Luke 2

41 Now every year His parents would go to Jerusalem to the feast of the Passover; 42 so when He was twelve years old they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but Joseph and His mother*Instead of ‘Joseph and His mother’, perhaps 3% of the Greek manuscripts, have ‘his parents’ (to be followed by NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). did not know it. 44 Supposing Him to be in the caravan, they went a day’s journey and then started looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 Not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem seeking Him. 46 So it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 (All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.*Really and truly—how many of us could discuss theology intelligently for one hour, let alone three days!)

48 So upon seeing Him they were amazed, and His mother said to Him: "Son, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in distress."*They evidently thought that Jesus had met with foul play; they were afraid for His life. In contrast, Jesus never worried about suffering harm (see next note). 49 So He said to them: "Why were you seeking me? Didn’t you know that I must be about my Father’s concerns?"*At twelve Jesus knew precisely who He was—"my father" cannot refer to Joseph because Jesus was not discussing carpentry with the doctors of the Law—He was consciously about God’s business. Notice that Jesus does not even come close to apologizing; in fact He rebukes them for worrying—after all, they also knew just who He was. (Jesus was no doubt unusually mature for His age, and may have just had His bar mitzvah.) The only time Jesus feared for His life was in Gethsemane—Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34, Luke 22:44, Hebrews 5:7-8 (compare by contrast Luke 4:28-30, Mark 4:35-41, John 8:59, 10:39, 18:6). 50 But they did not understand the statement that He made to them.*Perhaps they should have, knowing who He really was, but by now they probably had at least four children and each day was filled with very ordinary concerns—do the concerns of life not cause us also to forget spiritual realities?

51 Then He went down with them and came to Natsareth, and continued subordinating Himself to them; His mother kept all these sayings in her heart.*This is the second time Luke records this. No doubt Mary was one of the eyewitnesses that Luke interviewed; I imagine it was a long and detailed interview, and maybe several. 52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.