Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.  Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. Luke 1:41-47

We don't often think of Jesus as a 12-year-old boy. Here is this pre-teen Savior of the world, customarily accompanying his parents at the Festival of the Passover. Only once have I lost one of my children. That was for 5 minutes when they were hiding from me in the center of clothes' racks at the store. I can't begin to imagine what Jesus parents experienced at this moment. Where Jesus was found tells us a lot about who He was.

Joseph and Mary find Jesus sitting among the teachers. He listened and asked questions. Jesus was growing, and I don't mean that merely in a physical sense. Luke tells us a few verses later that, "Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Simply, we see the need to be with wise, ask questions, and listen intently. That recipe is directly related to growth. We will all grow physically, but spiritual growth requires wise community and great questions.

DO THIS TODAY: Ask a wise Christian friend a question about God.