For three days they went from house to house, and through the lanes and streets, but could see no signs of the boy they had lost.
At the end of that time they went in-to the house of God, it may have been to pray that their child might be found, and there a strange sight met their gaze.
Je-sus sat in the midst of the wise men, whose place it was to teach and to preach to those who came up to the feasts, and the old men bent their heads to hear what the young lad had to say. For it was the first time they had met with one so young in years who was so wise in speech, and they felt in their hearts that he must have been taught of God.
When Jo-seph and Ma-ry saw Je-sus they were struck dumb, and could do naught but stare, as if it was a scene in a dream. Then Ma-ry said, My son, why didst thou vex us thus? we have sought for thee with sad hearts.
Je-sus said, Why did ye look for me? Do ye not know that I must do the work that my fa-ther has set me to do?
Jo-seph and Ma-ry did not know what he meant by these words, or that God had sent Je-sus on earth to teach men how to read the word of God a-right, and how to save their souls from death.
Je-sus went back to Naz-a-reth with Jo-seph and Ma-ry, and was a good son to them. And he grew wise and tall, and was blest of God, and won the hearts of all who were near him, for they saw in him much to love.
It was not known that he was the Son of God, and he made friends by his own sweet ways, for he was a poor boy.