Jesus as a Boy in the Temple

The Gospels tell us almost nothing about Jesus' childhood — except for one remarkable glimpse, when at twelve years old he stayed behind in the temple in Jerusalem, astonishing the teachers. Here's the story and what it reveals.

Left behind

After the Passover festival, Jesus' family began the journey home, assuming he was among their large travelling group. When they realised he was missing, they returned to Jerusalem in anxious search, finally finding him after three days — in the temple.

Amazing the teachers

There they found the twelve-year-old Jesus sitting among the religious teachers, listening and asking questions, and 'all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.' Even as a boy, Jesus showed a remarkable grasp of God and his word — a glimpse of who he truly was.

'My Father's business'

When his worried mother asked why he'd stayed, Jesus replied, 'How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?' Even at twelve, he had a sense of his unique relationship with God as his Father, and of the mission he had come to fulfil.

The story of Jesus as a boy in the temple gives us a rare and precious glimpse of his childhood — showing his early understanding of God's word and his awareness of his unique relationship with the Father. It reveals that even as a boy, Jesus was drawn to the things of God. And it gently encourages us, and our children, to grow in love for God's word and God's house from an early age.