JESUS MISSED AT 12
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
The incident of Jesus being left behind in Jerusalem is a well-known event from His childhood, recorded in the Gospel of Luke. This account offers profound insights into His early life and serves as a significant lesson for Christians.
Biblical References
The story is detailed in Luke 2:41-52:
Luke 2:41-50:
“Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.’ And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them.”
Key Points
1. Annual Pilgrimage: Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, went to Jerusalem every year for the Feast of Passover (Lk 2:41).
2. Jesus’ Age: When Jesus was 12, they attended the feast as usual (Lk 2:42).
3. Departure: After the feast, His parents left for home, unaware that Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem (Lk 2:43).
4. Realization: They traveled for a day before realizing Jesus was not with them (Lk 2:44).
5. Search: They spent three days searching for Him before finding Him in the Temple, engaged with the teachers (Lk 2:46).
Possible happening
The evangelist does not offer any clarity on the incident. Apparently, once the Holy Family reached the Temple, Jesus moved about independently. Since Jesus had officially reached adulthood, Joseph and Mary gave him freedom to move around by himself or with his friends. He was interested in spending time with the religious scholars who were teaching the pilgrims on the Temple premises. “Many people shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.’ For from Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa 2:3).
On the last day of the feast also, the Holy Family visited the crowded Temple before their departure. Even then, Jesus went to the teachers of the Law as before. The return journey of Joseph and Mary was also with the same pilgrims from Nazareth as a caravan. Joseph was travelling with a group of men and Mary with the women, even as the teenagers and youth enjoyed each other’s company in the caravan. So, the parents thought Jesus was with his friends from Nazareth or with one of them. Notably, mishaps of separation of children from their parents was normal in the crowded feast at Jerusalem.
The possibility of the mishap was: While Joseph and Mary were packing to return from Jerusalem, Jesus might have been with them. The parents let him go with his friends along with the caravan. When the caravan started from the Temple, the parents did not pay attention to Jesus presuming that he was in the company of the travelers, especially other teenagers from their native place. Walking in groups from Jerusalem, reaching Nazareth could take four to six days, depending upon their speed. Only when they came for an overnight stay after a one-day journey, the parents realized Jesus was missing. He was immersed in listening to and questioning the religious teachers on their interpretations of the Law different from the truth. He was interested in how they interpret the prophecies about the coming of the Messiah. Only late in the afternoon he might have realized his parents had already left without him. With no worry, he stayed at the same lodge where Joseph and Mary remained during the feast days and continued worshipping and conversing with the teachers in the Temple.
Joseph and Mary were worried about the absence of Jesus in the caravan that comprised the villagers from Nazareth and neighboring villages. The parents searched for Jesus among the relatives and friends who were travelling in different groups or encamping in different tents or lodges. They finally found him in the Temple doing his ministry at an early age.
Meaning and Message
This event is rich with meaning and messages for Christians:
1. Jesus’ Independence and Mission: At twelve, Jesus was nearing adulthood in Jewish culture. This explains why His parents might have assumed He was with friends or relatives. His decision to stay behind reveals His early dedication to His heavenly Father’s mission.
2. Human Fallibility: Mary and Joseph, despite their piety, experienced a moment of human fallibility. This highlights that even the most devout individuals can make mistakes.
3. Jesus’ Wisdom: Jesus’ engagement with the teachers of the Law, astounding them with His understanding, foreshadows His future ministry. This demonstrates His divine wisdom even at a young age.
4. Divine Nature and Human Relationships: The incident underscores the tension between Jesus’ divine mission and His human family responsibilities. Despite His divine calling, He respected and obeyed His earthly parents (Lk 2:51).
REFLECTION
This passage offers several reflections for contemporary believers:
1. Prioritize Relationship with God: Just as Jesus prioritized being in His Father’s house, Christians are reminded to seek a deeper relationship with God.
2. Attentiveness to God’s Leading: Believers are called to be vigilant and responsive to God’s presence and guidance in their lives.
3. Acknowledging Human Mistakes: Recognizing that even devout individuals can err, we should approach life with humility and understanding.
4. Valuing Spiritual Growth: Jesus’ engagement with Scripture and religious teachers emphasizes the importance of spiritual education and growth.
5. Balancing Responsibilities: Christians are encouraged to balance their earthly duties with their spiritual calling, mirroring Jesus’ obedience to His parents while pursuing His divine mission.
The possibility of Jesus being left behind was not due to negligence but rather a misunderstanding amid the crowded conditions of the feast. It was common for children to move around independently within a caravan of trusted relatives and friends. Jesus’ decision to stay behind was intentional, reflecting His growing awareness of His unique relationship with God.