Jesus as a boy
Luke 2:41-52
We would like to know about the boyhood days of Jesus in detail. But the Bible gives only one incident of his boyhood.
The Jews from all places visited Jerusalem for the annual Passover festival. The Passover festival was celebrated to remind the Jews how God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Each family would kill a lamb and have a special meal on that occasion.
When Jesus was twelve years old, he went to Jerusalem with his parents for the Passover festival. After the feast was over, they set off with other people to go back to Nazareth but Jesus stayed back . Since a large number of people were travelling home together the absence of Jesus was not first noticed. Mary and Joseph thought that he might be with relatives and friends. Only at night they noticed that Jesus was missing. They were very much worried.
Next morning they hurried back to Jerusalem looking for their son. Only on the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the teachers of law, listening to them and asking them questions. All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures. Mary anxiously went to him and said "Son, why have you treated us so? Your father and I have been searching for you so anxiously." But Jesus replied calmly "Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I would be in my Father's house?" His parents did not understand the real meaning of his words. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.
Then they went back to Nazareth. Jesus was obedient to his parents. He helped Joseph in his work. He grew in knowledge and wisdom and the favour of God.
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