Luke 2:41-52·~1 min

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Each year the family goes to Jerusalem for Passover, and when Jesus is twelve they travel there again. On the return journey he stays behind in Jerusalem, his parents do not know it, and after a day’s travel they begin searching for him until they go back to the city.

E⁴¹very year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. ⁴²And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. ⁴³When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. ⁴⁴Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

After three days they find him in the temple courts among the teachers, listening and asking questions, and all who hear him are astounded by his understanding and answers.

⁴⁶Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

His parents are astonished and ask why he has done this, but he answers that they should have known he had to be in his Father’s house. They do not understand what he says.

⁴⁸When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” ⁴⁹“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” ⁵⁰But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

He goes down with them to Nazareth and remains obedient, while his mother keeps these things in her heart. Jesus grows in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people.

⁵¹Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Section summaryAt Passover, the twelve-year-old Jesus remains in Jerusalem while his parents travel home and then search for him. They find him among the teachers in the temple, where his understanding and answers astonish them. He speaks of belonging in his Father’s house, returns in obedience, and continues to grow in wisdom and favor.

Role in the chapterThis final scene shows the child’s understanding, his first recorded words, and his ordered life between family and Father.