This Gospel passage draws us into the hidden years of our Lord’s life and opens a rare window into His childhood. In the brief account of Christ as a twelve-year-old boy in the Temple, we are given profound insight into His identity, His obedience, and His growing awareness of His divine mission. Though the years of His youth are largely veiled in silence, this moment speaks powerfully to us about seeking God, loving wisdom, and living in faithful obedience to the Father’s will.
The Collect.
O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gospel. Luke 2:41-52
NOW his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Christ as a Twelve-Year-Old Boy in the Temple
After Christ’s birth, circumcision, and presentation in the Temple, we are told nothing more about Him until this moment. And after this event, we will encounter Him again only when, at about thirty years of age, He comes to the Jordan to John the Baptist to be baptized. For this reason, this single recorded episode from His childhood is of great importance for our reflection on Christ’s mission.
The Gospel passage begins by telling us that Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of Passover. All adult men were required to make pilgrimage to the Temple three times a year: for Passover, for the Feast of Weeks (the harvest), and for the Feast of Tabernacles (the ingathering). This applied especially to those who lived closer to Jerusalem. Those for whom it was difficult to travel three times a year were expected to go at least once a year, at Passover. And those who could not even do that were to make pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Christ’s parents, as the Gospel tells us, went every year for Passover. Passover is the feast that reminds Israel of the liberation of the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 12).
Nazareth, the place where they lived, lies about 140 kilometers from Jerusalem. In those days people usually traveled on foot. Hence the very word “pilgrimage”—a journey made by walking to Jerusalem, to the Temple. Such a pilgrimage lasted days, and for those who lived farther away, even months. Today, people sometimes find it difficult to walk or drive even a few minutes to their church. Fewer and fewer are willing to make sacrifices, and yet sacrifice is precisely what God asks of us.
It is worth noting that the text speaks of Jesus’ parents. Although only Mary was Jesus’ biological parent, Joseph is also called His parent. And indeed he was so in a legal sense: he believed the angel who appeared to him in a dream and announced Christ’s birth; he accepted Jesus, gave Him His name—which in that time meant acknowledging Him as his son—raised Him, and gave Him a father’s love. Through Joseph, Christ is also the Son of David, for Joseph came from David’s lineage.
We do not know whether Jesus had gone to Jerusalem before this, or whether this was His first journey. Boys became “sons of the law” at the age of thirteen—that is, religiously of age and full members of the synagogue. At that point they assumed all the responsibilities of a circumcised man. It is possible that this is precisely why Jesus made this pilgrimage with His parents on this occasion, to prepare for the rite that awaited Him.
They remained in Jerusalem for several days, and after fulfilling their religious duties they set out to return to Nazareth. Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but His parents did not notice this at once. They assumed He was somewhere in the long caravan of pilgrims, or with relatives, or with other children His age—which was not unusual. But after a day had passed, they became worried and searched for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. He was not there. So they returned to Jerusalem and searched for Him for three days. All of this is described to us in just a few verses, but let us place ourselves in their position for a moment. No normal parent would remain indifferent in such a situation. There were no mobile phones to call Him, no police to report a missing child. They simply had to search for Him themselves. Three days of uncertainty, exhaustion, and anxiety. Without diminishing Joseph’s role, Mary surely bore the greater burden of worry and pain. We see this later in her reaction.
At last, after three days, they find Him in the Temple. He is sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
For Jesus, this was a unique opportunity. In Jerusalem, in the Temple, were the finest teachers from whom He could learn much. This is likely why He remained in Jerusalem—to make use of this opportunity. He is eager for knowledge. Here the words of the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: that upon Him would rest “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:1–3).
We can learn much from Christ. We are called to imitate Him also in His love for learning. If Christ learned, asked questions, and listened, how much more do we need to learn from Christ. This is a lesson for the young, but also for all of us. One of the earliest names for Christians was “disciples.” Are we ready to learn, to be taught, to follow Christ’s teaching? By His questions and His answers, Christ amazed everyone—including the teachers. It is possible that there were also people present who witnessed this conversation between Christ and the teachers.
We know that teaching was a central aspect of Christ’s ministry. Christ is the divine Teacher, who by His divine nature knows all things. Yet He is also truly human, who fully identified Himself with us. As a man, He was willing to learn, to listen, and to engage in dialogue. This is the Teacher we encounter in the Gospels. Anyone who is called to the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel must be, as the Apostle Paul says, “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:1–2). If you wish to teach others, you must first be a disciple.
When they finally find Him, Mary reacts as any mother would: “Son, why have you done this to us? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” We have already said that we can only imagine what Mary and Joseph went through. They likely blamed themselves for losing sight of Him. Now that they have found Him, Mary reproaches Him because He has caused them such worry. But Christ answers: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Christ is speaking of His heavenly Father.
His parents knew who Jesus was. Although they treated Him as any parents would treat their child, they still needed to remember that He did not belong to them entirely, and that His mission was to be obedient to His heavenly Father. Yet “they did not understand the saying which He spoke to them.” No one at that time spoke of God as “my Father.” The Jews said “Father in heaven” or “our Father.” But Christ says “my Father.” Already, as a twelve-year-old boy, He understands His divine origin and His mission. Yet the hour for the beginning of His public ministry has not yet come, and until then He will remain with His parents.
“And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.” Christ fulfills the fifth commandment, once again giving an example to children in their relationship to their earthly parents as they grow up. Of course, we are called to honor our parents as long as we have them among us, but we are all also called to be obedient to our heavenly Father. If Christ was obedient to His creature, how much more should we be obedient to our Creator.
“And His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Although she did not understand everything, Mary remembered it all. Sometimes we do not understand everything immediately, but when God speaks to us, and when we are obedient to His word, in time we will come to understand what God was saying to us and why He spoke at that particular moment. Mary understood Christ’s words beneath the cross.
The three days of His disappearance, in a certain way, point forward to the time when Christ would die and be gone for three days. But after three days comes the joy of reunion. Do we miss Christ? Do we seek Him? Do we rejoice in meeting Him?
“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Christ grew intellectually, spiritually, and socially. This is wholeness. Such growth is possible only in communion with Christ. Parents who still have the privilege of raising their children should raise them in this way: so that every aspect of their being—intellectual, spiritual, and social—may be shaped by Christ’s example, His word, His teaching, and His guidance.
May God help us to follow Christ in all things. Let us learn from the greatest Teacher, imitate the perfect example, seek Christ, and rejoice in meeting Him.
Amen.
Rt.Rev. Jasmin Milić,Ph.D (Reformed Episcopal Church in Croatia and Serbia)
More about the Reformed Episcopal Church in Croatia and Serbia can be found here.