THE CHILDREN'S BIBLE - Old Testament, God Makes Everything

Joseph and Mary Lose Jesus

When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph took Him to Jerusalem. Because it was time for the Passover feast, the citt y was full of people.

On the last day of the festival Mary and Joseph left to go home. They both thought Jesus was with the other children who were going back to Nazareth.

After a whole day of travelling, they asked the other children from the group. "Have you seen Jesus?" The children shook their heads.

Mary and Joseph looked at each other. Jesus was still back in Jerusalem! How would they ever find Him? They left the group and hurried back to the city. There they looked everywhere for Him. Mary and Joseph saw many children. None of them was Jesus.

For three days they searched high and low. Mary and Joseph felt desperate. They had lost their prescious Son, God's Son. Finally, they went to the temple where the Jewish people worshipped on the Sabbath and holy days.

As they entered, Joseph spotted a group of teachers listening to someone. There, in the middle of the group sat Jesus. He was the one everyone was listening to.

Mary and Joseph pushed their way toward Jesus. When they reached Him, Mary said, "Child, why didn't You try to find us? We've looked everywhere for You. We were so worried."

Jesus said, "Why didn't you know where to look? Of course, you should have known I had to be doing my Father's work."

Jesus meant, that since He was God's Son, he would be in the temple, His Father's House. As they left the temple with Jesus, they heard many people say, "How can such a young boy talk as wisely as He did?"

Jesus returned with His parents to Nazareth. There He was a good boy and did what His parents told Him. These were special years.