The Child in the Temple

We know very little about Jesus' boyhood. The only insight we get is found in the end of Luke chapter 2. Jesus is 12 years old, and He has accompanied His parents to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When the feast is over, Mary and Joseph join a caravan and head back to Nazareth, thinking that Jesus is still with them. As they make camp after the day's travel, they discover that Jesus is nowhere in the group. Frightened, they head back to Jerusalem and begin searching for Jesus. They finally find Him in the Temple, talking with the Rabbis and experts in the Scripture, who are amazed at His knowledge and the quality of His questions.

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Mary rebukes Him: “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”

Apparently Jesus did not know that Mary and Joseph had left for Nazareth, and had returned and were searching for Him. He's genuinely surprised and a bit perplexed. "But why were you searching for Me? Didn't you know where I would be - in My Father's house, learning about My Father?"

In fact, these are the earliest recorded words of Jesus, His first statement that has been passed down to us in Scripture. And what words they are! They sum up what Jesus' entire life was about. Even at 12 years old, Jesus knew exactly who He was - the Son of God. The average Israelite did not refer to God as "My Father" - in fact, this could be considered blasphemy. But Jesus knew that it was true. This is especially clear when you note that in Mary's rebuke, she referred to Joseph as "your father." Of course, she knew that Joseph was not Jesus physical father, but Joseph had raised Jesus from birth, cared for and provided for Him. No doubt "father" was Jesus' common title for Joseph.

But Jesus' response shows that His focus was shifting from His earthly parents to His real Father in Heaven. Jesus was in His Father's house, learning about His Father. Question and answer was the usual format for learning in first-century Judaism, and we here glimpse Jesus fully engaged in the process. There is no suggestion of debating in the text, no picture of Jesus trying to teach the teachers. No, He is soaking in everything He can learn about His Father, His Father's Word, His Father's will and character and commands. Jesus knows who He is, and as a result, He is 100% God-focused.

If you had to answer the question "who are you," what would you say? I'm a welder, a business man, a teacher, a student, a mother or grandfather? Those are all jobs, roles or relationships. But who are you, in the deepest part of your soul? Are you a child of God? If so, do you really understand that you are a child of God? That's the foundation to be the best accountant, officer, nurse, father, wife - whatever your role, you fulfill it best by being, first of all, God's beloved child.