towns in groups if they could. They travelled on for a day and then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. You can imagine how upset they were when they could not find Jesus. The only thing they could do was to go back to Jerusalem to look for him.
They searched all around and, after three days, they found find him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers. He was not only listening to them but he was also asking them questions. Those who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. We should not be amazed at this for we must remember that Jesus was the Son of God. When Mary and Joseph saw him, they were astonished. His mother asked him why he had treated them in that way. She told him how unset they had been and that they had been searching for him.
Jesus’ reply must have surprised them. He said, "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Jesus was, of course, talking about His Father, God, for Joseph was not His father. His parents, however, did not understand what he was saying to them. He went home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. Surely she must have known how special Jesus was since the angel had told her about Jesus before He was born. Jesus grew up to be a wise young man who was thought well of by God and men.
We do not learn any more about the early years of Jesus. Now the next time we hear of Him will be just before He starts His public ministry and goes to the River Jordan to be baptised.
