When Jesus was 12 yrs old He and his family, Mary and Joseph made the annual journey

to the Passover
in Jerusalem. It was time they worship and the God of Israel who delivered them from the slavery of
Egypt many years before. Though the journey was long and difficult it was also very exciting and it was
an important time to remember God. As they go near their destination, they could finally see the great
city of Jerusalem.

The Passover celebration lasted for seven days. At the end of the week the caravan of the family and
friends all got back together to make the long trip back to Nazareth. What an amazing time
remembering all that had taken place. But the joy ended suddenly when Mary and Joseph relies that
their boy Jesus was missing. He was not in front of his mother. He was not also with his cousins and the
other children and he was not with the men travelling behind. He was just plain missing. Mary was
deeply concerned. “Something is terribly wrong” she said to Joseph. Jesus never wanders off alone. That
boy is always where he should be. They quickly retraced their steps to the city. For two days they
searched everywhere they could think of until there is only one place left to look.

As they approached the temple back in Jerusalem, the sight of their son brought a welcome sigh of relief
and then they noticed something amazing. Their 12 yr old son was discussing the deep truths of
scripture with the leading teachers in Israel. All who heard him was surprised of how wise he was. He
did not have look of a lost child but a calmed look of a person with a purpose and a plan.

After seeing this Mary run up to Jesus “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been
searching for you and we were so worried.” Jesus kindly replied “ I have been here the whole time.
Where else would I be but in my father’s house.” Mary and Joseph were puzzled by his reply but they
said no more.

Jesus knew that God was his father and honored his authority by always obeying him. He only said
indeed what his father commanded him to do. Everything that happened in the temple was no different.
He was doing what God called him to do. Jesus continues to follow his father in heaven by showing love
and respect to his earthly parents as he returned home with them to Nazareth. Mary treasured
everything that she had heard and seen in her heart. The young Jesus grew in wisdom and favor in God
and men. His earthly parents were amazed with him. His heavenly father was well pleased with him and
his deep devotion to God and to his law made him stand out above all the rest. Little by little Jesus was
being revealed as our savior until the world was shown his greatest act of love, which is dying on the
cross for our sins.

And so my dear grade 2 students, I