Read Luke 2:41-52

JESUS SPEAKS WITH THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS
According to God’s Law, every male was required to go to Jerusalem three times a year for the great festivals. In the spring, the Passover was celebrated, followed immediately by the week long Festival of Unleavened Bread. Passover commemorated the night of the Jews’ escape from Egypt when God had killed the Egyptians first born, but passed over the Israelites homes. Passover was the most important of the three annual festivals.
At age 12, Jesus was considered almost an adult, and so He didn’t spend a whole lot of time with His parents during the festival. Those who attended these festivals often traveled in caravans for protection from robbers along the roads. It was customary for the women and children to travel at the front of the caravan, with the men bringing up the rear. A 12-year old boy could conceivably have been in either group, and both Mary and Joseph assumed Jesus was with the other one. But when the caravan left Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind, absorbed in His discussion with the religious leaders.
The Temple courts were famous throughout Judea as a place of learning. At the time of Passover, the greatest Rabbis of the land would assemble to teach and to discuss great truths among themselves. The coming of the Messiah would no doubt would have been a popular discussion topic, for everyone was expecting Him soon. Jesus would have been eager to listen and to ask probing questions. It was not His youth but the depth of His wisdom that astounded these teachers.
Mary had to let go of her child and let Him become a man, God’s Son, the Messiah. Fearful that she hadn’t been careful enough with the God-given child, she searched frantically for Him. But she was looking for a boy, not the young man who was in the Temple astounding the religious leaders in the Temple with his questions. It is hard to let go of people or projects we have nurtured. It is both sweet and painful to see our children growing up into adults, our students into teachers, our subordinates into managers, our inspirations into institutions. But when the time comes, we must step back and let go – in spite of the hurt. Then our protege’s can exercise their wings, take flight, and soar to the heights God intended for them. Jesus’ parents didn’t understand what He meant about His Father’s house. They didn’t realize He was making a distinction between His earthly father and His Heavenly Father. Jesus knew He had a unique relationship with God. Although Mary and Joseph knew He was God’s Son, they didn’t understand what His mission would involve. Besides, they had to raise Him, along with His brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:55-56), as a normal child. They knew He was unique, but they did not know what was going on in His mind.
Even though Jesus knew His real Father, He did not reject His earthly parents. He went back to Nazareth with them and lived under their authority for another 18 years. God’s people do not despise human relationships or family responsibilities. If the Son of God obeyed His human parents, how much more should we honor our family member. Don’t use commitment to God’s work to justify neglecting your family.
The Bible does not record any events of the next 18 years of Jesus’ life, but Jesus undoubtedly was learning and maturing. As the oldest in a large family, He assisted Joseph in his carpentry work. Joseph may have died during this time, leaving Jesus to provide for the family. The normal routines of daily life gave Jesus a solid understanding of the Judean people.
Although Jesus was unique, He had a normal childhood and adolescence. In terms of development, He went through the same progression as we do. He grew physically and mentally, He related to other people, and He was loved by God. A full human life is not unbalanced. It was important to Jesus, and should be important to us to develop fully and harmoniously in each of these key areas: physical, mental, social, and spiritual.