The Early Years
The most famous man in the world, Jesus of Nazareth, didn’t have an especially happy childhood. Despite being generally gentle and highly intelligent, young Jesus was often at odds with his parents.
The prime example of this was when the family traveled from their home in Galilee to Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus, a few months shy of his 13th birthday, secretly left the caravan and was nowhere to be found. For several days, Joseph and Mary searched for their son before finally locating him.
He was not discovered playing with other boys in some adventurous and boisterous game, but rather sitting placidly with the elders in Temple and amazing them with his questions and knowledge of religion and philosophy.
“Please come home with us Jesus,” said Joseph.
“I’ll come back to your house later. I still have many things to discuss with these learned teachers,” the boy replied.
His Mother Mary spoke; first addressing the scholars:
“Thank you gentlemen for the courtesy and kindness you have shown my son. However, you should know that he left us without telling us where he was going. He has been absent from his family for three days.”
Then to Jesus she said, “Please come back with us now Jesus.”
The boy stared hard at his mother but didn’t say anything. Reluctantly, he got up and followed Joseph and Mary outside.
“Why did you come get me?” Jesus demanded to know, as soon as they were out of hearing distance from the group of teachers and elders. “Did you not know that I was doing the business of my Father?”
“We are your parents Jesus,” Mary affirmed. “I am your mother and Joseph is your father. You must return home and help in the family business.”
“The salvation of mankind is my business,” insisted the youth. “And Joseph is not my father.”
“I gave birth to you, and Joseph is your earthly father. Does not your Heavenly Father say to honor your parents and their wishes?”
“For now it shall be as you request Mother. I’ll stay with you and I will learn carpentry from Joseph, but you must understand that I am destined not to build chairs, tables, and houses; but to build a pathway to heaven where the homes are not made of wood and stone, but of that which is eternal.”