Often, when people read Luke 2:41–52 they ask me whether Mary and Joseph took good care of their child. They want to know how we should look at Jesus getting left behind in Jerusalem.
The first reading of this passage of Scripture gives you the idea that they should have watched him more closely than they did. After all, we live in a day in which children must be under constant supervision. Sexual abuse, kidnapping, and many other evils permeate our society. Our churches now have check-in and checkout procedures for children because of these very issues.
Did Mary and Joseph give Jesus the kind of care he needed?
There are several areas we need to understand about this passage.
First, Jesus grew up in a very different day. The customs and culture allowed very different child raising measures.
This passage shows that Mary and Joseph gave their son important religious training. The law called for Jewish men to go for worship in Jerusalem three times in the year. Passover was one of those times. Women and children were not required to go to Jerusalem.
Joseph and Mary obviously made it a habit to go to Jerusalem. They also took Jesus with them before the age He was required to go to the temple.
The fact that they took him showed that they were meticulous about His care and training as a child of God.
Everything we read in this passage fits what we know about life in the time of Jesus. To go to the Passover, people would travel in caravans. Often whole villages would go to the feast together. Women and children would lead the way and the men would bring up the rear.
You can see how easy it would have been for Joseph to think that Jesus was with Mary and Mary to think that Jesus was with Joseph. It would also be easy for them to think that Jesus was with other relatives or friends from Nazareth.
Second, the three days mentioned in this passage are not what we think of as three days.
Studying the Old Testament shows that any part of the year was considered to be a year. The same would have happened with how days were counted. Therefore, the first day was the day that Jesus was missing. The second day was the day of their return to Jerusalem, and the third day was the day they found him in the temple.
Third, Luke’s gospel was not written to question the parenting skills of Mary and Joseph. It was written to show that the boy Jesus had a heart for God and an understanding that He had a special relationship with the heavenly Father.
It also is written to show that this child grew and progressed in ways that were good for Him and pleasing to the Father.
Fourth, notice Luke’s emphasis. He does not show Jesus as performing miracles as a child or even instructing the leaders of the temple. Those temple leaders were amazed at both His questions and His answers. He shows a genuine understanding that He had a unique relationship with His Father.
Mary and Joseph cared for the child that God entrusted to them and led him in ways that were pleasing to the heavenly Father. At an early age, Jesus understood something of who He was and what He would do. He continued to grow in every way, waiting for the day when He would be revealed to Israel.
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4 Responses
Even as recently as the 1940’s and 50’s children would go out to play and come home at meal time. They may be with neighborhood children or out in their own yard. Everyone looked out for everyone else. Most mothers were at home and available in an emergency.. The world has changed considerably in just the last 50 or 60 years so I can understand how Mary and Joseph would not be too concerned if Jesus was out of their sight for a while.
When Mary finally found Jesus at the temple she replied, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” (Luke 2:48)
Doesn’t sound like a mother and father that had little concern for their child to me.
Does the part of days also relate to the days Jesus was in the tomb? I have been having a discussion with someone who believes that the Sabbath must be kept and who believes that there were two Sabbaths that week (Wednesday being the Passover meal). I believe that we do not worship on the Sabbath, but on the 1st day of the week and every day of the week. Please help.
Yes, it fits that discussion as well.
As for worship on the Sabbath, Paul’s letter to the Galatians and Colossians addresses this very well. The early church worshiped on the Lord’s Day–the day of the Resurrection. This was the first day of the week. When Paul was collecting his offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem, he told the church at Corinth to take a collection on the first day of the week (obviously when they worshiped).