The child Jesus grew strong in body and mind. He was so unlike any other
child that he was “filled with wisdom.” God’s favor was with him all the
time. When he was twelve years old he went with his father and mother
to Jerusalem to the great yearly feast called the Passover. Having been
there eight days, they started for home. But Jesus stayed behind at
Jerusalem. His father and mother didn’t know it; they supposed him to be
with some of the friends. At night when they stopped to rest, they found
he was not to be found. They went among the friends and acquaintances who
were travelling with them, but they got no news of him; so they turned
back toward Jerusalem, looking for him all the way. In this way three
days passed; then they found their son sitting in the church among the
learned men, listening and asking questions. And the people who listened
were astonished at the questions which Jesus asked, and at the words
which he spoke. When his parents saw him, they were very much astonished.
His mother said to him: “My son, why did you treat us in this way? Your
father and I have hunted for you in great sorrow.”
Then he made this strange answer: “How is it that you sought me? Didn’t
you know that I must be about _my_ Father’s business?”
They didn’t understand what he meant; they forgot that their son was not
simply a boy; he was God. But he came at once from the church, and went
home with them, and obeyed his father and mother in everything. But his
mother never forgot any of the strange words that he spoke.
[Illustration: THE CHILD JESUS.—Luke ii. 40.]
[Illustration: JESUS IN THE TEMPLE, TEACHING THE DOCTORS.—Luke ii. 46.]