When they had performed everything

[39 When they had performed everything (in the book of Luke) according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
40 The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Visit to Jerusalem
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast;
43 and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it,
44 but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.
46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
48 When they saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You.”
49 And He said to them, “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?”
50 But they did not understand the statement which He had made to them.
51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.]
When I read this there are many questions that come to mind for me.
First of all how could Mary and Joseph not realize Jesus was not with them for so long?
There must have been a lot of people in the crowd; but how could you not know?
A day’s journey back then was a long time, there were no fancy ways of travel.
It was either by foot or donkey so that would have been quite the back tracking for them.
Then they looked for three days, IS that NOT a significant number?
HE would later be buried and raised in three days.
Then they found him in the temple sitting with the leaders. He was only twelve years old.
I find it both interesting and understandable that ‘they did not understand him when he said, “I had to be in my father’s house.”
In their heart they knew he was different from the beginning, but he was also their child.
The word tells us Mary treasured all these moments in her heart. A heart that would soon be broken.She was just like any other ‘mother’ who loved her children and didn’t want them to be hurt
Let’s move closer to the Easter story as we read and learn more about what happens next for him.