Why didnt the child Jesus tell His parents of His plan to remain in Jerusalem?

[MH84]

Luke 2

41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

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Why didnt the child Jesus tell His parents that he wanted to stay behind in Jerusalem temple? Wouldnt it have been a simple request?

Is it possible that Mary and Joseph didnt give Him permission when He first asked them?

Did He want to give them a message through His actions?

 

[Della]

Why didnt the child Jesus tell His parents that he wanted to stay behind in Jerusalem temple? Wouldnt it have been a simple request?

Yes, it would have been.

Is it possible that Mary and Joseph didnt give Him permission when He first asked them?

No, I can’t see that happening. He was obedient to them as long as he was under their authority.

Did He want to give them a message through His actions?

I think this comes the closest to it, although I don’t think I’d have put it quite that way. I think, and this is just my own meditation on it, that he knew he needed to present himself in the temple to the elders, and what the consequences of that would be.

Now that is our starting point for thinking about this question, really, as I see it.

I can think of some things he wanted to accomplish through his actions, but simply driving home a point to his parents doesn’t seem all that likely. More likely he was assuring them that he knew what he was doing and why–a preparation for all the sufferings to come, especially for Mary.

 

[Indyann]

Why didnt the child Jesus tell His parents that he wanted to stay behind in Jerusalem temple? Wouldnt it have been a simple request?

Is it possible that Mary and Joseph didnt give Him permission when He first asked them?

Did He want to give them a message through His actions?

Everytime, I pray this Mystery of the Rosary, I cannot fail to see how my thinking is so far removed from that of Mary.

I am afraid that I would have been quite perturbed and would have “grounded” Jesus when we got home.

 

[Joe_5859]

Anecdotally, I’ve heard this referred to as the “Passion of St. Joseph.” Notice, Jesus was missing for “three days”. This, of course, parallels his being “missing” from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Since Joseph wasn’t alive at the time of the Crucifixion, this episode was Joseph’s opportunity to participate in Christ’s Passion.

I’m not sure what type of exegisis or history this interpretation has, but I’ve always remembered it and found it interesting.

 

[drafdog]

He made a mistake. Not all mistakes are sins. Note that he made the same mistake as an adult, though in the opposite direction, while at the wedding banquet at Cana. Jesus had poor timing. What can I tell you?
I know what kids that age are like. At that age I was the one in my family that “got lost” in museums because they left the room while I was still reading about the exhibit. Technically they were lost as I hadn’t moved, but que faire? Same kind of thing with Jesus. He was standing still and they left the temple.

Matthew

 

[NotWorthy]

Anecdotally, I’ve heard this referred to as the “Passion of St. Joseph.” Notice, Jesus was missing for “three days”. This, of course, parallels his being “missing” from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Since Joseph wasn’t alive at the time of the Crucifixion, this episode was Joseph’s opportunity to participate in Christ’s Passion.

I’m not sure what type of exegisis or history this interpretation has, but I’ve always remembered it and found it interesting.

Yes, I heard that this pre-figured His Passion, as well.

Although, I gotta think that Mary never came closer to sinning than when she realized she lost our Lord and Savior!!!

“What you mean Jesus is missing! Oh, … rats!”.

 

[Didi]

I often think when I’m meditating on this passage, that maybe there were people present at the temple who needed to hear Jesus’ message as a young boy, and maybe some of these same people went on to be one of his disciples later, or played some other important part in salvation history.

I think, too, that there is a message there for all of us. Sometimes we “lose” Jesus. We forget to follow Him and include Him in all our daily activities – making sure He’s there with us. Sometimes when we truly feel we can’t “find” Him again, Jesus Himself told us where He would be – in His Father’s house! We can always find Jesus in every Tabernacle in every Catholic Church throughout the world – in His Father’s House!

 

[srferdave]

He made a mistake. Not all mistakes are sins. Note that he made the same mistake as an adult, though in the opposite direction, while at the wedding banquet at Cana. Jesus had poor timing. What can I tell you?
I know what kids that age are like. At that age I was the one in my family that “got lost” in museums because they left the room while I was still reading about the exhibit. Technically they were lost as I hadn’t moved, but que faire? Same kind of thing with Jesus. He was standing still and they left the temple.

Matthew

I don’t believe Jesus made mistakes. I don’t think it’s possible for God to make mistakes. I am sure he knew what he was doing the whole time.

 

[NotWorthy]

I often think when I’m meditating on this passage, that maybe there were people present at the temple who needed to hear Jesus’ message as a young boy, and maybe some of these same people went on to be one of his disciples later, or played some other important part in salvation history.

Ahhhh, good point. I often felt the 3000 Jews at Pentecost received the Apostles message and laid the ground work for the future growth of the New Covenant Church. And, as you indicated, Jesus probably did the same thing here.

Jesus certainly raised some issues with these guys talking of Messianic prophecies, if you asked me (yes, I know nobody asked me). Notice that Jesus is “sitting with the Rabbi’s and Teachers”. This indicates that He was teaching them as well as asking them questions for “all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:47.

I think, too, that there is a message there for all of us. Sometimes we “lose” Jesus. We forget to follow Him and include Him in all our daily activities – making sure He’s there with us. Sometimes when we truly feel we can’t “find” Him again, Jesus Himself told us where He would be – in His Father’s house! We can always find Jesus in every Tabernacle in every Catholic Church throughout the world – in His Father’s House!

Amen, Amen, and Amen!!!

 

[puzzleannie]

Why didnt the child Jesus tell His parents that he wanted to stay behind in Jerusalem temple? Wouldnt it have been a simple request?

Is it possible that Mary and Joseph didnt give Him permission when He first asked them?

Did He want to give them a message through His actions?

they didn’t give him a cell phone and he was protesting?

but seriously folks
because, literally, as he said, he really did expect the to “know I must be about my Father’s business.” I think it is quite expected behavior and thinking of a child that age that their actions have perfectly logical reasons (to them) and they really are amazed their parents don’t have a clue.

I can hear my son or grandson saying
“but you never told me I was not allowed to stay in the temple and preach to the elders/”

 

[Orionthehunter]

Anecdotally, I’ve heard this referred to as the “Passion of St. Joseph.” Notice, Jesus was missing for “three days”. This, of course, parallels his being “missing” from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. Since Joseph wasn’t alive at the time of the Crucifixion, this episode was Joseph’s opportunity to participate in Christ’s Passion.

I’m not sure what type of exegisis or history this interpretation has, but I’ve always remembered it and found it interesting.

I’ve heard this too but don’t particularly reflect on it this way but understand where you are coming from. It is comforting that Joseph would get a mild experience of the Passion in this world.

He made a mistake. Not all mistakes are sins. Note that he made the same mistake as an adult, though in the opposite direction, while at the wedding banquet at Cana. Jesus had poor timing. What can I tell you?
I know what kids that age are like. At that age I was the one in my family that “got lost” in museums because they left the room while I was still reading about the exhibit. Technically they were lost as I hadn’t moved, but que faire? Same kind of thing with Jesus. He was standing still and they left the temple.

Matthew

But this I disagree with. Christ fully knew what He was doing. A situation of “do it and ask for forgiveness later.” Just kidding

If God has to do something, He must.

1. I suspect that while He wasn’t yet to begin his public ministry but He had some “family” ministry to attend to. Maybe he needed to remind His mother what she had been told by the Angel. Remember this is another one of those things Mary remembered and kept in her heart. It may have been a preparation for her as well for the Passion and not just Joseph.
2. Maybe it was to establish Himself in the Temple such that later the Jewish Authorities would properly “fear” Him after Palm Sunday. Or alternatively (and what I like), it was to give the Jewish leaders a chance to believe in Christ. While God knew how their evil would later influence their reaction to Jesus, as their God, He knew in fairness He had to present Himself to them in a less threatening way.
3. Or maybe it is what brought Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea to later become a follower. Maybe they needed to see that His knowledge was not from people but from God.