Jesus among the Doctors

Continuing with Fouard's life of Christ

II. Jesus among the Doctors

Luke ii. 41-50.

Along about His twelfth year, the young Jew found Himself, in a certain measure, exempt from the family government.  Having entered the synagogue, He had begun already to bind about His brows the phylacteries, — long bands of parchment, covered with sacred texts, — and was becoming "a Son of the Law," and so subject to its prescriptions.  One of paramount importance was to visit Jerusalem at the Feast of the Pasch.  The parents of Jesus acquitted themselves of their duty faithfully; and although custom did not insist upon the presence of women, Mary accompanied her spouse.  The Saviour was twelve years old when, for the first time doubtless, He made the journey to Jerusalem with His Family.

The Pilgrims from Galilee, because they feared the violence of the Samaritans, usually were loath to cross over their country.  It may be believed that the hatred of the sectaries was not so active at this moment; for the traditions declare that, both going and coming, the Holy Family followed the direct road, which passes close by Sichem.  By this route Nazareth is distant from Jerusalem some thirty-two leagues, and the trip would take a slow-travelling caravan not less than three or four days.  To the south of the valley of Esdralon, the springs and groves of En-Gannim afford a first camping-spot for the pilgrims.  From thence, after crossing the hill country of Manasseh, on the second evening, the tents are pitched near Jacob’s Well, at the foot of Mounts Ebal and Garizim.  Beëroth with its fountains was the customary stopping place for the third day.  After this there remained only some three hours travel, and hence the next morning would find them within the walls of Jerusalem.

Mary and Joseph seeking Jesus. J-J Tissot.

In that city the Holy Family passed the seven days of the Passover.  And on the day following the caravans were gathered together for their departure; that of Galilee, which was composed of many thousands of persons,1 was never ready for the start until near midday; for tradition points out Beëroth as the spot where, at nightfall, Joseph and Mary were first made aware of the absence of Jesus.

One is at a loss to understand, upon first thoughts, how they were so slow to take alarm; but it must be remembered that Jerusalem, during the Passover Season, was thronged with two or three million pilgrims, and in consequence caravans were formed amidst the greatest confusion.  It was only when the long files of travellers with camels and mules had left the city gates far behind them, that it became possible to collect together ones own party, and to keep some order.  Kindred and friends were then united, the women and the old people mounted upon beasts of burden, the men on foot, leading the way, while, as they journeyed along, they chanted their sacred hymns.  The parents of Jesus not seeing Him, would think that He had joined some other band, and thus they would pursue their way, expecting Him to rejoin them when the Caravan came to a halt as he eventide.

But their search for Him then among the crowd was a vain one: Jesus was not to be found; and their anxiety was very great, for Judea was then in an uproar of sedition.  The exile of Archelaus, recently deposed by Augustus, had resulted in the reduction of his kingdom into a Roman Province and the imposition of additional taxes.  At this new a badge of servitude the people revolted, and the excitement raised by the insurrection of Sadoc and Judas the Gaulonite was still agitating them.  In such troublous times, amid the wild crews which were scouring over the country, what perils might not menace a lost child!

All were astonished at His answers. J-J Tissot

Joseph and Mary returned immediately to Jerusalem.  For the space of two nights and two days, all along the wayside and through the Holy City, they continued the fruitless search.  Only upon the third day did they discover the Child, "seated in the Temple, in the midst of the Doctors, the while all those who heard Him were astonished at His discretion and that His answers."

How came it that Jesus should be found in this place and in such a noble company?  The Jewish Doctors were accustomed to meet upon Sabbath days in one of the lofty halls of the Temple, and would there solve any difficulties occurring in the interpretation of the Law.  In the time of the Pasch particularly, when Jews from all over the world flocked to Jerusalem, there were great throngs about these far-famed masters, eager to be instructed by them.  The Divine Child mingled among their auditors; those questions of His, so profound in their simplicity, attracted the attention of the Doctors, who were soon surrounding Him, eager to question and to hear Him.  And such was the charm of His discourse it held these sages of Israel fast captives to His voice.

This congregation was not unworthy to hearken to Him, for it was made illustrious by men of most venerable authority; Hillel, revered as the peer of Moses, habited still in all the majesty of a noble old age; the unyielding Shammaï, who had bound all that Hillel loosed; Jonathas, son of Uziel, whose speech was so fiery that the birds, (says the Talmud), as they passed above his head, were either burned, or were transformed into Seraphim.  Grouped about these, the parents of Jesus might have seen Rabban Simeon as well, he who had foretold to Mary her future griefs; probably there, too, word Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, whom Grace was shortly to allure.  But even more than any aspect of this company did the part played by their Son overwhelm them with amazement.  He in Whom, thus far, they had seen only a thoughtful, recollected Child, sedulous to conceal the Divinity inherent in Him, — He now discloses Himself suddenly as a superior Being, overawing by His questions and replies these old men of constant learning.

Still the marvellous character of this scene could not make Mary quite forget all that she had been made to suffer, and her tremulous heart overflowed in this tender reproach:

I must be about My Father's business. J-J Tissot.

" My Son, why treat us thus?  Your father and I have sought You sorrowing."

Jesus was content to recall to Mary’s mind that His only Father was in the heavens.

"Why did you seek Me?" He said; "did you not know that indeed I must be about My Father's business?"

But even this reply, — the first sentence from the Saviour’s lips which is come down to us, — this His word neither Joseph nor Mary comprehended.  The humble Virgin herself makes the avowal by that line in Saint Luke's narrative: And His parents did not understand what He had said to them."

All she could do, then, was to engrave upon her memory everything she saw and heard that day.  As for Jesus, He invested Himself again in the same serene silence as of old, and now the veil which had covered His Childhood once more screens from our view the eighteen years which are to follow.

Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam