And it came to be, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting down among the teachers and listening to them and questioning them. In fact, all listening to him were amazed at his understanding and his responses.
This 12-year-old firstborn son of Mary seems to be an equal of “the teachers” “in the temple” in Jerusalem.
And, seeing him, they struck out and his mother said to him, “Child, why do this to us? Look and see, your father and I myself, anguished, were seeking you.” And he said to them, “Why then were you seeking me? Have you not perceived that it is necessary for me to be in the things of my Father?” And they themselves did not connect the message which he spoke to them.
Luke’s diligent research had discovered this incident and the understandable “anguish” suffered by the parents. Talking with other parents, it seems most of us have had very distressing lost-child incidents. We can understand that.
But, in this case, this child seems to indicate that he has a different “Father” from Joseph. We readers of Luke’s AD 60 research report know that his researches recorded the conception of Mary through “the Holy Spirit” and not through Joseph. Will Jesus now no longer be a son to them? Will he take on the duties owed to his heavenly “Father”, the LORD of all?
Will be indeed become a substitute – like the lambs were at the first “Passover” - around BC 1400? Will that exclude his natural love?
And he moved down with them and came into Nazareth and was subject to them.
Back to Nazareth – not a nice place in those days – and back to teenage years. But different.
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