But there was something different about this group. Most of the men in it were Pharisees who were themselves rabbis. And the strange thing was that they were not doing all the talking as they usually did. They were listening too. And they were not listening to a rabbi, but to the voice of a boy.
Joseph and Mary moved closer. There could be no mistake about it—it was Jesus who was talking! He was asking questions; he was answering questions. The long-bearded rabbis were standing there, their mouths open in astonishment. Jesus was not just a boy in the crowd any longer. Men old enough to be his grand-father were listening to what he had to say.
Mary's surprise turned to anger. She pushed her way through the crowd and took Jesus by the arm.
"Why did you do this?" she cried. "Your father and I have been looking for you everywhere."
Jesus stood just where he was. It was as though he belonged there. He said:
"Why did you come to look for me? Don't you know that I must be looking after my Father's business?"
Joseph and Mary stood there too, not knowing what to make of their boy or of what he said.
They waited to see what he would do.
And then, in a minute, Jesus turned and went with them. They did not have to ask him again. The three of them went home to Nazareth.
Jesus knew that someday he would go back to the Temple. But he was not ready for that yet. He must do his duty to his parents. He must obey God at home. Then he would always know how to obey God in the wide world beyond Nazareth.