The Boy in the Temple

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52

Every year, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It was a long walk from Nazareth, and lots of families from their town travelled together in a big, noisy group.

When Jesus was twelve years old, He went with them, as usual.

After the festival was over, everyone set off for home. But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph didn’t know. They thought He was somewhere in the big crowd, with friends or cousins. So they walked for a whole day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

But Jesus wasn’t there! Nobody had seen Him.

Can you imagine how worried Mary and Joseph must have been? They hurried all the way back to Jerusalem to search for Him. They looked and looked.

At last, after three days, they found Him. He was in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers of God’s law, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus was amazed at how much He understood, and at His answers.

When Mary and Joseph saw Him, they were astonished.

“Son, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been so worried, searching everywhere for You!”

“Why were you looking for Me?” Jesus asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?”

Mary and Joseph didn’t understand what He meant. But Jesus was talking about God. God was His real Father, and the temple was His Father’s house.

Even at twelve years old, Jesus knew who He was. He knew He was God’s Son.

But here’s something important. Jesus didn’t stay in the temple. He went back home to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, and He obeyed them. Even though He was God’s Son, He did what His parents told Him.

And Mary treasured up all these things in her heart.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth. He got taller and stronger. He learned and grew wiser. He probably learned to be a carpenter from Joseph, making tables and doors and ploughs. And God was pleased with Him, and people liked Him.

Jesus knows what it’s like to be a child. He knows what it’s like to learn and grow up, and to be part of a family. He was a real boy, just like you.

Read it in your Bible: Luke 2:41–52

Dear Jesus, thank you that you know what it’s like to be a child. Please help me to grow like you did: in wisdom, and in my body, and in loving God and other people. Help me to obey my parents. Amen.