When Jesus Was Twelve Years Old

When Jesus Was Twelve Years Old is a story about the Lord's adolescence. The most important revelation about this story is that Jesus knew His identity as Son of God.

Who told Jesus that He was the Son of God? 

God told Him. 

This means that God spoke to Jesus, even in the womb. This is the example that every father must follow.

Identity or self-awareness as a human is very important. Every human needs to confess and know these FOUR points. 

1. I was created by God.

2. I am created in the image and likeness of God.

3. I was sent to earth by God.

4. God is my Father.

Read Psalm 139 to learn more.  Now let's get to the story.

Jesus is God's Son

Jesus is God’s Son but He lived with His mother Mary her husband, Joseph. Jesus was both human and also God. They all lived in the village of Nazareth.

Joseph was a carpenter and Jesus helped him as He grew up. 

Jesus would play games with His friends just like all the other boys.

Jesus however was different from other children in that He was always obedient to God, Mary and Joseph. He did not do wrong things. 

 Jesus grew up in  a family with His step-brothers and step-sisters. 

He also went to school where He studied hard.

Time to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Passover

One day Jesus was very happy. It was time to go to Jerusalem with others from Nazareth to worship God in the Temple. It was something they did several times a year.

It took a few days for the large group of people from Nazareth and the surrounding area to walk to the big city.

As they climbed up the big hill to Jerusalem they sang psalms and praised God.

Finally, they went into the Temple where people were teaching

about God and worshipping Him. Jesus was pleased. After all,

His real Father was God.

Jesus was now 12 years old. That was the age at which most boys began to learn how to do the job their father did.

Many people came into the Temple to pray to God.

Some people came into the temple to say sorry to God for the wrong

things they had done and ask Him to forgive them.

Teachers taught people how to obey God and live by His laws. People could ask questions and find out how God wanted them to live.

Some however were very proud and came to the Temple to show off

how good and generous they thought they were. Some people were impressed by them but they did not please God.

There were musicians in the Temple who led people in singing praise

to God. 

It was a  wonderful time as people ate meals with their friends and family and put their lives right with God.

After a few days it was time to return. The large group of people from Nazareth started to make their way out of Jerusalem. Mary and

Joseph thought Jesus was with the other children making the

journey home or with their relatives.

Mary and Joseph discovered that Jesus was missing

But later, after traveling all day, they stopped. They called out for

Jesus. But there was no reply. Where was He? They asked people if

they had seen Jesus. But they all shook their heads.

‘Have you seen Jesus,’ shouted Mary and Joseph to those traveling at the front.

‘No, we haven´t seen Jesus all day,’ they answered. Mary and Joseph were very worried. Had Jesus been left alone in Jerusalem?  They must rush back at once to find Him.

The next day they arrived back in Jerusalem tired and exhausted. They went through the narrow streets but could not find Jesus anywhere. They searched all day but could not find Him.

The day after they kept looking. They asked people if they had seen

a 12 year-old boy on His own. But people shook their heads. They

searched all day but there was no sign of Jesus.

Jesus had now been missing for three days and Mary and Joseph were so worried. They decided to go to the Temple.

They did not know it, but Jesus had been in the Temple all that time. It was God’s house – His Father’s house.

Jesus had been in the Temple all that time

Jesus asked the Temple teachers difficult questions about God,

but they could not answer them. In response, He explained about God to them and answered their questions.

People were stunned that such a young boy knew so much about

God. A boy who was only 12 years old! From where has He received

all His wisdom?

Mary and Joseph find Jesus

Mary and Joseph began searching in the Temple. Suddenly they  gasped. There was Jesus! Talking with the Temple teachers.

They rushed to hug Him.

Where have you been? We have been so worried about you?

‘Don’t you know that now I am 12, I am the age when I must carry out my Father’s business?’ Jesus replied.

Mary and Joseph did not understood what Jesus had said. Maybe they had forgotten the circumstances of His birth.

Jesus wisely knew God’s command that we must all obey our parents, so He set off at once with Mary and Joseph on the

trip back to Nazareth.

Jesus grew up being obedient to Mary and Joseph and God. He

grew strong in every way, loving His Heavenly Father and His parents on earth.

 When Jesus Was Twelve Years Old scriptures 

LUKE 2

41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;

43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,

44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day's journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.

47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, ``Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You."

49 And He said to them, ``Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house? "

50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.

51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.