I’ve often wondered what Jesus did as a young man, where he traveled and what he did for the unaccounted 18 years after the age of 12 years since there is nothing recorded after this date. Was he a normal child like any one of us? Did he know how important he was to the world? Was he traveling preaching God’s word to others throughout those years or waiting to be to be revealed as the Messiah the Son of God? Did he know he was God who becomes a man?
The Holy Bible, King James Version, and New Testament in Luke 2:40, 41, 42, 43, it tells people “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.”
It’s my opinion this is the key to why Jesus went missing read on that day read, Luke 2:46, 47, 48, and they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And in Luke 2:49 when they found Jesus, he said, “How is it that you sought me? I must be about my Father’s business?”
It’s my belief Jesus traveled throughout the world telling people about God and his good works. This provided Jesus with experience of wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. It tells us in Isaiah 9:6 that Jesus was “Yahweh,” the Lord who incarnated among the people that he gave his laws to and prophesied by the words of their own prophets.
Jesus was being taught by his Father unlike no other person while he was developing (See Isaiah 50: 4-7). I personally believe Jesus wanted to learn and to be prepared when he was revealed as the “Messiah the Son of God,” and he needed to be tutored by his Father beforehand. I also believe at this ripe age of 12 years old that this is when Jesus was taken under the tutoring of his Father.
It’s my belief his Father was ready for Jesus to begin to learn and that it was time for him to leave his Mother and Father and prepare himself for what his Father had in store for him in his life. The best way for him to do this was to obtain experience talking and teaching others about God. I believe he traveled far and wide spreading God’s word in synagogues to as many people as he could.
In Mark 6:1-2-3 the Bible tells people that, “Jesus and his disciples traveled through his own country and when the Sabbath day came, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing he was astonished, saying, ‘From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Jo’-ses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.’”
In Mark 6: 6-7-8-9 the Bible tells people Jesus went about doing his mighty works of preaching and healing into villages of unbelievers. “He’d marvel because of their unbelief. And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits. Jesus commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.”
It’s my belief that Jesus’ first 12 years were short and certainly not that of a normal child. He didn’t need a college degree because God was in control of his teachings and his tutoring’s revealing him as the Messiah the Son of God. This was Jesus’ mission, he was full God and yet fully human. God gave the world his son so that he could live and suffer among us, to serve as the perfect atonement for our sins, and to offer forgiveness and salvation to anyone who believes.
Jesus died for our sins on a wooden cross and he was buried in a tomb and he was resurrected on the third day. Jesus lives and is with people today. I believe this because of what John 3: 16 the Bible tells people, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article and it is based on her opinion of the Holy Bible, King James Version, and the New and Old Testament and in verses as stated in the article.