The New Testament does not tell us much about the childhood of Jesus. His family left Bethlehem and moved to Egypt when he was a young child to avoid Herod’s slaughter of the innocents. They returned and settled in Nazareth after Herod died.
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Luke 2:40
Luke tells us about a time when Jesus was twelve years old and the family made their annual trip to Jerusalem for the Passover. The family traveled with a group and the older children were likely walking together rather than with their parents. On the trek home, at the end of the first day’s travel, Joseph and Mary noticed that Jesus was not with them.
The scripture records that they searched Jerusalem for three days before they found Jesus in the Temple. Any parent can imagine how worried they must have been.
The King James version of the story has Jesus learning from the temple experts.
46 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.
Luke 2:46
Interestingly. the Joseph Smith Translation of this verse has Jesus doing the teaching.
46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, and they were hearing him, and asking him questions.
JST, Luke 2:46
When they found him, Mary asked, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” (Luke 2:48). This question was entirely reasonable. No doubt his parents were feeling a combination of relief at having found him, puzzlement as to why he stayed behind without telling anyone in their travel party, and, perhaps, some anger at his causing them so much grief.
Christians are very familiar with Jesus’ reply to his mother’s question.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Luke 2:49
In Sunday School there is a tendency to accept this reply as the final word. “Oh,” we think, “that explains everything. That settles the matter. Jesus was starting his ministry.” But that is not the case. He didn’t start his ministry until 18 years later, at the age of 30.
So what was going on? What is this story really about? I believe this story shows that Jesus was a real, human, boy.
I remember a time when I, at the age of 12, overstayed at a school science fair and my parents were frantic because they couldn’t find me. Even if my motive had been pure learning (It wasn’t. I was talking to a girl I had a crush on.), I had still put my personal interests over my responsibilities to my family. There was nothing wrong with my interest in science (or the girl, for that matter), but I had temporarily lost sight of other priorities.
It is important to note what Jesus did next.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
Luke 2:51
He immediately went back to Nazareth with his parents. Clearly, an important part of his “Father’s business” was to obey his parents and continue to learn and grow under their guidance. In the temple that week he had gotten an early glimpse of his power and his mission, but his time was not yet. He still needed to mature mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
Luke 2:52
A common characteristic of youth is the desire to grow up quickly. They can’t wait to be taller, or faster, or stronger. They can’t wait until they can drive, or be allowed to date, or to graduate from high school. As our children grow, it is important to give them opportunities to make decisions, to express their opinions, and to demonstrate leadership. It is also important to guide them, supervise them, and mentor them into full adulthood before we, however wistfully, let them go.
Even the young Jesus, precious and precocious as he was, knew his responsibility was to honor his parents and be “subject unto them” until he was fully ready to begin his adult ministry. This early incident in the Temple was a foreshadowing, not a beginning.
Sources:
“We Have Come to Worship Him,” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: New Testament 2019, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Young Jesus Teaches in the Temple,” Mormon Channel, YouTube.
“Our Duty to God,” Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., Liahona, January 2002.
Nice thoughtful piece.
Training our children up while in their youth is a difficult but important process. One that a parent constantly feels like they are “failing” at. 😉
I read this article before realizing you were the author! I really enjoyed it and appreciate the insight.
What is your take on the two different translations?
Was the JST version a typo or a correction to the original?
Susan. Thank you for the complement.
I don’t know how much you know about the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. The Latter-day Saints believe “many plain and precious things” are missing from the Bible after multiple translations, between several languages, through various church traditions, over many centuries.
We believe the JST to be a correction back to the original by an inspired prophet. It is probably more accurate to describe the work as an inspired restoration rather than a translation. That said, Smith did not finish the project before he was killed, and the official Bible used by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the King James translation.
The Church HAS canonized two interesting sections of the JST into a book of scripture called “The Pearl of Great Price.” The section of the PGP called “Joseph Smith- Matthew” is a restoration of Matthew chapter 24 (destruction of Jerusalem, the Second Coming of the Son of Man, destruction of the wicked.). The section called “Moses” is a fascinating restoration of part of the First Book of Moses (Genesis). (Note: “In the beginning” isn’t until Chapter 2).
Thank you for taking the time to explain. I did not know that. Although we believe some things differently, I really enjoy your teachings and can take a lot away from it for my own life.
I grew up by the Salt Lake tracks and had friendships with many of the railroad ops, including crossing watchmen. One in particular was the late E.E. Scott. Scottie maintained that Jesus was never anything but a god, not a man, not a child. I agree with him theologically. How is anyone half god? It doesn’t happen.
This article is very touching. I believe that Jehovah condescended to come to earth as a baby and then grow line by line, lesson by lesson. The difference, perhaps, between a God coming to earth and the rest of us coming to earth and growing into adulthood, is that he grew perfectly. I agree, it is difficult to grasp – study and prayer of a lifetime and more.
I am currently attending BYU-Idaho’s Pathway program locally, in my 2nd semester. Since the very first Gathering of the 1st semester, in which I had the privilege of being the Lead Student a/k/a student teacher, I have learned that the Lord expects us to teach others what we have learned. The lead student has a lesson plan, in which we are encouraged to ask questions of the other students. “both hearing them, and asking them questions” sounds to me exactly what we do! So IMHO it is a mutual thing when learning, both students and teachers are “hearing and asking questions”, it’s how learning is accomplished!