46Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. [simple_tooltip content=’41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.
43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
46 Now so it was that 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 astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”
49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.’](Luke 2:41-51)[/simple_tooltip]
This is the only scriptural record of Jesus’ childhood; yet, there is much we can learn from this brief account. At twelve years of age, His wisdom astounded the men who had spent a lifetime studying the Scriptures (v. 47). Remember that Jesus did not have full-time access to a copy of the Bible like we do today. He received revelation knowledge from His heavenly Father, but He had to visit the synagogue to read the scrolls of God’s Word.
Even at the young age of twelve, Jesus had a clear understanding of who His real Father was and exactly why He had come to the world (v. 49). However, He also asked the scholars questions (v. 46). This is amazing when you realize that in Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [simple_tooltip content=’in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’](Col. 2:3)[/simple_tooltip]. Although He was God, He inhabited a physical human body with a natural mind that needed to be educated.
We see that Jesus knew His call and purpose even in His early childhood, but He still had to study and prepare Himself for the work God had called Him to accomplish. He is doing the same thing with you, preparing you for what He has called you to do.
If you don’t know what you are called to do, ask Him today! Then ask Him to show you what you can do to prepare your mind and heart for all He wants to accomplish through you.