Paper 125 Overview: Jesus at Jerusalem

Jesus's first remembered visit to Jerusalem represented a pivotal moment in his early development, occurring when he was nearly thirteen years old. This visit exposed him to the temple discussions, provided him temporary freedom from responsibility, and sparked important realizations about religious practices and his relationship with his heavenly Father. His encounters with the temple teachers revealed his exceptional spiritual understanding, as he asked penetrating questions that demonstrated wisdom beyond his years.

The experience culminated in a three-day separation from his parents, who ultimately found him engaged in discussions with religious teachers at the temple. When questioned about his disappearance, Jesus responded that they should have expected to find him in his "Father's house," indicating his growing awareness of his divine mission. This Jerusalem visit marked the beginning of Jesus's conscious recognition of his special relationship with God and established patterns of thought that would influence his future ministry.

Jesus's first remembered visit to Jerusalem was one of the most engaging and humanly thrilling experiences of his early life. He was especially stimulated by attending temple discussions independently, and this experience remained prominent in his memory as the greatest event of his later childhood and early youth. This journey represented his first opportunity to enjoy a brief period of independent living without restrictions or responsibilities, a freedom he would not experience again for many years.

Women seldom attended the Passover feast as their presence wasn't required, but Jesus insisted his mother accompany them on the journey. This decision inspired many other Nazareth women to join the travel group. As they journeyed to Jerusalem, they frequently sang the one hundred and thirtieth Psalm. From his earliest childhood, Jesus had heard reverently about Jerusalem and its temple, and now he approached the city with great anticipation and expectation. However, while the exterior of the temple exceeded his expectations, once he entered its sacred portals, his disillusionment began.

Throughout the temple courts, Jesus was shocked and sickened by the spirit of irreverence he witnessed, considering such behavior inconsistent with their presence in "his Father's house." The greatest shock came when his father escorted him into the court of the gentiles with its noisy commotion, loud talking, cursing, and the disruptive sounds of money-changers and animal vendors. Jesus was particularly disturbed by the presence of courtesans within the temple precincts, similar to those he had recently seen in Sepphoris. He expressed his indignation freely to Joseph about this profanation of the temple.

The young Jesus admired the sentiment and service of the temple but was troubled by the spiritual ugliness he perceived in many worshippers. When they proceeded to observe the sacrificial rituals beneath the temple ledge, he was deeply disturbed by the bloodstained pavement, the priests with gory hands, and the sounds of dying animals. This nature-loving boy from Nazareth was sickened by these sights, clutching his father's arm and begging to leave. Joseph wisely redirected their tour to view the beautiful artistic gate before rejoining Mary, during which time he explained to Jesus that only Jerusalem residents witnessed daily sacrifices, while Galileans participated in temple worship just three times yearly.

Five Nazareth families joined Simon of Bethany's family for the Passover celebration, with Simon purchasing the paschal lamb for the group. The slaughter of these lambs in enormous numbers had affected Jesus during his temple visit, and he persuaded his parents to accept Simon's invitation rather than celebrating with Mary's relatives. During the evening celebration, Jesus, as a new son of the covenant, recounted the Passover's origin but included comments reflecting his impressions of the temple, which somewhat disconcerted his parents.

Even at this early age, Jesus had begun questioning the propriety of celebrating Passover with a slaughtered lamb, believing that the Father in heaven was displeased with animal sacrifices. Jesus slept poorly that night, troubled by dreams of slaughter and suffering, while his parents also slept little, being disconcerted by the day's events and their son's determined attitude. The following day, young Lazarus took Jesus on a systematic exploration of Jerusalem, and they discovered the temple's teaching and discussion areas. Throughout Passover week, Jesus took his place among the new sons of the commandment, refraining from asking the many questions in his mind until the celebration ended and the restrictions on newly consecrated youths were lifted.

The Nazareth group had arranged to gather near the temple at mid-morning on the first day of the week after the Passover festival ended. Jesus had entered the temple to listen to discussions while his parents waited for their traveling companions to assemble. The company prepared to depart with men and women traveling in separate groups according to custom. Jesus, having traveled to Jerusalem with his mother and the women, was now supposed to return with his father and the men as a young man of the consecration.

As the Nazareth party moved toward Bethany, Jesus remained completely absorbed in a temple discussion about angels, unaware that the time for departure had passed. His absence went unnoticed because Mary assumed he was traveling with the men, while Joseph thought he was with the women since he had traveled to Jerusalem with them. They discovered his absence only upon reaching Jericho when preparing to stay for the night. After inquiring among the last arrivals and learning that none had seen their son, they spent a sleepless night worrying about him and recounting his unusual reactions during Passover week.

While his parents began their anxious search, Jesus remained at the temple throughout the afternoon, enjoying the more quiet atmosphere now that the Passover crowds had dispersed. After the discussions ended, he went to Bethany, arriving as Simon's family prepared their evening meal. The three young people were delighted to welcome Jesus, who spent much of the evening alone in the garden meditating. Early the next morning, he returned to the temple, pausing on the Mount of Olives to weep over the spiritually impoverished state of the people.

During the second day's conferences, Jesus began asking questions in a manner appropriate for a youth his age. His pointed questions sometimes embarrassed the learned teachers of Jewish law, yet he showed such candid fairness and hunger for knowledge that most teachers treated him with consideration. When he questioned the justice of executing a drunken gentile who had wandered into forbidden temple areas, one teacher became impatient and asked his age. Upon learning Jesus was not yet thirteen, some teachers objected to his presence, but others defended him since he had been officially graduated from the Nazareth synagogue school. After this second day in the temple, Jesus again spent the night at Bethany, going to the garden to meditate and pray.

By Jesus's third day with the temple teachers, word had spread about this remarkable youth from Galilee, and many spectators gathered to watch him engage with the wise men of the law. Meanwhile, Joseph and Mary continued their anxious search for Jesus, even entering the temple several times without thinking to examine the discussion groups, though they once came almost within hearing distance of his voice. Before the day ended, Jesus had become the focus of attention in the main discussion group.

Jesus posed several profound questions to the teachers: what existed in the holy of holies behind the veil; why mothers in Israel were segregated from male worshipers; whether the teaching of Moses regarding animal sacrifice had been misunderstood; if it was consistent to permit commerce in a temple dedicated to worship; and whether the expected Messiah would be a temporal prince or establish a spiritual kingdom. Those listening were amazed at these thought-provoking questions from a youth, and Jesus conveyed his teachings primarily through the questions he asked. His manner combined wisdom and humor that endeared him to the teachers despite his young age.

Jesus seemed strangely unmindful of his earthly parents, even when someone mentioned at breakfast that they must be worried about him. He returned to the temple but did not pause to meditate at the Mount of Olives as he had previously. During the morning discussions, much time was devoted to the law and prophets, and the teachers were astonished not only by Jesus's knowledge of truth but especially by his youth and his familiarity with the Scriptures in both Hebrew and Greek.

In the afternoon, when they began answering Jesus's questions about prayer, the discussion leader invited him to come forward and share his own views. Meanwhile, his parents had heard about this unusual youth at the temple and, recognizing their son's voice, rushed to him. Mary asked why he had treated them this way, explaining they had searched for him for three days. Jesus replied, "Why is it that you have so long sought me? Would you not expect to find me in my Father's house since the time has come when I should be about my Father's business?" Everyone was astonished by his response. On the journey home, Jesus made a brief statement to his parents assuring them of his affection and implying they need not fear he would cause such anxiety again, concluding: "While I must do the will of my Father in heaven, I will also be obedient to my father on earth. I will await my hour."