Looking at the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, we notice that just a few of his years are described. There are a handful of stories from the time surrounding his birth; and then the lengthy records of his ministry, beginning when Jesus was about thirty. Those in-between years have been reason for much speculation: What was his childhood like? What did Jesus do in all those years before his ministry? On this the gospels are silent, with the exception of one passage, Luke 2:41-52.

This text follows the account of Jesus’ birth and all that accompanied it. After these events, Joseph and Mary returned to Galilee. It’s in Nazareth that Jesus then spends his formative years; as Luke tells us,

The child grew and became strong; He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.Luke 2:40

Then we’re given one glimpse of Jesus’ childhood, when Jesus went to the temple as a young boy. Luke sets the stage by describing how Jesus’ parents went annually to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. From the Mosaic law we know that adult males had to attend three yearly feasts. Distance constraints prevented some Jews from attending all three, but many still attempted to be at Passover.

The custom was that at age twelve, a Jewish boy prepared to take his place more fully in the religious community. Thus when Jesus was twelve, He joined his parents for this celebration.

However, on the return trip from the big city, things didn’t go so smoothly. Somehow Jesus was left behind at Jerusalem, while his parents went on their way. Joseph and Mary had already journeyed one day when they discovered his absence; after returning, it was three days before they found Him. Quite understandably, they were anxious at having been apart from their young son for so long.

Their anxiety quickly gave way to astonishment!  For they found Jesus “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions” (v 46). Jesus had been conversing with the rabbis, the experts in Judaism who gathered in the temple precincts for teaching and discussion. His presence there had not been an annoyance; rather, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers” (v 47).

When Mary challenges Him for his apparent disrespect, Jesus answers her directly: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (v 49) His parents don’t understand his words, for they overlook the subtle contrast between Mary’s plea and his reply. She had said, “Your father and I have been anxiously searching.” Yet Jesus spoke of his need to be in “My Father’s house.”

In this we see that Jesus – already at a young age – had a living awareness of his unique bond to God the Father. Just as Gabriel had told Mary some years before, this child would be called “the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32). Jesus the Son lived in this knowledge, from the time of his youth, right into adulthood.

Indeed, it was because of this relationship that Jesus had desired to be in the temple. For this was the special place of the Father’s earthly presence. Here, through the study of his Father’s Word – “the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44) – the Son was preparing Himself to take up his mission, even though its beginning was still some eighteen years away.

While Jesus was aware of the calling that his heavenly Father had placed upon Him, He certainly didn’t disregard his earthly parents. For after this event, Jesus went to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary and “was obedient to them” (v 51). His maturing process, also through learning true obedience to God, would continue until the time was right. Then the Son would take up his ministry in earnest.

At Jesus’ baptism, the Father’s own voice would sound from heaven, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). With those affirming words in his ears, the Son would officially begin the work that He had come to earth to do: bringing glory to his Father in all things, even when it meant dying on the cross.

As those who could never offer full obedience to the Father, let us give thanks for the Son’s faithfulness, from the beginning of his life to its very end. For through his perfect obedience as the Son, Jesus Christ made it possible for us too, to become children of God!