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Jesus at the TempleDear Parents,
Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project® for Kids. The Book of Luke records just two narratives about Jesus’ childhood: His dedication (Luke 2:21-40) and His time at the temple when He was 12 years old (Luke 2:41-52). Both stories set the stage for Jesus’ ministry on earth as an adult. Today, our Bible story is about Jesus’ trip to the temple as a 12-year-old. Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews. They had dedicated the baby Jesus according to the law of Moses, and they traveled to Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover. God had commanded the men to appear before Him three times a year to observe certain festivals. (See Deut. 16:16.) Once a year, those who followed God’s law would travel to Jerusalem, often in large groups. In Bible times, a Jewish boy became a man around age 12. His father would train him to take on all the responsibilities of adulthood, social and spiritual. Joseph was a carpenter, and he likely trained Jesus in his trade. When Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem, Joseph might have taken Jesus around the city to teach Him the significance of the temple and explain the purpose of the Passover feast. Jesus’ parents started the journey back home after the feast. They assumed Jesus was among their traveling companions, but He wasn’t. Jesus had stayed behind at the temple. Mary and Joseph traveled for a day before they noticed Jesus was missing. They went back to Jerusalem and found Him at the temple. Mary—a frantic mother—asked her preteen son why He would treat them that way. Didn’t Jesus know they were worried sick? Jesus answered Mary’s question with a question: “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Mary and Joseph did not understand Jesus’ answer. In all this, Jesus did not sin. Jesus went to the temple to worship. He is God’s Son, and He came to do God’s work. Jesus taught people, suffered, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead so that we too can worship God. |
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Jesus at the Temple
Luke 2:41-52
Every year, Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. Passover was the biggest holiday for the Jewish people. Many people would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate and remember when God saved His people from slavery in Egypt.
When Jesus was 12 years old, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph went to Jerusalem together. When it was time to go home, Mary and Joseph began traveling to Nazareth with a large group of people. They did not notice that Jesus was not with them; they thought He was among the group of travelers. But Jesus was not with the group. He had stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Mary, Joseph, and the other travelers had been walking for a whole day when they began to look for Jesus. They looked among their relatives and friends, but they could not nd Him.
So Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. They searched everywhere for Him, but they could not nd Him. The city was so big, and Jesus was just a boy.
Finally, they found Him. Jesus was in the temple complex, sitting among the teachers. Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus could hardly believe how much Jesus understood.
When Jesus’ parents saw Him, they were surprised. Mary said, “Son, why have You done this? Your father and I were worried. We’ve been looking everywhere for You.”
“Why were you looking for Me?” Jesus asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
But Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was talking about.
Then Jesus went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, and He was obedient to them. Mary remembered all of these things.
Jesus grew taller and wiser. God was pleased with Him, and so was everyone who knew Him.
Christ Connection: Jesus went to the temple to worship. He is God’s Son, and He came to do God’s work. Jesus taught people, suffered, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead so that we too can worship God.
Luke 2:41-52
Every year, Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. Passover was the biggest holiday for the Jewish people. Many people would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate and remember when God saved His people from slavery in Egypt.
When Jesus was 12 years old, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph went to Jerusalem together. When it was time to go home, Mary and Joseph began traveling to Nazareth with a large group of people. They did not notice that Jesus was not with them; they thought He was among the group of travelers. But Jesus was not with the group. He had stayed behind in Jerusalem.
Mary, Joseph, and the other travelers had been walking for a whole day when they began to look for Jesus. They looked among their relatives and friends, but they could not nd Him.
So Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem to look for Jesus. They searched everywhere for Him, but they could not nd Him. The city was so big, and Jesus was just a boy.
Finally, they found Him. Jesus was in the temple complex, sitting among the teachers. Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Jesus could hardly believe how much Jesus understood.
When Jesus’ parents saw Him, they were surprised. Mary said, “Son, why have You done this? Your father and I were worried. We’ve been looking everywhere for You.”
“Why were you looking for Me?” Jesus asked them. “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
But Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was talking about.
Then Jesus went back to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph, and He was obedient to them. Mary remembered all of these things.
Jesus grew taller and wiser. God was pleased with Him, and so was everyone who knew Him.
Christ Connection: Jesus went to the temple to worship. He is God’s Son, and He came to do God’s work. Jesus taught people, suffered, died on the cross for our sins, and rose from the dead so that we too can worship God.