Luke 2: 41-52 (ESV)
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.
Comment:
See my comments on passage on 24th Dec. In the one verse from 40 to 41 we cover 12 years! In some parts of the world 12 year old kids are given a lot more freedom/responsibility than we give ours. (It is possible to give too much freedom if there isn’t a healthily developed sense of responsibility.) Jesus was trusted to get himself into the touring party. He didn’t, instead he snuck into the temple. Surely the elders must have been staggered by this young prodigy. This is a 3-day plus interview. Presumably they must have fed him and given him a corner to sleep in. I wonder what they talked about?
His answer to his parents when they found him seems a bit cheeky. But I wonder – maybe he was saying ‘cast your minds back to all your angel memories’. This is ‘My Father’s house, where else would you expect to find me? But he returned with them to Nazareth and was a good son to them. To whom must he show his first responsibility of obedience?
Prayer: Do you have a life’s work you want me to do, God?
As I read it! 