Following The Call
And when he was twelve years old…the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. After three days they found him in the temple… Luke 2:41-52 I’ve known several people who have consciously felt called in to the presence of the divine at very early ages. Why some and not others – who knows? What’s important is getting to the point of understanding that divine spirit does exist. Divine presence leads to truth about who we really are and to whom we really belong. Up until that point however we often go through struggles concerning obedience. To whom do we listen and follow? This passage however brings up a question for me to which I wrestle with its implications. At the age of 12 does Jesus dishonor his parents by not remaining with them or was he honoring God by remaining in the Temple?
crustybread 
Jesus, in my opinion, did not dishonor his parents. In our limited minds and by mortal parenting standards he may be perceived as being disobedient for remaining in the Temple without first telling his earthly parents that the Holy Spirit (his heavenly father) had instructed him to stay. Perhaps Jesus didn’t think he owed Mary and Joseph advance notice (their permission). Jesus explains matter-of-factly in Luke 2:49 ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ It is Mary and Joseph that do not understand, Luke 2:50. Would it had been more clear to them before the fact? I don’t think so.
Yolanda
Very good thought. Although I am not speculating as to what Joseph and Mary should have been thinking I do feel that Jesus knew and yet in his human nature was still a child.