Show Don't Tell: Luke 2:41-52

Instead of saying "Jesus stayed behind in the temple as a boy," count the days of searching. Every year Jesus' parents go to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he is twelve years old, they go up as usual. After the festival is over, they start home, but the boy Jesus stays behind in Jerusalem. His parents don't know it. Thinking he is in their company, they travel for a day. Then they begin looking for him among relatives and friends. When they don't find him, they go back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days—three days of searching—they find him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who hears him is amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents see him, they are astonished. His mother says: "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." "Why were you searching for me? Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" They don't understand what he is saying. He goes down to Nazareth with them and is obedient to them. Mary treasures all these things in her heart. Jesus grows in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.